[charlo]

I picked up my RAT yesterday. TBI 454. I was thinking about what to do with the fuel pump. If I use the in tank pump will the metal line on my 85 k5 be strong enough(just replace the rubber) or do I need to replace the whole enchiliada?

You guys dislike inline pumps for any reason? Do you know if they are self priming cause that could be a biatch.

Charlo

 

[BadDog]

Strength is not a problem with the metal lines, hooking into them is. The TBI connectors are a funky metric o-ring style. I wound up replacing my lines with a combination of new lines and grafted on ends from a donor truck. As for the pump, I don't like inlines, though they do self prime. My problem with inlines is cost and longevity. They don't last as long as in tank pumps, and they cost about twice as much.

 

[charlo]

Strength is not a problem with the metal lines, hooking into them is.

The hose coming off the engine is flexible. Is the other end on a TBI truck a hard line flared with some special metric connection?

They don't last as long as in tank pumps, and they cost about twice as much.

I can get decent inlines for about $50, If they last half as long(50,000 instead of 100,000) I will be satisfied. I average about 5k a year on my K5 so that should not be a problem.

Thanks forthegood info.


Charlo

 

[BadDog]

The flex hose coming of the engine should be steel braided with o-ring female nuts on the end. You'll have to cut the ends off a donor line to get the mail nut with o-ring that fits. I've heard there are adapters to standard double flare fittings (like normal brake/fuel lines) but I've yet to find any. At the tank, I've seen 2 types. Another one of those flex hoses with nuts, or, on the 87 (first year, that's where my tank pickup came from, maybe others) they have a high pressure rubber line with double clamps.

In-line or in-tank, just make sure you can get to it without dropping the tank (obviously not a problem inline) and carry a spare...

 

[charlo]

Thanks a lot bad dog.

Charlo

 

[JoeMama]

When I installed my TBI onto my previously carb'd 454, I ran rubber fuel injection line ALL THE WAY from the tank to the back of the throttle body. I used a AutoZone inline pump that costs about $67, and can be bought almost anywhere seeing as its a normal stock item. It's mounted on the frame, about 3 ft. from the tank. I didn't even have to pull the tank down! I will look for part numbers and get back to you. Baddog has great advise here too!

-Dan

 

[NewJoy]

Don't know if the 454 TBI is any higher of a pressure
than the 350 is... which is ~15psi. I sat in NAPA and
went through thier books and found a ~$60 in-line pump.
Works fine. I used rubber fuel lines for both source &
return. I did use the hardline from the TBI unit for about
18 inches, but put a flare on the end and double hose
clamped it.

 

[One Big Zuk]

They say you sould not run rubber fuel line for more then 6 feet Tbi or carb. The metric o-ring ends you speek of are in all the parts stores here in Buffalo becase they rot out from all the salt! They come with a foot of so of hard line on them. They are pricey 20 bucks and up. The inline pump that i found to work good is the one for 88 to 90 ford p/up it's like 69 buck at autozone. On of the FI places said it is all he used in conv. He said he has not seen one go bad I've had mine for 2 years now no problem. I had a one from carter that I got from summit and it was only puting out 11-12.5 psi at the TBI not good! That was a 100 bucks burned up.

 

[BadDog]

Yeah, that was another thing about the inlines I didn't like. I had people who "should know" (people who do TBI conversions!) giving me conflicting info. "Run a Holly black", "No! Run a Holley blue!", "No, run this ...", "No, that one won't last!", "No, it only gives you 12 psi!", ...

I *know* the GM in take works, I *know* the GM in tank lasts, and I *know* I can get the GM in tank version cheap at any parts store, plus I can put in a new one and carry a new spare for what a "good" in line costs...

 

[charlo]

Any one have part numbers or listings for a vehicle with a good inline? It could save me a lot of trouble.

Charlo

 

[Shaker]

Any one have part numbers or listings for a vehicle with a good inline? It could save me a lot of trouble.

Charlo

Try a 91 chevy