I have the tank out of my car. I pulled the sending unit and the sock was torn. I thought about leaving the sock out completely. I have a good filter between the mech pump (Carter 172) and the carb. Is the sock really necessary? Some people say remove the sock and install an external filter between the tank and pump. Then others say never put a filter between the tank and a mech pump.......but don't all cars have that because the sock is a filter isn't it?? So basically everybody has a filter between the tank and pump. Or is an inline filter more restrictive on the suction side of a pump than a sock?

Jim I think I would just try and find a replacement sock. Then you won't have to worry about the outcome.
Mike

Jim,as long as the tank is clean/not rusty and you NEVER get dirt in the tank from your local gas station i dont see a problem removing the sock strainer from the fuel pickup/sending unit.

But if you get any debries (Dirt/rust/silt) from a bad load of fuel thats when you can pass that along to the fuel pump which is not so good.

I have seen some people get away with running a std inline filter inbetween tank & mech fuel pump and get away with it . But i think if a particular setup is on the edge as far as fuel delivery goes having an inline filter between tank with a mech fuel pump could push it over the edge and cause fuel startvation or at least a little top end lean situation so keep that in mind.

Most of our chevelles are not daily drivers and see much less fuel going through the tanks then 35-40 yrs ago and todays fuel stations are supposed to have better filtering at the pump too but i dont know thats a fact for sure.

So with that thought in mind i think you could get away with no sock and you could try running a not too restrictive fuel filter inbetween tank & pump to see how it runs with your particular setup. If you dont seem to feel any difference on top end your ok,but if it feels like its falling off on top end remove the inline filer and see if that feeling goes away.

But even if after testing you find you cant run the additional filter because its too restrictive your likelyhood of getting a bad/dirty load of fuel is fairly small esp if you always get your fuel from the same station you have never had issues with in the past.

If line is if all the fuel companies did what they were supposed and all had the proper fuel filtering at the fuel terminals when loading the tanker trucks for delivery to the stations and then a secondary set of finer filters at the pumps to ensure they were selling us a clean product LIKEL THEY SHOULD BE this would be a non issue.

Scott

Jim I would remove the sock. I did it on my Malibu for the simple reason of even if you get dirt in the tank, it's easier to change or clean an external filter than to drop the tank to inspect the sock. I did have an inline Holley filter right off the tank, and had no problems with the mechanical pump. It was a 355 that made 390hp at the wheels.

i was thinking the same as you jim. i have a sumped tank with the same carter 172 gph pump. i wanted to use the -10 line off both 3/8" outlets and have it connect into a fram large cannister filter(hp-4). it will be mounted below or level with the tank. from there i want to run a -10 line to the inlet side of the pump. then run -8 the my carb. perhaps run another filter after the pump. didn't mean to hijack your post jim but we want to do similar. thanx mike

I took sumped my tank, therefore not using the original sending unit, but that sock on the original was torn and frayed. I've never had a sock on since and don't even have a filter between the tank and the pump. just obe before the carb. When I had my tank sumped the guy coated the inside with a red colored material so as the tank will never rust. I've been running the car this way for a year now. The other day I took the mech fuel pump off and apart completely just to inspect it and it was very clean inside, just like it was brand new. occasionally I'll find tiny pieces of debris in the filter before my carb, but I just clean it out and put it back in. That is what it is supposed to do. I drive my car often too.

The tank will be replaced. I just ordered a new one. GM34E Spectra Premium.

Jim,

On my truck, I removed the socks from both tanks. I have a fram clear filter right before the mechanical pump. I had to do this because when it was my son's truck, his ex decided to drop sand and rocks down both tanks. I ended up dropping both tanks, and taking the torn socks off, and installed all new rubber hoses (good thing).

Jim,

his ex decided to drop sand and rocks down both tanks.

OUCH! I don't think I have to worry about that scenario.

WOMEN............... Why do they always mess with a mans car???? :pout: .. Just kick me in the n**s and get it over with.. :boxing:

if all the fuel companies did what they were supposed to and all had the proper fuel filtering at the fuel terminals when loading the tanker trucks for delivery to the stations and then a secondary set of finer filters at the pumps to ensure they were selling us a clean product LIKE THEY SHOULD BE this would be a non issue.


Gee, this would be great, but the poor, poor oil companies are barely keeping their heads above water. They might have to spend a few bucks to filter the fuel. We wouldn't want them not being able to put food on their tables just so we can have halfway clean fuel, now would we? :p

Dave

What about the storage tanks and trucks the fuel is in after the oil companies are finished producing it? Oil is sold on the open market everyday, you can thank those idiots for the high price you pay. Bin Laden farts and oil jumps 10.00 a barrel.

I modified my pickup assembly with a 1/2" line bent the same as the original and soldered it into the top of the sending unit to replace the 3/8" tube. I don't have a sock on it and put a 1/2" NAPA filter under the pass. door before the Edelbrock Victor mechanical pump. It has been this way for about 10 years without problem and it has sufficient flow to feed a mild big block with a 125 shot of N2O without dropping fuel pressure.

I too removed the sock and have a filter between the pump and carb.

How restrictive is a sock vs an inline filter before the carb if you wanted to do that?