Pity the Fuel!

New parts coming in thick and fast...






...time to install.

The pump outlet/return ports are female 1/4" NPT, so a couple of 3/8" barb adapter fittings will go there with Gates Barricade 3/8" EFI hose double clamped to the barbed fittings.

I have gone with a Corvette regulator/filter which takes care of regulating the fuel pressure, as well as the return to the tank, so only one 3/8" line needs to be run to the engine.

The filter/reg has a male 3/8" quick connect entry and a male 5/16" quick connect return. Feed to the filter uses a Dorman 3/8" quick connector double clamped to the feed hose.

Because I have a heap of 3/8" hose, I wanted to use that for the return as well so used a Dorman 5/16" quick release to 3/8" barb adapter.

Not sure what the result will be, clamping hose to a nylon fitting where normally nylon hose would be used... we'll see.

Anyhows, running the lines is to come. First: mounting the filter.

Waste not, want not: the VZ Commodore fuel filter bracket was resurrected...




...and pushed into service...





Plumbing to come!


Ooo... almost forgot! Fuel tank went in with the rubber-lined straps...



J

More fuelling around...

During the week, more bits turned up...



More tank liner material, as well as some other bits that are for a later post.

JtC made the trip north to see what damage I had caused with the tank install.

First task: clad the tank straps with rubber liner.

As is so often the case, reproduction parts don't quite fit and for us the new straps were a smidge too wide for the strap liners.

Angle grinder time...




Voila!




Next: mounting the tank vent/roll-over ball valve.

Bit of scrap gal steel bent into a z-bracket...




Bolted in place, on the brace that the rear shocks bolt to...




Finally: fitting the in-tank fuel pump and sender...







J

Tank Goodness

There are few options to go EFI in a '65 Impala...
1. Keep the existing fuel tank and feed the engine from an external fuel pump.
2. Keep the original tank and modify it to take an internal pump.
3. Purchase a new tank that mimics the original, but is modified to take an internal pump.

I went with option three, a new EFI-ready fuel tank from Tanks Inc, ordered through Summit....



The way to go is to order an EFI tank conversion kit which comes with pump, sender and other required bits and pieces. There was a bit of a story (see here) around what was purchsed vs. what was supplied, but Summit came good and all is sweet!


First: remove old tank.




New and the old...



The Tanks Inc product is (so far) excellent; beautiful powder coated finish, recessed area for mounting the pump/sender and baffled sump under the pick-up to reduce fuel starvation during corning/braking/accelerating.


Second: A quick tidy-up of the underside of the boot floor.

Before...




Wire wheel, wire wheel, wire wheel, prime, paint. After...



Sooo much satin black on this car!

Third: butcher the boot floor pan...






I contemplated not cutting the floor, but access to the fuel pump/sender will be sooo much easier with a hole. It is a pretty simple decision. Do. It...




Four: Fitment...



I also purchased tank lining material to avoid damaging the tank surface finish - you can see the black strips on the top of the tank - however there wasn't enough to line the straps as well so I ordered more rubber lining material and have left the tank hanging by occy straps until the rest of the rubber liner arrives.

J

Fuel Tank

I ordered a Tanks Inc. kit through Summit which included tank + pump + sender.

The only problem is that even though the kit is for a '65 Impala, the tank included in the kit was for an A-body (TM37-2T)...




Once brought to their attention, Summit came to the party and sent me the correct tank (TM37C-T) straight away.

BIG thanks to Summit Racing and excellent customer service!

J