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Advice needed on pump to carb fuel pipe

The73vetteman

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2003
Messages
339
Location
Michigan
Corvette
'73 L48 4spd
I need a recommendation for a fuel pipe.

I have a 73 with the L48 350. It also has a Holley 4150 carb with the two into one metal pipe to supply the fuel. A previous owner connected from the pump to the pipe with flexible rubber hose. The filter is in the middle of this hose.

I'd like to replace this with steel pipe. However I am not clear if the stock 350 pipe and filter will work in this application. The '71 and '72 Vettes used the 4150 Holley so would this piping and filter work?
 
The filter should be before the fuel pump so that it eliminates contaminants from entering the pump. Also to prevent fire danger. The line from the pump should be a one piece solid steel line. You probably knew this already, but just to make sure, it was worth mentioning.

You shoul be able to get all the fittings to adapt up to your 2 to 1 fittings from your local auto parts store.
 
I've heard this argument for 25 years....

Where to put the fuel filter?

Camp A says as you do: protect the pump from wear and get the filter further away from heat - so run the filter before the pump.

Camp B says: the pump lobes really don't wear much; a filter before the suction pump can make a marginal gas flow problem critical; a filter leak before the pump (which acts as a nifty stop valve) can empty a tank of gas on your driveway (and changing a filter entails more spill)

...and other arguments.

I've never been solidly swayed either way except to rail against more modern filters and pumps IN tanks, which are just plain stupid (and our older vettes have similar fuel "socks" - mine is clogged now.) The same is true of the carb fitting filters like on quadrajunks - big, weird, easily damaged and leak prone threads - just. plain. STOOPID! All wear prone parts in a system should be readily and inexpensively accessible. The tank should have a sump which feeds an EXTERNAL pump (carbed OR FI) and the filters should also be easily changed.

I end up putting the filter where I can reach it and change it easiest, as long as it's away from rotating parts and before the fuel pressure gauge. I usually get insane on insulating all the piping to it, it and from it against heat.

Yeah, you really do want the line from the pump out to be a metal line or high end flexible hose (real braided SS, line such as AN6, AN8 or AN10, with or without the good $10 a connection fittings.) I would offer one easier alternative to hard to bend without kinking SS or steel though - aluminum.

You can get a roll of aluminum tubing, typically 3/8", but 1/2" and 5/16" are also used for this, for $25 a roll or a couple of bucks a foot. It's super easy to bend decently and it's tough, cuts and flares nicely with the commonest of pipe tools. There are a few places or applications where the softer nature of it makes it less desirable than SS or steel, but these are rare.

Really make sure that line from the pump does not contact the engine without insulation - especially aluminum heads or intake. The heat will transfer easily - especially after a brief shutdown on a hot day when restarting. You don't have to get real exotic on this, a small piece of fuel or vacuum hose around the line at any key contact point is enough, but the insulated clamps are the nicest way to go.
 
You didn't mention what intake manifold you have (it's been replaced if it has a Holley on it); if it's a GM LT-1 intake (3972110 or 3959594), you can get the complete original dual-feed steel line setup from Paragon.
:beer
 
I have the Edelbrock 'Performer' manifold, but I'm not sure what bearing this has on the fuel lines. Please educate me.
 
If the carb pad height on the Edelbrock Performer is anywhere near the same as the pad height on the stock GM LT-1 intakes, you should be able to use the complete pump-to-carb steel line and fitting setup that the LT-1's used for their dual-feed Holley 4150 arrangement - Paragon #5054K for steel, #5054K-S for stainless.
:beer
 
Hey Vetteman let us know if you use the setup from Paragon I have the same setup rubber looks like it's kinking a bit and I'm looking at a change
 
OK, so I bought the LT1 lines from Zip rather than Paragon. They look to be the right shape but the thread doesn't fit my pump.


On closer inspection it turns out I have a Carter fuel pump. Think I should switch this for the LT1 pump?

Any other suggestions?

John
 

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