Fuel system upgrades for EZ-EFI, recommendations?

[elagache]

Dear V-8 Buick early adopters,

Having decided on the EZ-EFI system for my 1965 Buick Special wagon, there is only one small problem - gotta get gas to the darn thing!! :grin:

Right now the car has a 300 cid V-8 and the fuel line associated with it. Since the car is getting a 448 big-block V-8, it needs a larger fuel line. So I could go with an external EFI fuel-pump setup, or replace the tank.

Months ago, I got a recommendation against external fuel pumps because they are more vulnerable to burning out since they aren't literally "sittin'" in the cooling medium. That makes good sense to me, but I'm willing to listen to alternative opinions. What is the experience of V-8 Buick members who have an external EFI fuel pump?

The alternative is either an "off-the-rank" fuel tank or a custom fuel-tank with an EFI pump built in. Now I have to double-check, but it seems to me that this tank should fit in my 65 Buick wagon:

http://www.tanks-to-pans.com/site/823208/page/304910

What is the experience of the V-8 Buick crowd with reproduction Spectra tanks? Will the stock fuel-pump suit my needs given that this car isn't going to be racing or anything else really aggressive? The car is supposed to tow, so that has to be taken into account.

The alternative is to have a custom tank made by someone like Rock Valley Auto parts:

http://www.rockvalleyantiqueautoparts.com/ndex.htm

I've gotten a few recommendations to go this route. Any further opinions from the V-8 Buick community?

Finally, I've pondered enlarging the gas tank if I were to get a custom tank. Has anyone fitted an enlarged gas tank to their classic car? Any gotcha's to keep in mind? As I've thought about this one, I'm less anxious to go this route since the car should end up with sufficient range to make vacation cruising between gas stations less stressful. Still, a little more range never hurt especially since with an EFI fuel-pump you need to always leave some gas in the tank to serve as coolant for the pump.

As always, any and all pearls of wisdom on this subject would be appreciated!!

Cheers, Edouard :beer

[TheSilverBuick]

My only recommendation is if you can find a fuel pump that is relatively easily findable at a regular parts store (PepBoys, NAPA, Autozone, etc.).

My high pressure EFI pump is a stock Ford unit that is a normal stock item in 90% of parts stores. The only downside is it's only a 5/16th line, but so far that hasn't been a hinderance with the power I've made in the past. You may be over that limit, idk. It is however a stock external pump too.

[Ken Warner]

Another option...

http://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=article/article_ID=6/art6.htm

[Nothingface5384]

A tank sump along with a fuel surge tank would be great idea .

if youre not going with any type of fuel pump then pretty much any factory type epmp should suffice.

I have a fuel pressure regulator for sale if you need one of those..it's also compatible with every type of fuel..ie. alki/e85

[TheSilverBuick]

Another option...

http://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=article/article_ID=6/art6.htm


That's pretty slick! My only concern is to make sure you have the clearance above your gas tank for the fuel lines. Usually that part of the tank mounts directly against the trunk floor. Trunk floors can be massaged pretty easily though.

[Ken Warner]

Assuming you have access to a BIG hole saw like is needed please note their web site says DO NOT TRY THIS ON A TANK THAT HAS HAD GAS IN IT! A tank full of fumes and a spark will ruin your day. However as you are gonna cut the big hole in it anyway if you fill it with water before you start cutting you should be good. (Would not know about the full of water trick except that is how I saw the old radiator shop guy fix a fuel tank many years ago)

regards

[TheSilverBuick]

I've heard that method before as well.

[elagache]

Hi Ken, SilverBuick, and V-8 Faithful,

Thanks for all the helpful info.


A tank full of fumes and a spark will ruin your day.

Ya'know, if I had to guess, a gas tank full of fumes and a spark is likely to ruin considerably more than just that day! :grin:

Thanks for sharing the suggestion to modify the tank. However, if I'm going to go with an in-tank pump, I suspect I should go all out and get a new tank as well. I'm willing to do some "do-it-yourself", but this is at edge of amateurs considering the "bad day" stuff above, never mind making sure you get every last metal shaving or your pump will be killed. If I have someone do this, I'll bet it will cost me more than buying a new tank. In addition, the existing tank doesn't have a sump for an EFI pump and is 46 years old.

Any other opinions on fuel-pumps? Ken, is your fuel-pump internal or external?

By the way, my buddy Paul Muller forwarded this web calculator to determine the required capacity of the fuel pump.

http://www.autolounge.net/calculators/fuelflow.html

Thanks for everybody's help!

Cheers, Edouard :beer