Fi Tech inline pump installation questions

[Pyrate2010]

If anybody has used the fitech inline Pump kit did you upgrade the sending unit to a half inch outlet or did you use the stock sending unit pickup tube ? Also did you utilize the existing hardlines or not. I thought the inline Pump kit instructions recommended a half inch pickup tube

[ShagWagon]

I don t think you need to make bigger lines. 3/8 is what I been running and no problems. Current hardliners will work. Use 2 clamps on hi pressure side and hi pressure FI hose or FI clamps with proper fittings. Return lines need to be better because it deadheads the regulator at the TB and sends quite a bit of fuel back to the tank if your running a 60+psi pump.

I ran the FCC for a while till it overheat problems. Just put in a in tank pump..

[Pyrate2010]

Thanks Shag, I had been following your thread I didn't know that you had already converted over to the intank pump, I have the Fi Tech in line pump kit so it has all the hoses clamps and fittings so I should be good to go.

[babywag]

If it were me...
new 3/8" supply line
utilize existing 5/16" supply as new return
remove existing 1/4" return
My '88 is like above.

There are many newer cars well over the HP of a stock 360 utilizing 5/16" lines.
In stock or mildly modified trim the stock lines are adequate.
My '90 has been using stock lines w/o issue.

Neither is Fitech, both are TBI injected.

[nightglide]

I went thru 2 fitech in line pumps and one Walbro in line pump in probably less than a yr. I don't think inline is the way to go. I'm also converting to in tank pump. It could the heat here I dunno but they didn't last for me

[ShagWagon]

Do like babywag says....

I ran a 3/8 return off my TB, then channeled it into 5/16, then to my hardline back to my sending unit modified from the stock 1/4 to 5/16.

The fitech runs at 58psi. I believe most GM systems run 18-22psi.

My pump is 60 psi Delphi. Most others are 80-100. I think might be too much pressure deadheading the pressure regulator with too less return line might be causing issues.

Also there's a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) setting. Has to do with the speed the pump pumps. Not sure how or if this factors but it may. It can be changed with the handheld. Recommended 40PWM for FCC and 75PWM for other pumps.

I just put in the new in tank system a few days ago and haven't tested it much just a few grocery gets. Headed up the river tomorrow will see how it does at some more extremes.

I'm running a Novak which I had to add two inches to pickup tub to make it hit bottom of the tank. I also modified the hot wire seal. Didn't like that it was a loose seal and that they put the nuts on the bottom so I changed it to the nuts on top and the screw head on the bottom so I could remove the + post without pulling out the whole bolt, sanded down the spacer some and added an extra washer and rubber washer to the top for a snigger fit. Is a good setup so far. Noise is completely non existent.

I ordered the parts to make one out of my original sending unit just for fun because I couldn't decide to make one for about $170 with a walbro 80psi, walbro install kit and bulkhead for wire sealup or go with the Novak pump. I ordered it all the same day and Novak showed up first so I had absolutely no patience and went with that one.

I'll probably be building this later this week and will try to put up some pics....

[Pyrate2010]

Thanks again for the advice everybody, It sucks to hear about the bad luck with inline pumps. I'm gonna have to rethink about how i want to go about this.

[R69US]

Well, for the sake of playing devil's advocate, I've had the inline Fitech pump running for awhile now with no issues. It's gotta be at least level with the bottom of the tank according to FiTech, so it's only pushing fuel (mostly) vice pulling. I mounted it on big rubber isolators to keep it off the frame and quiet, and so far I've had no issues.
I went back and forth on it vs the Command Center, and just felt like less is more over running a separate feed pump. It's quiet enough at idle since the PWM function allows it to change speed based on demand, though I went to a fair amount of trouble to make sure it wasn't transmitting vibes to the truck (I hate fuel pump noise).
Now I hear the Crane HI-6R ignition box more than the pump at idle...I need to put it on iso mounts as well.

[R69US]

And I run 3/8" from tank to pump off the stock pickup, by the way, though it's not a big run...maybe 2' or so. from pump on, and back on the return side I ran the stuff the FiTech pump kit came with.

[TexasJ10]

Originally Posted by nightglide

I went thru 2 fitech in line pumps and one Walbro in line pump in probably less than a yr. I don't think inline is the way to go. I'm also converting to in tank pump. It could the heat here I dunno but they didn't last for me

What size wire did you run to the pumps? You can get voltage drops when too small wire is used and it will burn a pump up fast. I noticed most Walbro pumps are stamped with a notice that a 20 amp fuse should be used which would probably equate to a requirement for 12 gauge wire from fuse to pump depending where it is mounted inline.

[nightglide]

Originally Posted by TexasJ10

What size wire did you run to the pumps? You can get voltage drops when too small wire is used and it will burn a pump up fast. I noticed most Walbro pumps are stamped with a notice that a 20 amp fuse should be used which would probably equate to a requirement for 12 gauge wire from fuse to pump depending where it is mounted inline.

I just used the fitech fuel pump wire lead. I'm sure it's not 12 gauge........
My plan with new pump is wire it to relay with proper wire and,turn the pwm of on the fitech

[TexasJ10]

I think that is the best way to go.

I had a conversation with a Walbro rep a while back concerning their pumps. There are a lot of counterfeit pumps out there unfortunately and no real good way to tell. They sell a number of pumps directly on their web site. They told me all their pumps are internally cooled, so whether it is in the tank or outside, it cools from the gas passing through them. I thought I would have to mount the intank pump at the bottom of the tank, but they told me that wasn't necessary as long as a filter arrangement was attached on the inlet.