WideOpenDesign
Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2010
- Location
- Middle TN
It has been suggested to us at Wide Open Design that we bring to the public our way of plumbing fuel systems. This may seem elementary to some folks, but our purpose is to try and eleviate fuel problems that many seem to be having.
The times of just throwing whatever fuel pump we might find at the parts store are long gone. The demands we put on our fuel systems with racing, heat and high HP engines are drastically different than they were just a few years ago.
First of all. We can not expect a fuel pump that is made to push fuel, to draw it out of the top of a tank. Fuel should flow easily to the pump.
You can simply put bulkheads in the bottom of any off the shelf RCI or JAZ fuel cell. We do this commonly at Wide Open Design. The bulkheads are inexpensive and also make attaching walbro pickups a breeze. Just because an off the shelf fuel cell has fittings on top, doesnt mean you have to use them. There are AN caps to plug them off.
There are 2 basic ways to plumb a late model fuel injected engine without a built in regulator.
The 1st way is to use a filter regulator. This is a readily available part that costs approx. $65.00.
It will also serve as your post filter. We use the filter regulator in our systems up to about 500 hp. You do have to have some quick disconnect to AN fittings that cost about $15.00 each.This is the easiest and probably the least expensive way to plumb a non-return fuel system.
The 2nd method is the most efficient and reliable way in any application, especially racing, to plumb the fuel system. It creates a return style fuel system using all aftermarket components.
You will need to replace the stock fuel rail with an aftermarket set of flow thru rails. These range in price from $150.00 to $200.00 for the pair. They bolt in without modification to most OE intake manifolds.
You will need an aftermarket adjustable fuel pressure regulator. We use Areomotive components which cost about $145.00.The regulator has to be capable of handling the pressure for fuel injection.
There needs to be some type of pre-filter in the system to protect the pump. We commonly use Walbro pickups in the tank as the pre-filter which are 70 micron.
The post filter should be 10 micron or so to protect the fuel injectors and regulator. We use Aeromotive again.
The line size most commonly used is -6. That will accomodate engines up to about 550 HP with a single feed line in a properly built fuel system.
As for plumbing the system. You can not run the feed line from the pump to the regulator, then to the fuel rail. It will not provide a constant good pressure in the fuel rails when load is put on the engine.
The feed line should go into the fuel rail directly. The rails should be looped together on the opposite end of the feed. Then come out of the other rail to the regulator and out of the regulator to the fuel cell.
We like Walbro external 255 fuel pumps. In our experience the Walbro 255pump is extremely reliable. An external pump is also much easier and quicker to change if there was an issue that required it. These pumps cost about $135.00 with the install kit. They are easily adapted to -6 AN.
The other issue we see is heat soak. Our buggies/ race cars are compact and everything gets tight. The best way we have found to protect against heat is to use heat shield on fuel lines that are close to heat sources. The heat shield we use is a slip over design and is compact. It protects up to 1200 degrees. This heat shield ranges in price $3.95 to $9.90 per foot depending on size.
This information is meant to help people plumb fuels systems correctly. We use AN fittings and line exclusively at Wide Open Design. We trust the connection and like the durability of these components. To properly build a fuel system, it does cost more than just simply slapping on whatever you could find. If you properly build a fuel system the 1st time it will save you plenty of aggravation and wasted money in the long run.
The times of just throwing whatever fuel pump we might find at the parts store are long gone. The demands we put on our fuel systems with racing, heat and high HP engines are drastically different than they were just a few years ago.
First of all. We can not expect a fuel pump that is made to push fuel, to draw it out of the top of a tank. Fuel should flow easily to the pump.
You can simply put bulkheads in the bottom of any off the shelf RCI or JAZ fuel cell. We do this commonly at Wide Open Design. The bulkheads are inexpensive and also make attaching walbro pickups a breeze. Just because an off the shelf fuel cell has fittings on top, doesnt mean you have to use them. There are AN caps to plug them off.
There are 2 basic ways to plumb a late model fuel injected engine without a built in regulator.
The 1st way is to use a filter regulator. This is a readily available part that costs approx. $65.00.
It will also serve as your post filter. We use the filter regulator in our systems up to about 500 hp. You do have to have some quick disconnect to AN fittings that cost about $15.00 each.This is the easiest and probably the least expensive way to plumb a non-return fuel system.
The 2nd method is the most efficient and reliable way in any application, especially racing, to plumb the fuel system. It creates a return style fuel system using all aftermarket components.
You will need to replace the stock fuel rail with an aftermarket set of flow thru rails. These range in price from $150.00 to $200.00 for the pair. They bolt in without modification to most OE intake manifolds.
You will need an aftermarket adjustable fuel pressure regulator. We use Areomotive components which cost about $145.00.The regulator has to be capable of handling the pressure for fuel injection.
There needs to be some type of pre-filter in the system to protect the pump. We commonly use Walbro pickups in the tank as the pre-filter which are 70 micron.
The post filter should be 10 micron or so to protect the fuel injectors and regulator. We use Aeromotive again.
The line size most commonly used is -6. That will accomodate engines up to about 550 HP with a single feed line in a properly built fuel system.
As for plumbing the system. You can not run the feed line from the pump to the regulator, then to the fuel rail. It will not provide a constant good pressure in the fuel rails when load is put on the engine.
The feed line should go into the fuel rail directly. The rails should be looped together on the opposite end of the feed. Then come out of the other rail to the regulator and out of the regulator to the fuel cell.
We like Walbro external 255 fuel pumps. In our experience the Walbro 255pump is extremely reliable. An external pump is also much easier and quicker to change if there was an issue that required it. These pumps cost about $135.00 with the install kit. They are easily adapted to -6 AN.
The other issue we see is heat soak. Our buggies/ race cars are compact and everything gets tight. The best way we have found to protect against heat is to use heat shield on fuel lines that are close to heat sources. The heat shield we use is a slip over design and is compact. It protects up to 1200 degrees. This heat shield ranges in price $3.95 to $9.90 per foot depending on size.
This information is meant to help people plumb fuels systems correctly. We use AN fittings and line exclusively at Wide Open Design. We trust the connection and like the durability of these components. To properly build a fuel system, it does cost more than just simply slapping on whatever you could find. If you properly build a fuel system the 1st time it will save you plenty of aggravation and wasted money in the long run.
to that post. That is a perfectly acceptable way to plumb a performance fuel system.