I was wanting to get some opinions on what you all think the best fuel pump setup would be for a weekend driven 500 hp BBC. It will be an 80/20 Street/Strip vehicle and I am not sure whether to go Electric or Mechanical, whats more reliable, and what brands do ya'll recommend. I have searched the topic, but the questions are very specific. It is currently steel headed, and will see a little bit of NOS on the weekends, but no more than a 150 shot. I would prefer to use a single source of fuel delivery and through a distribution block for the NOS, so I am assuming a stout pump of some kind. Any opinions or advice would be appreciated.

I'd recommend the Carter 172 mech pump for motor and a Holley blue elec for the 150 shot.

Yup,the carter is the way to go for a great mech f/pump for a hi/perf BBC.

Use a light weight f/pump rod while your at it.

scott

Hi guys I don't want to hijack the thread but I have a Holly 12-454-11 mech pump rated at 6-8 lb and 110 gph for a 500 hp 454 NA will that be enough it is still in the box and I was gong to use it with the new cam.

I need help on this as well, it is my next purchase with similar combo to adpostel. Anyone else? It is the Carter 172 the way to go?

Is the Carter a 3/8" or 1/2" fuel line?
Does a 500-600HP car require a 1/2" line?

Thanks.

AEROMOTIVE= no worries,especially with jolly juice.

Well I already purchased, but have not installed the Aeromotive Street/Strip Fuel pump, and I suppose i need to get the regulator with that one as well. But they have one for the same price that doesn't require a regulator (internally regulated) If going forward I was wanting to use a single pump for the gas and the nitrous, would the Aeromotive Street/Strip handle that? And what are the adv/disadv of having an internally regulated pump as opposed to free flowing with a reg? Thanks guys

Carter 172 or a CV Carter with -8 fittings will do the job. Use an inexpensive electric just for the NO2 just as Bill had said in the second post.

I ran a Carter to 10.80's feeding a 540 through an 850 DP carb and single plane intake.

I ran a low 11 motor 117 mph (468) in my Monte using the stock pickup and stock 3/8 line and the Carter 172.

They do work well and they are VERY reliable..

I am running the Carter 172 behind my 408sbc. So far so good. So if i wanna add the bottle just get a low pressure electric pump and run it along side the Carter. I dont plan on anymore more than 125 shot.

This is just an FYI, I have been talking to tech support at Aeromotive and they have given their blessing on this setup.

Under Trunk Mounted Fuel Cell w/ 1/2" hose for a pickup coming out of the top and straight to a filter. Filter to their Street/Strip electric fuel pump, to 1/2" line going to the front and straight to the regulator, and then to the carb. Now I only have a 475 to 500 hp BBC and I told them I wanted a little shot of spray on it in the future. They told me that as long as i didn't shoot more than a 150 shot, The Street/Strip pump would provide enough fuel for the juice too. Key being that you would need to run two regulators, one for the carb and one for the nitrous. But since my setup isn't a "super high power" application, the one "good" pump would suffice. This pump is internally regulated to like 17-20 psi. and flows about 130 gph.

Or check out www.racepumps.com

I use that racepump...very easy on to install...no problems on my small block with the gas.

R

It will be an 80/20 Street/Strip vehicle

That's exactly why I recommended a Carter mechanical pump with a switched nitrous dedicated Holley blue.
If I could go back to a mechanical fuel pump I'd do it in a heartbeat. I hate the continous buzzing of an electric pump while driving around town. And although it's never left me stranded, I've got serious doubts about the electric's longivity.
The Carter served me well until a cam/head swap demanded more fuel delivery than it could pull.

I compared my Holley 170 pump with the Carter 172 pump and it is the EXACT same housing which leads me to beleive it is the same pump with different branding, but the Holley is fancy chrome and ~$20 cheaper. It has been feeding my twin carbs on my blower motor just fine. I looked at the fuel pressure guage going thru the 1/4 traps, and she was at full pressure.

I have the Aeromotive street/strip electric pump. It was very noisy on the deadhead non-bypass regulator setup. It also had overheating problems that would cause fuel starvation after a few passes. Putting a damp rag on the pump motor seemed to be a good band-aid.

When the motor is on the internal bypass it is pulling major amps because of the load created by the 18psi it is fighting.

Changing the system to a bypass setup with Mallory vacuum referenced regulator cured these problems. The pump now only sees 3 psi at idle and fuel is always cool due to circulation. I used 1/2" aluminum line for both the feed and bypass lines.

The Carter served me well until a cam/head swap demanded more fuel delivery than it could pull.

Bill..I agree 100% on the noise and all else..But I do have a question.

Did you try the Carter at all with your current setup ? I ask because I`m putting one on our new 496".

I would have put one one our 534" but there was no provision for one. That would have been interesting.
I was a little disappointed in that, but we`ll see how this setup plays out.

I'll third the motion for Bill's recomendation - a Carter 172 and an electric for the nitrous.

I run a Carter 172 on my newly refreshened 496, which in final tune pulled 681 hp and 614 tq. In the dyno cell it still held 5+ psi at that power level, I have yet to see how it does in a moving car down the dragstrip. I'm hoping to install the engine this Sunday.

There are actually several fuel pumps that have identical looking housings as the Carter 172 - that does not mean they have the same valving or flow capacity. One thing to note about the 172 gph rating of the Carter 172: this is only true when feeding it with a -10 fuel inlet. If you are using a -8 or 1/2" feed line it will not flow 172 gph. In my car I have two 3/8" feed lines going into 1/2" line into the pump.

The RacePump floating piston design should feed your engine nitrous and all.

Thomas

A bypass system is definatly a good way to go

Did you try the Carter at all with your current setup ? I ask because I`m putting one on our new 496".

Yes Steve, I did. The car did great around town but would fall on it's nose about 800 ft down the track...actually stalling out by the time I got to the return road.
Ask my friends...I stubbornly resisted installing an electric until I finally realized I had no other choice. Doesn't mean I have to like it.
I'm really tempted to try the Racepump...and in fact, the pump pushrod is still in the motor. ;)

I am also real tempted to try the racepump design. I do not like electric pumps, I am sure it would fee my 496 without the NOS, Racepumps claims 2 regulators and It will be fine to feed engine and NOS, but my concern would be with its ability to draw the fuel under acceleration.
Hopefully my holley mechanical 170 will feed the 496 until I spray it.

Steve,

Same thing happened to me when going to go quicker than 10.80's. Carter 172 couldn't keep up which was expected, there is only so much one could expect.

Bill and I had a post about this about 6 months ago.

I have the entire Racepump system sitting in a box ready to install over this winter.

Now you guys have me wondering.
I do expect the car to run 10`s... may need to look into that Race pump too.
Thanks

You think they got you wondering, I already bought the Aeromotive Street/Strip pump, and the canister filter. I am thinking I should take it back and get a Carter now. There isn't much cost difference in the two pumps, but reliability, longevity and ease of application might be the biggest advantage. I have a Holley Blue that either still works, or would be fine with a kit. I could go Carter for normal running, and use the Holley Blue for the NOS. Man it took me forever to decide on the darn Aeromotive, now I am leaning the other way......hmmmmm

Here is a pic of the setup I had with the Carter being fed by the stock fuel line from where the stock 3/8 hard line ended. I pushed the -6 line over a slight flare in the factory line and put 2 clamps on it. Then it was adapted to the -10 inlet on the pump. I have a couple used but work like new Carter 172's for $50.

Steve,

without backtracking posts I'll ask if you have a gravity feed to the Carter through -10 line ?

http://www.boomspeed.com/mc71454/fuel6.JPG
http://www.boomspeed.com/mc71454/fuel5.JPG

Carter 172!

My current magnafuel would drive me nuts on the street with the amount of noise it makes.

I don't have a BBC, just a little weenie ~700 HP - 445 SBC ;)

I built a crossmember that I mounted between the rear frame rail, just in front of the bumper. I mounted a Mallory Comp500 filter and Comp 140 fuel pump to the crossmember. From the fuel cell sump, I run -10 line in the filter, out of the filter, in the pump, out of the pump and up to the RH inner fender mounted Holley big port regulator. From the regulator I have two -6 lines going to each carb float bowl. Pressure stays steady running down the track.

With the pump remote mounted you can barely hear it running.

http://img89.imageshack.us/my.php?image=rhengview1oh.jpg

I ran a similar Comp 110 pump on the car when it was a daily driver for 3 years. Made several 5-6 hour trips. At that point it was mounted in the trunk and was a little noisy. The pump motor did finally die. All it need was new brushes and it was good to go again.

I don't have a BBC, just a little weenie ~700 HP - 445 SBC ;)

I built a crossmember that I mounted between the rear frame rail, just in front of the bumper. I mounted a Mallory Comp500 filter and Comp 140 fuel pump to the crossmember. From the fuel cell sump, I run -10 line in the filter, out of the filter, in the pump, out of the pump and up to the RH inner fender mounted Holley big port regulator. From the regulator I have two -6 lines going to each carb float bowl. Pressure stays steady running down the track.

With the pump remote mounted you can barely hear it running.

I ran a similar Comp 110 pump on the car when it was a daily driver for 3 years. Made several 5-6 hour trips. At that point it was mounted in the trunk and was a little noisy. The pump motor did finally die. All it need was new brushes and it was good to go again.

I run a very similar setup on my street 548. Rear mounted Mallory Comp 140 electric pump and filter feeding an Aeromotive dead head regulator. I previously ran the Mallory regulator, but had to frequently adjust due to creeping pressure. The Aeromotive regulator eliminated all fluctuation.

Have not run it down the track, but fuel pressure did drop to 5 psi during chassis dyno runs. I have it set for 7 psi.

Mark

Steve,

without backtracking posts I'll ask if you have a gravity feed to the Carter through -10 line ?

Tom, this what I have on Big..excuse the mess http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a356/scm-asm/000101120000219.jpg
It`s 1/2" from tank up to this large by huge line.
1/2" again to carb.

Similar set up for the 496" but that`s going in our 78 Camaro.

WOW...two carter 172`s for $50 bux!!.:):)

I would like to run the 172 but I want to use the stock lines, any suggestions?

I can't hear my frame mounted Mallory Comp 140 over my engine even at idle, but it is a sound you can hear when I turn on the key.

I like this pump, has never failed and feeds my engine at all RPM. I have a pressure gauge on the hood so I can keep track.

Just a funny note to all those who hate electric fuel pumps...just remember all of your daily drivers of the modern era of any factory HP run with and need electric pumps for FI.

It's all about home-style engineering on our old cars for quietness and performance to run an electric pump.

For the street and simpilicity you just cant beat the RacePump set up ..........ran the setup all last summer no fuel issues AN 10 tank to pump An 8 to carb Aeromotive filter at tank
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/P6100031.JPG

I would like to run the 172 but I want to use the stock lines, any suggestions?

Take a Look at my first picture a few posts up

For the street and simpilicity you just cant beat the RacePump set up ..........ran the setup all last summer no fuel issues AN 10 tank to pump An 8 to carb Aeromotive filter at tank
http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/500/P6100031.JPG


Looks Great !!

What I can't wait for is to remove my return line AND to get my electric from hanging out back.

Tom, this what I have on Big..excuse the mess http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a356/scm-asm/000101120000219.jpg
It`s 1/2" from tank up to this large by huge line.
1/2" again to carb.

Similar set up for the 496" but that`s going in our 78 Camaro.

WOW...two carter 172`s for $50 bux!!.:):)


Steve, Is the fuel tank sumped ? or is it pulled through the pickup ?

Well That would be $49.99 each...I give a better warranty to TC Members than Carter Does !!!

Tom, if you're still here, check your PM and/or email. John

Tom, if you're still here, check your PM and/or email. John

Sent a PM back at ya

Steve, Is the fuel tank sumped ? or is it pulled through the pickup ?

I used the factory pickup, minus the sock and went 1/2" from there on. No sump.