I understand my old fuel pump will not be enough to handle the LT-1 that I am having installed in my '76 .
Instead of dropping the tank, and installing a different, higher pressure pump, could the following idea work ?
Could I just install an aftermarket, high pressure electric pump, with regulator ? To this, I would put a fuel pressure guage in line, in the engine compartment . Any thought on this, please feel free to tell me . I'd like a few opinions, before I blow myself sky high !!

Electric pumps are far more efficient at pushing fuel, rather than pulling, so if you go that route, mount it as close to the fuel tank as you can. Also, you should shield it or you may well hear it through your radio every time it pulses.

Holley, Carter and Edelbrock make high volume mechanical fuel pumps for the street and racing. One of them should serve your needs. Check with Summit Racing or Jegs on their websites and you can get the information you need.

Thanks for the input . I have a Holley electric high pressure fuel pump on my '70 Dodge Challenger R/T , mounted right next to the tank. ( Is it permissable to say " Mopar" here ? ) Well,anyway , I've had no problem with it, as I'm running a 383 , with, well over , 425 hp, and it hasn't starved for fuel yet !
Do you feel the high pressure mechanical would be better for the LT-1 than the electric pump ?
Again, thanks for the help.


Bill .........

Isn't the tank the same 75-82? If so, I would find an 82 sending unit and use a stock LT1 pump on it. It will be much quieter. On my 69 w/ TPI I use an 88 Ford Truck external pump above the RH frame in the back. It is fairly quiet, but I'd rather have it in the tank if I could.

I don't see any problem with using an electric pump as long as it's installed properly. The vast, vast majority of C3's, including the LT-1's and big blocks used mechanical fuel pumps without fuel starvation problems, so it's a matter of selecting the appropriate pump for your needs. The high volume Holley and Edelbrock pumps can be installed with a pressure regulator, so why not do that? No wiring or adapting of fuel lines...just r & r the mechanical pumps and install a regulator if needed.

Use this easy formula to calculate how much fuel flow you will need.

Typically, at wide open throttle, full power, an engine requires 0.5 lbs. of fuel per horsepower every hour. A gallon of gasoline weighs approximately 6 lbs. Therefore an engine rated at 350 horsepower will require about 175 pounds (29 gallons) of fuel every hour.
(350HP x .5lbs = 175 lbs of fuel, 175 lbs/6 lbs = 29 gallons per hour)

You can also find the same information at this link along with other fuel system technical information.

Remember that most manuf. rate their fuel pump at free flow, not at a specific PSI. If you look at the holley website they show what the pump will actually flow at a given RPM. and Pressure.

If you are keeping the fuel injection, you will need to buy an inline fuel pump rated for fuel injection. Most of the electrical pumps manufactured by Holley, Edelbrock and others are high volume pumps, but they usually only reach up to 12 to 15 psi. With a regulator, this is fine for a carburated high performance application. For fuel injection on a later model LT-1 you will need in excess of 36 psi. As stated earlier, it needs to be installed as close to the tank as possible.

Keep in mind, when you say LT-1, you need to clarify "early '70s LT-1" or "90s LT-1". Good luck on your engine swap!!

Bill,

You are forgiven for your sin of blasphemy. For your pennance, go smoke the tires off of your stroker, while thinking to yourself...

"Everything else is just transportation"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I thought the LT-1's had electric pumps in the tank ? The engine came out of a ' 94 Vette . Think I will have to wait until it gets here to see. Then, I will be able to go from there.Told you guys I was a novice at Vettes, even though I've owned mine for 10 years ! Well, let's say a novice at conversions

Sorry, but, even with the LT-1,I seriously doubt the Vette will beat a 425+ hp Mopar . It may be fuel injected and all that, but, the Mopar is far from stock.Plus, it's running a twin tunnel ram intake , with tons of goodies. Seems I'll have the best of both worlds, wouldn't you agree ???
Oh, by the way, quoting David Lee Roth ? Is THAT permissable ?