Upgrading fuel system need recommendations

[sst1226]

Have a 69 Nova currently with a 500hp 396 and a 750 double pumper. My current setup works for this combination but now I'm building a mild 509 that will make somewhere in the 700hp range and have a Dominator.

Currently I'm running a single Holley black pump with #10 line to a y-block sends 2 #6 lines to 2 holley regulators and then feeds the front and rear bowls of the carburetor.
Below is a sketch of the system as it is now.
As you can see, I'm looking to step into the 21st century with my fuel system.

What are your recommendations for the new motor, I'm not sure that this setup will be enough to feed it. I searched around and it seemd like the magnafuel pumps are the way to go.
Could someone give me a good pump/regulator recommendation?

Also, do any of you route your fuel system this way?

Does anyone use return lines?

Thanks in advance!

[Ron Finney]

This won't be a popular answer, but it will be truthful. You have all the fuel system you need with the black pump and your combo. If you do the fuel consumption equations to calculate the pounds per hour, you will see you have enough. Most people run way more pump than needed. I have a 572 that runs S/C in my altered that uses a black pump. In fact I actually put on a Jeg's 105gal./hr. pump at the US nationals a year ago, because my pump starting getting noisy and that was all I had. There was absolutely no change in ET in S/C. What I do like aboout the smaller pumps is that they don't pull that much current. If you want to upgrade I would look at the holley HP pump. Its cost effective and rated to 950 hp. And before everyone starts the acceleration argument, yes, my fuel cell is on back and I am pumping against the G-force of acceleration.

However, if you want to upgrade, you can;t go wrong with the Magna fuel, Aeromotive A2000 or the Weldon pumps. They are the cadillacs so to speak. But, you will need to utilize a return line system to use these pumps.

One question I had on your drawing though, why two regulators? There are two outlets on a holley regulator and I run one to the front bowl and one to the rear. Just curious.

Good Luck!

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Ron Finney

This won't be a popular answer, but it will be truthful. You have all the fuel system you need

x2

with nothing more than a Mallory Comp 140 pump and filter plumbed off the stock, unsump fuel tank, pushing fuel through the stock 3/8" fuel line to a dead headed regulator, I made over 4000 passes in this car, running a best of 1.28 60 foot and 10.07 ET n/a at 3880 lbs. with a 700HP cast iron oval port headed 468



under the hood of this car

[sst1226]

Thanks for all your input.

I think for now I will leave the fuel system as is and put the 509 in and go from there. I figure the less I change in between engine swaps, the less amount of variables I will have to deal with should a problem arise. Not to mention the car had the same setup years ago with the exception that we used 2 holley blue pumps from each sump being fed into a "Y" into the #8 supply line running up to the front and the car went 9.80's with an iron headed 454. The only difference now is a have a single black pump.

Ron, the reason for 2 regulators was just as Bill had stated, the small feed holes. Figure it was better to use a regulator for each bowl rather than split that small feed hole 2 ways.

And yes I do have a seperate relay for the fuel pump as well as all the other electronics on the car.

Eventually I was thinking of going to a setup like Bob Gonier's with the regulator on the return side.

Bob Gonier, I was wondering:

What size supply and return lines do you run? I have heard of some guys not being able to reduce the fuel pressure enough with a small return line, although they may have been using a pump that flows crazy numbers.

Where did you route the return line? On my 69' there is a hole in the rear frame for the supply line to go through where it runs over the axle.

[Adger Smith]

The feed hole in the holley reg is less than .250 in diameter and has a .090 pin going through it further reducing the available flow. Always use 2 or send those regulators out and be modified for more flow or get a regulator with more flow capability. I think your system has plenty of capacity for your applications.

[bob gonier]

Originally Posted by sst1226

Bob Gonier, I was wondering:

What size supply and return lines do you run? I have heard of some guys not being able to reduce the fuel pressure enough with a small return line, although they may have been using a pump that flows crazy numbers.

Where did you route the return line? On my 69' there is a hole in the rear frame for the supply line to go through where it runs over the axle.

I'm running all -10 from the cell to the regulator and -8 for the return. I was going to run -10 for the return also, but Aeromotive said no need. The regulator after the carb seemed a bit strange, but the fuel sytem has been rock solid and I like the clean look it provides. Both my fuel lines are simply run between the frame connector and the rocker panel and come up to a pair of bulkheads coming into the trunk. Very simple and clean .







Bob

[Adger Smith]

The regulator after the carb is a great system. I have a lot of D Track alky users that run that type of system. It keeps a good solid slug of no aireated (SP?) fuel to the needle and seats.

[bob gonier]

I went with all Aeromotive stuff on my '70 Nova. Their fuel log/return style regulator is awesome and really cleans up the engine compartment. A 2" throttle stop fits underneith nicely. I'm currently running the A1000 pump with great results and have been 9.80's @ 136 mph. After a full season, not even a hiccup.........






Bob

[sst1226]

Thats a good question Bob. When I got the car, it always had 2 regulators on it, so I left it alone.

Does Aeromotive have routing instructions for plumbing a return system?

[sst1226]

Never mind, found it.