Although adequate fuel delivery can often be obtained by installing either a large electric fuel pump or a high-volume mechanical unit, we'll actually be doing both. Installing a Holley electric fuel pump at the rear of the car, near the tank, will provide a constant stream of pressurized fuel to the high-volume Holley engine-driven pump we're also installing, thereby allowing the latter to do its job of sending pressurized fuel to the carburetor. Though this dual-pump method is slightly more costly than simply upgrading one unit, the redundant pumps will provide the best possible fuel delivery while also making the car more reliable. If one pump happens to fail, the car can still be driven on the other one, rather than leaving us stranded.
With our plan in place, we called Summit Racing Equipment and ordered a Holley "red" electric fuel pump, to install near the tank, along with a high-volume Holley mechanical pump for the engine. We also ordered a roll of 3/8-inch-diameter aluminum fuel line, which we'll use to replace the stock line in our car. Additionally, we'll be installing one of Summit's billet fuel filters and replacing our rubber fuel lines with NHRA-legal-and much safer-braided hose. While we're at it, we'll also swap the air filter to a high-flowing K&N unit, also from Summit.
Performing this type of work isn't too difficult with the right tools and knowledge, but if you're not sure you can do it, we definitely recommend taking the car to a professional, as fuel-related problems can quickly lead to fire-related problems. All told, we had our new parts installed and our system replumbed in about eight hours. While the new fuel system may be overkill for the warmed-over 350 that's in the car now, it'll certainly be adequate for the high-horsepower mill we plan to build for Project C3 Triple Ex!
Among the problems we found...
Among the problems we found with our car's fuel system were incorrect clamps at various locations. The clamps shown here were actually allowing fuel to leak onto the intake manifold, creating a fire hazard.
This fuel filter is obviously...
This fuel filter is obviously too close to the header. It's also made from glass, which will break if the car is ever in a collision. Since it's always best to filter the fuel before it goes into the pump, we'll replace this filter with a Summit Racing Equipment billet high-flow filter between the tank and the electric pump.
When the previous owner removed...
When the previous owner removed the engine-driven fuel pump, he installed a block-off plate. We picked up the proper plate and fuel-pump pushrod from our local machine shop, Auto Performance Engines.
Always verify that the clocking...
Always verify that the clocking of the inlet is compatible with your engine and car. A nice feature of the Holley pumps is that the clocking can be changed if necessary by removing these bolts, rotating the pump base, and reinstalling the bolts.
The engine-driven pump can...
The engine-driven pump can be installed from above, but we found it easier to do from below, with the car on a lift.
We chose to install a Holley...
We chose to install a Holley "red" electric fuel pump at the rear, to provide a constant supply of fuel to the engine-driven pump. The red pump will provide 97 gph at 7 psi. Like the mechanical pump, it doesn't require an external regulator.