chuddy117

Hey guys, I'm seriously entertaining the thought of installing a 350 TPI into my bone stock '55 chevy. I've been researching the possibility and have a few questions. How do I find high pressure fuel line to run my fuel through? Custom made sounds expensive, but is that the only way to go? And where? I see i'll be running an external, frame mounted high pressure fuel pump, however what do i do with the return fuel line? It has a brand new stock '55 chevy tank in it with no provision for another line? Thanks for any info guys.

Chad

Swapmaster

You can get high pressure fuel line just about anywhere but it is
a bit pricey. Use the existing fuel line to feed it with and put your
pump as close to the tank as you can. Once you have the engine
bolted in you can cut the steel fuel line down by the frame leaving
a few inches pointing up to hook the rubber line to. Make up a
rubber line from there to the fuel rail reusing the fitting from the
TPI fuel line. The return line can be run with normal low pressure
5/16" fuel line. Reuse the fitting from the TPI fuel line and run the
line back to the tank where it will connect to a nipple you will need
to have soldered into the top of the tank. It should be fairly
simple and straight forward once you see how it will lay out.

BlazinOR

I did this swap into my 79 K5 Blazer.............ran all new 3/8" steel fuel line found at NAPA and fittings from there also.

Avoid using rubber if you can except for the two high pressure lines that are factory. Fittings all the way up to that point.

chuddy117

Can radiator shops solder onto a gas tank? Seems a bit risky, but I have no idea. So all the end of the steel line needs is a double flare and a nut and it will attach right to the TPI's rubber lines? Thanks guys.

Chad

Guest

The stock TPI fittings unfortunately arent double flare, they are some oddball thing called a Saginaw flare.

You might try calling some 55-7 Chevy shops for the steel lines, seems to me the place I worked at sold them since quite a few people were doing conversions. Im sure the price was a pot of gold too given where I was working at, so I'd call around and see who all sells them.

Swapmaster

Yea, they just fill the tank with water to clean it out and solder in
a nipple, it's not too big of a deal. On my Jag conversion I just
cut the crimp collar on the factory line and removed the fitting that
goes to the fuel rail and hose clamped my new line to it and to the
fuel line at the frame rail. Same thing for the return line but my car
already had the return line to the tank from the factory.

chuddy117

Well, an idea just popped into my head guys, if its retarded please tell me. What if I cut that saginaw flare off, put a compression fitting on the end of the line to make a bulge, put my rubber line over that fitting, and use 2 hose clamps to clamp the rubber tube down. The compression bulge is only there so the clamps/rubber line dont slide off the metal line. Would this work, or is the pressure too great? I'd hate to scrap the whole TPI project because of problems with the fuel lines, ya know? Thanks.

Chad

Swapmaster

That's what I did but without the bulge. the rubber line has
never slipped off on mine. I used to keep an eye on it just to
make sure but it has not moved in three years.

Bill's86Vette

This may help from another point of view...
My fuel lines rusted out in my 86 Vette so I decided to use aeroquip braided fuel line hoses from the tank to the filter and return union near the motor.The fitting kit I used was from accel to attach GM saginaw fittings to the -AN style fittings used for braided lines.
In other words,it allows you to use a TPI on a car with these type fuel hoses for fairly easy install.
Something you may want to consider for reliabilty and quality.

It was a little pricey but worth it.
The TPI uses 40 psi or so to run so be sure whatever you do can handle the higher pressures brought on by the pump.

nova65ss

I'm doing the same swap in a 65 nova. I'm going to have a line welded to the stock pickup and return it there, but they also make a kit that ties into the gas tank filler tube and returns the gas back through it. It was only about 30 or 40 dollars most of the fuel inj. companies sell it. hope this helps you, jimmy