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Fuel System - How To

Custom Fuel System Regulator
This is a return-style regulator. The fuel enters from the right througha -8 AN line and exits on the left. If you set the regulator for 8pounds, additional fuel would constantly be flowing through the lowerport and back to the fuel tank.

Custom Fuel System Aluminum Fuel Cell
There are a couple of ways to get fuel from the tank and into the fuelpump. This is an aluminum fuel cell from Summit Racing. It has two -8feed lines built into a rear sump and is designed to be mounted in thetrunk by either cutting a hole or raising the cell above the trunkfloor. We've heard that you must supply the pump with -10 AN or betterso that if you had to, you could run a Y-block from both -8 ports to a-10 or -12 line.
Custom Fuel System Plastic
If you select a plastic fuel cell, you can drill out the -8 hole and adda larger fitting and line. We don't know why fuel cells are equippedwith -8 when fuel-pump guys require -10 or -12. Ask that question nexttime you are on the Summit Racing tech line.
Custom Fuel System Sump
This of course is the trickest way to deliver fuel and also the mostexpensive. If you have a car that no one makes sumps for, you can takeyour tank to a willing radiator shop and get them to weld in a sump kitlike this one from Competition Engineering, or have a complete tankbuilt by a company like Rick's Hot Rod Shop in El Paso, Texas. They willdo whatever you want... for a price.
Custom Fuel System Vane Pump
This is a cutaway of the BG400 vane-style pump. As you can see, it issimilar to a starter motor, with a shaft that turns a rotor submerged inthe fuel supply. On the right is a bypass that is designed to returnfuel directly to the fuel cell.
Custom Fuel System Return
When returning the fuel to the tank, try to do it as far away from thepickup as possible. Never return fuel to the extra AN fitting next tothe feed port on the sump, because it will disrupt flow. Most fuel cellswill have the return port in the correct place and the proper-sized,NHRA-legal vent. It's important to note that when you place a fuel cellin the trunk, you need to have a firewall between the trunk and thepassenger compartment.
Custom Fuel System Cavitation
This is a photo of the horrors of cavitation. When the pump cannot pullenough fuel fast enough, air pockets develop and stir bubbles into thefuel and, in some cases, damage the pump. A good pickup and feed line,plus mounting the pump as close to the tank as possible, will preventthis problem.

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