1980 fuel pump question

[PRattenbury]

So, I have a 1980 short wide 2WD truck with a transplanted small block V8. Truck was originally an inline six. My mechanical fuel pump (stock type) on the engine that was put in the truck has a line going it from the tank (a hose, actually) another smaller hose which is return to the tank, and a hard line out of it that goes to the carburetor. When I bought the truck the return line off the pump (the smaller hose) was blocked off with a screw in the end of the hose, and clamped. It turns out the hose was dilapidated, and began to leak when I got the engine fired back up. Naturally, I'm going bananas trying to decide if I should replace the fuel pump with one that just has in and out, with no return, or if the truck is supposed to have the return line and I have a line missing or hidden somewhere in the truck I need to repair, and whether or not it's a good idea to have the port on the pump plugged off like that. So if anyone here has a 1980 truck like mine that knows what fuel lines I should have at my pump, if you could let me know, I'd be grateful. Thanks!

[PRattenbury]

Nobody knows nuttin bout no fool pumps, huh?

[82chevy350]

if you got all the lines up front i would get the one that that has all three if not you should be alright with just the line from tank and one to motor i think the just plugged the return line to get more pressure out of the pump

[piecesparts]

The return line was installed to facilitate a little bit of flow back to the tank, so that the fuel pump would not overheat and cause vapor locking. I use mine on my aftermarket pump and it does help. I am running an Edelbrock pump with the extra lower plate installed, so that I could create the return fitting.

[PRattenbury]

Thanks for the info. What I'm really interested in knowing is whether a 1980 2WD C10 shortbed pickup with a 305 V8 and automatic transmission, single tank on the right side, red exterior color, manual crank windows and chrome front bumper was built with a supply and return line between the pump and tank, or just a supply line. Put in a different way, would the mechanical fuel pump mounted on the right front area of the engine have two metal nozzles and a female threaded port, or just a single metal nozzle and a female threaded port. Any knowledge on this point is certainly greatly appreciated....

[piecesparts]

Originally Posted by PRattenbury

Thanks for the info. What I'm really interested in knowing is whether a 1980 2WD C10 shortbed pickup with a 305 V8 and automatic transmission, single tank on the right side, red exterior color, manual crank windows and chrome front bumper was built with a supply and return line between the pump and tank, or just a supply line. Put in a different way, would the mechanical fuel pump mounted on the right front area of the engine have two metal nozzles and a female threaded port, or just a single metal nozzle and a female threaded port. Any knowledge on this point is certainly greatly appreciated....

IF there is a return line, it would be a steel 1/4" line that runs just along side the bigger fuel supply line. There would be two connections at the tank, also.