Firstgens.com

I am unable to sleep tonight and thinking about my fuel system. It is my understanding that Firstgens came with either 5/16 or 3/8 fuel lnes. (tank to pump) I assume the 3/8 was for big block/HO apps. What's in my head at the moment is that since my engine is a tad over 400HP it would have similar fuel requirements to a big block from the day.
To determine what line I have do I measure the od or id? If I have the 5/16 and upgrade what will I need to do at the tank end?
I have the Edelbrock Performer RPM mechanical pump, and a 650 Holley Vacuum secondary carb on a Performer RPM Air Gap Manifold. Engine is a .040 over 4 bolt main with Performer RPM everything. Rarely sees the track so I believe the 650 to be enough carb. 200R4 trans 2400 stall that I can hold in each gear as long as I like.
Money is tight so forget EFI conversion suggestions. I'm thinking over the coming winter months I can get the parts here & there to upgrade the main fuel line, and go to AN fittings and braided line from the pump to carb.
I would like to bench race this a bit. Do I need 3/8"? What have you done to your Carb'd engines fuel system? Are my thoughts on this correct? Pic's strongley encouraged, as well as opinions, experiences etc.
The goal is a reliable streetable combo that I can push into the high/mid 12's when I want to ring her out at 6K shift points now that I have lost my 1/4 mile cherry and am ready to take her out of drive (13.7's in drive the summer before last, way out of the power band of my combo)

I bought a stainless 3/8 line for mine as I'm not a fan of Braided. I fretteed over this for a long time before I made a decesion. I thought about buying ahead for a EFI system but finally decided that would keep me from doing any thing. I'm assuming I'll have to get a better bigger fuel sender or modify the one I have since it's only 5/16. Fuel line is sized like the steel tubing the Autozone sells in straight sections.

Tubing is typically measured and spec'd by the OD size. If you are looking to upgrade your motor to push over the 400-450hp range then consider an upgrade to the 3/8" line otherwise I think you are fine with the 5/16" line.

When I did my fuel system upgrade right prior to dropping the 383 in I used 1/2 aluminum hard line from just over the rear axle all the way up to the front frame horn. From the rear sumped tank I used -8 AN fittings with a stainless screen pre-filter(keep crap out of your pump) right off the tank into braided hose up to the aluminum hard line. Same deal from hard line up front to the carb, all -8 AN, braided stainbless with a fine micron filter aftter the 160PGH Carter mech pump and before the regulator. No return line in my system, never had any issues. Plenty of pump and line size to keep 600 pines fed and happy.

I can post pictures or you are welcome to stop by any time to look at in person.

Tom did you sump the stock tank or buy it already made?

Sumped the stock tank. Had a local fab shop bend up and weld a sump for me similar to the dimensions of a Competition Engr sump. Hole sawed holes for baffling in the tank per Comp Engr template off their website and had my brother-in-law TIG weld it in place for me.

Don, have you measured your line yet?
Do you know what engine was stock in your car?

My understanding is 6 cylinders and 2bbl V8's had 5/15" lines.
All 4bbl V8's had 3/8"

67-68, the 2bbl 327's had 5/16, the L30 4bbl's had 3/8", as did the 350's and BB's.

69, 6's and 307's would have 5/16", and all 350's (there were no 2bbl 350's in camaro's) and BB's were 3/8"

I never had a real intention of replacing my "good appearing from the outside" stock 3/8" hardline. I just removed it to make it easier to clean and paint under it, and to put the SFC's in. I had to bend it a lil to get it out, and when I did, it did a real good imitation of a smelly fountain...

I'd consider 5/16" too small to feed a healthy V8, but think I'd rely on the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" idea unless it was rusty or the engine was starving for fuel at the top end.

Don I ran 3/8" aluminum following the same route as the stock line up to the inner fender by the upper A-arm. I still have 3/8" on my car now, but that has been in the plans to change sense I swapped in the 427. I lean out on the top end, but with my motor I wasn't surprised.

Harley, what did you need to do at the tank end? Or was it already 3/8" that you just replaced?

The article in the link below from Ford Muscle Mag says 5/16" line is good for up to about 300hp and 3/8" will get you to 500hp. Sounds like it's time for an upgrade Don if you looking to get more out of it and don't want to be leaning out at the top end.

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2004 ... GetInLine/

Link only gets you into the first page of 3, to get the rest you need to register but it might be worth it becasue they show how to modify a pickup to a larger line size, might be 1/2" but tyhe principle should be the same. I am sure is you search there is something out there for modifying a GM pickup also, certainly not the first time it has been done.

Don I replaced the pick up with a new 3/8" one as the sender was bad anyway. Then used @ 10" of rubber hose to connect sender to the line and a small piece of braided up front to connect the pump.