Electric in tank fuel pumps.

[Dodgeboy68]

Has anyone successfully used an in tank fuel pump for an A body car that would fit into the tank from the sending unit hole?

Roger

 

[MadScientistMat]

I haven't on an A body, but I have used a Walbro 255 lph pump intended for a Miata on another vehicle with the same diameter sending unit hole. The main problem was what to do for an electrical feed through. I ended up using bolts through grommets with a ring terminal on each side.

 

[jbc426]

Has anyone successfully used an in tank fuel pump for an A body car that would fit into the tank from the sending unit hole?

Roger

Yes sir. I enlarged the return hole on an aftermarket sending unit to 3/8" and silver soldered a metal tube in there with a jog in it so it didn't splash directly onto the pick-up tube.

For the electrical connection, I bought one from Radium Engineering, but they are available elsewhere too. Notice I didn't try and cover the soldered fuel pump connections. They don't need to be covered.

Make sure you use submersible-rated fuel line to connect the pump inside the tank, not just EFI rated hose!

You can also upgrade the fuel sock to a Holley Hydramat to enhance the fuel feed at lower tank volumes.

I'm running EFI, so this is effectively a free-flowing fuel supply to my Surge Tank set-up in the front of the car. I do run that fuel through a pair of Permacool fuel & water separators before it flows through my surge tank and back.

Surge tank systems are much better at eliminating cavitation in your fuel supply than the so-called baffled fuel tanks, although the factory style drop-in modules are much better too. They do involve cutting the tank on top and A-Body tanks don't have much room there, especially with the spare tire cutout.

I recently up-sized the pump to a 525lph pump, and it still fit through the opening.

 

[PLUM_72]

Holley has an in-tank retrofit kit for a-bodies #12-319. While I've not used it, they make these for all sorts of vehicles.

 

[jbc426]

Holley has an in-tank retrofit kit for a-bodies #12-319. While I've not used it, they make these for all sorts of vehicles.

I just looked at these. They were not available when I made mine, and look like a very good value. Adding one of their small Hydramats would improve it's performance even more!

https://www.holley.com/products/fuel_systems/fuel_injection/sniper_efi/ignition_and_fuel_systems/fuel_systems_and_accessories/muscle_car_efi_modules/parts/12-319

 

[Professor Fate]

I used the Spectra Premium SP196A1H, and it worked exceptionally well. I used it in conjunction with a Wix 33737 filter/regulator (originally a Corvette application).

It's very similar to the Holley unit, except that it also has a return fitting on it whereas the Holley doesn't. And it's about half the price of the Holley. At the time I had it (before Holley introduced theirs), it was listed as an E body unit-but it fit and worked in an A body tank just fine- even the sender wasn't too far off (common malady on aftermarket senders- I wonder how the Holley fares in that regard?). My only concern was the lack of baffling in a stock tank to keep the pump pickup covered- I solved that concern by cutting a block of fuel cell foam to sit around the bottom of the pump (which is a Walbro GSS 342, by the way). Now you can use Holley Hydramat to do the same thing.
Sadly, Spectra does not list these anymore- I don't know if it's just temporary or not, you may want to contact them- so the Holley is probably your only option right now with a stock tank. The Spectras do pop up on EBay from time to time, and I'm sure with a bit of hunting you could find some old stock somewhere yet.

 

[Dodgeboy68]

I am surprised to see the number of fuel pump options to do this. But I am finding it very difficult to locate any electrical bulkhead pass thrus. On post #2 what grommets did you use and where did you get them?

 

[jbc426]

I am surprised to see the number of fuel pump options to do this. But I am finding it very difficult to locate any electrical bulkhead pass thrus. On post #2 what grommets did you use and where did you get them?

Grommets?

From Post #2, "For the electrical connection, I bought one from Radium Engineering, but they are available elsewhere too. Notice I didn't try and cover the soldered fuel pump connections. They don't need to be covered."

https://www.radiumauto.com/Bulkhead-Fuel-Pump-Harnesses-and-Connectors-P682.aspx

 

[Clelan]

I use the Holley retrofit unit in my carbureted Duster! Highly recommended!

Cley

 

[MadScientistMat]

I am surprised to see the number of fuel pump options to do this. But I am finding it very difficult to locate any electrical bulkhead pass thrus. On post #2 what grommets did you use and where did you get them?

Just from the hardware store. Basically a rubber donut with a groove in it like this:

 

[74 DART']

I use the Holley retrofit unit in my carbureted Duster! Highly recommended!

Cley

What are you running for a regulator ?

 

[Clelan]

Check out this page from Summit Racing Holley 12-887 Holley Carburetor Bypass Style Fuel Pressure Regulators | Summit Racing

Cley

 

[matthon]

Make sure you use submersible-rated fuel line to connect the pump inside the tank, not just EFI rated hose!

This. Pumps even come with the wrong type of hose.
I used a plastic type, forget the name.