Electric Fuel Pressure Sender
Install
WARNING:
This section deals with modifying the fuel delivery system. Care must be taken to insure leak proof
connections are maintained as well as all components used should be designed
for high-pressure fuel injection systems.
This is just what I have done.
Please do further research if you are unfamiliar with fuel delivery
system modification or hire a professional mechanic to modify the fuel delivery
system of your car.
There are several ways to install an
electric fuel pressure sender on a late model V6 firebird/camaro. Some methods are easier and/or more
affordable than others. I will first
detail the method and parts I used on my 2001 Firebird. After the first example you will find
alternate methods and parts.
Many electric fuel pressure senders use a
1/8 male npt fitting on the end of the sender.
You must install an adapter or adapter system somewhere in the FUEL FEED
line. There is a fuel rail test port on
the passenger side fuel rail. It
contains a schrader valve. That port
can be used to test fuel system as well as bleed fuel system vacuum in case you
ever run out of gas. I have chosen to
leave the schrader valve test port as is in case of such a circumstance. (DOH!)
So, the next best alternative is to patch into the rubber fuel lines
that bridge from the chassis mounted metal fuel line to the engine mounted fuel
rail. The feed line is 3/8 “ and uses
GM Quick Disconnect female ends on either side of the stock rubber fuel feed
hose. You could cut the stock line and
insert a 2 way 3/8” barbed hose end adapter with 1/8” npt female threaded
connector (see pic below) and use Fuel Injection approved 3/8” clamps and some
thread sealer and call it a day. I
chose to leave the stock fuel system intact and replace the entire rubber hose
section. (The fuel return line was also
replaced the same way when the FMU was installed. Now both of the stock fuel lines have been removed from the car
and saved in case returning to stock is required in the future.)
To
replace the stock rubber fuel feed line you will need:
SUM-G1710 Fitting fuel pressure for
3/8" hose with 1/8" NPT port
$6 Aluminum
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=partdetail.asp&part=SUM-G1710
To use the GM Quick Disconnect tool: Remove rubber boot clip and the rubber boot from connector. Position the appropriate end of disconnect
tool over the male end of fuel line connection and close the ‘scissor’ action
over the tube. Next, push the female
connector forward (tightly onto the male fitting) and push the disconnect tool
into the female connector. You may need
to wiggle and jiggle the tool a bit but the fuel connection should come right
apart without too much trouble.
Below is a pic of the sender connected to the new replacement 3/8” fuel lines. (You must use Fuel Injection rated hoses) You can see the 1/8” NPT sender screwed into the 3/8” fuel line adapter and also the two 3/8” Fuel Injection Hose Clamps. I used Teflon thread tape for the sender and mounted the adapter in a vice to screw the sender in (by hand) very tight before I made the hose connections. (It is possible to break the aluminum sender adapter by over tightning the brass sender)
Below is the finished fuel rig complete with reflective metal tape wrap.
Before
starting a car with new fuel connections I always turn on the fuel pump and
observe the line for possible leaks.
When the car is first started I also have a fire extinguisher at the
ready and a buddy to turn off the car if need be. Modding high pressure fuel lines is serious stuff…take care and
take precautions. Double and triple
check your new fuel connections before and after test-drives until you feel
comfortable that all is good and secure.
The bends in these fuel
lines from the FMU, etc., are not as sharp as they appear in the pic.
Optional parts to mate 1/8”
NPT sender to the fuel rail schader valve:
EAR-923104ERL
-4 FEMALE TO 1/8 NPT SWIVEL $22.69
AND THIS:
EAR-991001ERL 1/8 NPT COUPLING $2.95
OR the next kit is from Autometer: It is intended for mechanical fuel pressure
guage but will work for electircal sender as well. It has 3ft. of hose so could be reach just about anywhere under
the hood and also act as testing rig for observing fuel pressure with
mechanical gauge from the engine compartment.
You can use a # 3227 stainless hose kit which is a #4 line kit which is 3 foot long. One end will thread onto your factory schraeder valve on the fuel rail and the fuel sender will thread into the other end with one of the hose kits supplied adapters.
Part number ATM-3227 Braided Stainless Steel Hose, 3ft. #4, 3/16" ID Fittings. For use with mechanical pressure gauges. Recommended for use with fuel pressure gauges. From Auto Meter. $30
http://store.summitracing.com/default.asp?target=esearch.asp&N=100&Ntk=PartSearch&Ntt=3227&x=10&y=10
