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Old 12-27-2013, 06:25 PM   #2
BR3W CITY
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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: MKE WI
Posts: 7,128
Re: Using original LQ fuel lines with dual tanks?

Most of the aluminum hard line I've seen really isn't ideal for high pressure fuel injection; stock lines would be steel and plastic, unless you already changed it out for braided line with aluminum fittings.

I haven't attempted this exact maneuver, but there are some issues with what I see;
A single inline pump will be working very hard to draw the fuel from the tank, as the distance from pickup to pump will be longer than ideal. Additionally, most of the plumbing related to the switch will not be rated for high psi. All the little rubber hoses will need to be swapped for fi-rubber or braided line, with the correct clamps etc.

I also don't see any provision for a return line, which would still be in use on truck engines in 2001.

If I were to attempt this, I would probably do it one of two ways;
1. I would do it "diesel style" i.e., more like how the big-truck boys do it. You run an in tank pump as a "lift" pump to get the fuel out of the tanks and up through the switch, then run another (correctly rated) pump after the switch to keep psi on the fuel rail. This means 3 fuel pumps....which ain't cheap, but means you never starve a pump, and the main pump will always be able to supply enough pressure to the rail. This also creates an issue of things like; where do you put the filter(s), how do you wire it, and how to position and plumb it so you don't create excess cavitation in the lines.

2. Skip the main pump, and run a pair of in-tank pumps to the switch. This still means two pumps, but with some relays and the proper wiring, it can be done just the same. This is cool beceause you get redundancy of parts if you ever need it. Each pump has to work a touch harder than with the lift pump setup, but a pair of correctly rated pumps should have no issues.

Neither way is 100% ideal, but both would be the direction I would look. I personally don't think a single pump would be happy doing that work...UNLESS you can find a BIG single pump that has good draw capability, or go with a crazy engine driven pump which will cost twice what the truck is worth, and probably just be a hassle.
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