1971 Chevrolet Corvette C3 - Fueling The Fire

We installed the electric pump on the inside of the passenger-side framerail, which is very close to the fuel tank. Fuel pumps are designed to push, not pull, so the closer the pump is to the tank, the better.

The Holley red pump is simple to install because it doesn't draw enough amperage to require a relay. It also self-regulates fuel pressure to 7 psi, so an external regulator isn't required.

After nearly 40 years, the original fuel-supply line in our car was almost certainly clogged and corroded. We removed it in favor of new aluminum 3/8-inch-diameter fuel line.

Summit sells aluminum fuel line in 25 foot coils, so with a tubing bender and flare kit, you can make your own custom-fit setup. In addition to being a larger diameter than the factory steel tubing, the aluminum line will dissipate heat and resist corrosion better.

Using a tubing cutter, a bender, and a double-flare kit, we fabricated the necessary fuel lines from our 3/8-inch aluminum coil. Since we're using braided line and AN-style fittings, it's necessary to have all the appropriate fittings, which we also acquired from Summit.

While we were upgrading our fuel system, we also swapped carburetors to a Holley 750 double-pumper we obtained from Summit. Since our future engine will utilize a Holley carb, we wanted to make sure we plumbed the system accordingly.

Using braided fuel line and AN-style fittings is not only safer-since braided lines won't rupture like rubber ones-but it also makes the car legal for sanctioned racing events.

With our fuel-system upgrades complete, we're now able to run the car through the quarter-mile without any fuel-starvation issues. Better yet, the system will now support upwards of 600 hp, so we can concentrate on building a stout small-block for Project C3 Triple-Ex.

To finalize our new upgrades, we installed a K&N air filter. This filter not only allows more airflow-and more power-but it can also be cleaned, re-oiled, and reused indefinitely.