fuel line

[Atommik]

I've got a 1951 1/2 ton S10 swap, and I'm wondering what type of fuel line I can use inside the tank (for a pick up tube) that the ethanol won't eat up. I had this problem last year when I first put the truck together. On first start up this spring, it ran for about 20 seconds and then quit. Not getting any gas. I haven't taken the tank apart yet, but I think I may have the same problem again.

Thanks

[mr48chev]

Ok, what are we looking at here? The factory in tank fuel pump with screen or an aftermarket unit? Or??????????

[Atommik]

Okay. maybe a better pic and more explanation will help. Because I'm running a 1968 327, the original S10 fuel pump has too much psi for fuel delivery. So I installed an inline fuel pump and planned on just drawing fuel through the old pump. So last summer after I first had it running, it stopped getting fuel to the carb. I took out the sending unit and found the rubber line between the pick up tube and the fuel pump was deteriorated and therefore would not allow any fuel to be sucked up by the inline pump. I removed the factory fuel pump from the sending unit, replace it with a length of fuel line and then attached the filter from the pump, to the bottom of the fuel line. I put it all together and it worked great. Now after sitting for the winter, I started it, it ran for a couple minutes then quit. No fuel getting to the carb. I'm thinking the rubber fuel line I used, did not hold up to being submerged in fuel and I am now sucking air again. (I'll be taking it apart this weekend.)
So I need a recommendation on a fuel line that will hold up to long term ethanol based fuel soaking!! Or the other option would be to replace the rubber line with a metal pick up tube and screen.
I hope this explains things better.

[_Ogre]

not sure what additives they put in our summer gas around here, but i've replaced that same line 4 times in truk.
i bought my tank from no limit engineering; 21 gal aluminum with in tank efi pump.
the original hose disintegrated at mile zero, i had poured a couple of gal of gas in the tank to start up the motor, a couple mths later it was mush.
that hose was efi and marked not for immersion in fuel
i ordered the gates submersible fuel hose $17 for one foot of it, it lasted one year before it failed.
i contacted rob at no limit engineering and he sent me a plastic convoluted hose that has been in there for 2 yrs and started up just fine this spring.


this is a similar hose to what no limit sent me, every oem system has them any more, but i don't see any one that sells the line except in the fuel pump assembly







contact rob at no limit engineering and see if he'll sell you one
if you can't find one, pm me i have a couple of used ones removed from mustang fuel pumps that we upgraded.
typically the ends need to be heated up, installed and clamped.

i have to drop tank to get to my fuel pump. i am getting very good at it.
this was the gates hose, it had softened and broke at the hose clamp
prior to this the other hoses had turned to mush and separated





if i had to do it over again, i'd use a frame mounted pump and put up with the noise

[mr48chev]

It's a good day after all as I learned something reading Ogre's post number 4 there. Good info to remember especially with this cruddy gas we have now.

[1project2many]

So far my OEM lines have lasted just fine. Maybe you guys with problems are running something other than E10? Those nice crimp clamps on the convoluted tube are available from Dorman. If interested, I can find part numbers.

[crossfire84]

..

[Atommik]

What do you think of my idea of just extending the metal pick up tube all the way down, soldering or welding a section in, and putting a filter screen on the end of that thus completely eliminating any rubber tubing.

[_Ogre]

i'd run the tube down to the bottom cut at a 45* and eliminate the pick up filter
frame mount the pump and filter before the pump
check and see if a compression fitting will work

[Atommik]

Yep, I've got a frame mounted pump in place with filter between pump and tank and another filter in the engine compartment. I hope to get it apart and fixed Sunday. Thanks for the info.

[_Ogre]

your running a carb on your motor, i should start looking for parts to do mine before it strands me again
i need 45psi for my efi ramjet motor
post up pics of your install

[Atommik]

So I may have jumped to an incorrect conclusion on the fuel line. I took the sending unit out today and the line was in great shape...it was also DRY. I was out of gas. However, I thought I had at least 5 gallons in the tank when I parked it. So...do I have a small leak that has been seeping out and evaporating before I noticed it? I didn't really have any gas smell in the garage. Anyway I put 2 gallons in the tank, no leaks and the truck started right up. I guess I'll keep gradually adding fuel until I see a leak.

I may have just run the tank almost empty and the little remaining gas evaporated over the past 6 months. I'm still learning how to read the fuel gauge I converted into the original gauge cluster. The needle is shorter and the sweep is a little different. Since I started putting gas in this time basically at empty, I'll keep checking the gauge to get a better idea of how it reads at various fill levels.

Live and learn.

[_Ogre]

i was ready to drop my tank again last fall
truk was running like it was out out gas but gauge read 1/8 tank
poured in a few and it's been running since
oofda! we all have our momments