My swap has gotten to the fuel part. The car is an original 305 carb car so besides dropping in a new fuel pump, new fuel line and a wire for the pump, what else do I need? Do I need a sender and accompanying wire as well? How have you guys routed your wires?

 

Use a sender from an EFI car. Doesnt matter if it was V6, TPI, TBI

EFI cars have 3 wires to the fuel sender assy, Pump 12v, sender signal, ground
Carb cars have two wires. Sender signal, ground

One connection and it's a done deal. Routing the stock method under the carpet in the rear bundle through the bulkhead is ideal

 

what year is yours? the later carbed cars used a helper pump in the tank, so you may not need to rewire anything. however, you will want to replace the sender like pocket recommended; the clamp connections on the feed line are not safe for high pressure

 

Mine's an '87 Formula. *crosses fingers*

 

87 should have the intank pump (my 87 t/a did - you should have a fuel pump relay on the driver side firewall). the fuel lines terminate on the opposite side of the engine bay than the FI cars (and are all clamped), but not an issue if you're replacing everything anyway with braided line.

 

I'll have to take a closer look. I hope the wires are there already. As it is, I'm sick of the wiring already and I haven't even started connecting anything yet

 

Cheapest sending unit I can find is like $280 from O'reillys. Are there any other cheaper options? Do I need just the sensor or the whole assembly, float and all?

 

Grab one from a junk yard. New price includes a pump that you wont be using. Extra cost for no benefit

You need the whole assembly except the pump

 

Ok. I'll check with a JY, it can be pretty much any GM vehicle as long as it's fuel injected, correct? But why is the existing sender not adequate?

I checked the plug going up to the tank and it's the 3 wire kind I think I'll go ahead and replace the pump while I'm dropping the tank. It was getting kind of noisy anyway and I'm afraid it might be on it's last legs.

On a side note....is it possible to drop the tank without dropping the axle even if it might be a tight squeeze?

 

search the boards here for a sender - i found a guy on here locally that had one from a tpi setup for under $50.

you need to replace the sender because the carbed cars used clamped connections on all of the lines. fuel injection is a higher pressure and you need threaded fittings to not run the risk of blowing the lines off.

i was able to drop the tank previously by just dropping the passenger side of the rear end, but it was not easy. its a rough job to begin with - don't make yourself struggle any more than you have to.

 

That added pressure would make sense. I'm hoping to not have to drop the axle, but I guess we'll see how that goes. I re-read Pocket's reply. I think he is saying I need to look for a camaro/firebird specific sender.

 

correct

 

I've looked high and low for a sending unit and none of the junkyards around here have one. The ones I can find, well.....the shipping kills it. So, plan B. I am using what I have. I'm taking the sending unit to a radiator shop and having them braze on a threaded fitting instead. Anyone see any issues with this?

And just to confirm. Stock fuel pump should put out enough fuel, right? Getting sick of spending money on all these little items

 

you *may* be able to flare the tubes yourself, but I'm not sure. I was thinking of trying this myself since I'm going to AN fittings, but I've got a spare in case of issue. Nobody in the classifieds had one going for a good price?

 

Found one guy that may or may not have one. He's not responding, and I'm being impatient I need to have this done in short order. I already picked up the AN fittings and it uses the threaded fitting. Flaring wouldn't work in that case.

What about the stock pump? Should be able to push enough fuel right? I think that's what Pocket was saying.

 

Stock what pump?

 

'87 Firebird. 305 Carb setup. Has the three wires coming off the sender (If that makes a difference as far as which pump)

 

The factory carb in-tank electric fuel pump is not up to the job for EFI. You need one that is capable of putting out more pressure.

If I'm not mistaken, an EFI pump will fit in place of the carb electric pump in the pickup.

 

Alright, I guess I'll go with my original plan and replace the pump. I've been nickel and dimed to death anyway so what's another $100 :P

 

You will need "high pressure" connections all the way to the engine. If you have any plain clamped rubber hose anywhere in the supply line (I'm not sure what '87 carb'd looks like), it will have to be changed.

 

The carb helper pumps were just TBI pumps. Same dimensions as any of the high pressure versions

Not sure if the lines still used hose clamps though...

 

So pump is reusable? Yes, the lines use clamps

 

TBI pumps put out 14psi, so no

Id swap fuel sender for an EFI version with threaded fittings. Peace of mind

 

So I'll be swapping the pump then. As far as sender, I'm having a radiator shop braze on a threaded fitting. Can't see paying $200+ for a new sender and junkyards are asking way too much in shipping.

 

Subscribed.

I'm almost in the same boat as the OP. So a upgraded fuel pump AND sending unit would need to be changed when going carb to efi?

 

Thats right

 

Good to know. I just help my buddy with his fuel pump in his '97 lt1. So at least I get to see what I'm looking for lol.