confused..please help
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: ontario
Car: 1987 camaro
Engine: 5.7 vortec
Transmission: 700R4
confused..please help
OK so i finally have the engine out of my 87 sport coupe. I'm trying to clean up my engine bay and remove the stuff I don't need for my carbed vortec 5.7 that's going in in the next few weeks. This is my first complete swap and I'm a little apprehensive about removing things without knowing exactly what I'm doing.
Relevant engine details....holley 750 dual feed carbed 98 vortec 5.7 with electric waterpump,
Relevant car details..........complete heater/AC delete. Manual steering conversion.
Here are my questions.
1, the hard line running up the driver side frame rail to the charcoal canister, Is that the one that needs to be caped or vented? And is there anything special to removing the charcoal canister system when converting to carbed.
2, do i need the vaccume system that i assume to be in the same area as the charcoal canister? Do I need vaccume for brakes?
3, the 2 lines coming up the passenger from rail to what was a mechanical fuel pump.1 feed 1 return?( Which one is which????) What do i do with the return when the feed is attached to the new electric fuel pump?
4, I'd like to covert to manual steering. is there a manual steering box that is a bolt in to replace the original power unit??
I think that's all I need to know for now. Any help would be great!
Relevant engine details....holley 750 dual feed carbed 98 vortec 5.7 with electric waterpump,
Relevant car details..........complete heater/AC delete. Manual steering conversion.
Here are my questions.
1, the hard line running up the driver side frame rail to the charcoal canister, Is that the one that needs to be caped or vented? And is there anything special to removing the charcoal canister system when converting to carbed.
2, do i need the vaccume system that i assume to be in the same area as the charcoal canister? Do I need vaccume for brakes?
3, the 2 lines coming up the passenger from rail to what was a mechanical fuel pump.1 feed 1 return?( Which one is which????) What do i do with the return when the feed is attached to the new electric fuel pump?
4, I'd like to covert to manual steering. is there a manual steering box that is a bolt in to replace the original power unit??
I think that's all I need to know for now. Any help would be great!
Last edited by powerdreams; Aug 10, 2013 at 10:23 PM.
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 407
Likes: 10
From: Clarksville,TN
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 5.7 w/Paxton
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: confused..please help
1. needs to be vented or too much pressure will build in tank.
2. You must have vacuum for brakes...will be a port on the intake you install on the eninge.
3. I think the large line is the feed and small is the return.
4. Sorry no knowledge of a manual steering on these cars.
2. You must have vacuum for brakes...will be a port on the intake you install on the eninge.
3. I think the large line is the feed and small is the return.
4. Sorry no knowledge of a manual steering on these cars.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: ontario
Car: 1987 camaro
Engine: 5.7 vortec
Transmission: 700R4
Re: confused..please help
Thank you for the speedy reply Mr Packstin, so there will be a port on my intake I use to hook up to my brake booster. Is that correct?
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 407
Likes: 10
From: Clarksville,TN
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 5.7 w/Paxton
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: ontario
Car: 1987 camaro
Engine: 5.7 vortec
Transmission: 700R4
Re: confused..please help
I forgot to add few questions,
1, I have a fuel return line, is it used in carbed applications?
2, if I use a holley engine bay mounted electric fuel pump, what do I do with the stock in tank pump?
3, Will i need to upgrade to a high output alternator? (No heat/ac, no radio, no ecm). Electric water pump, dual electric fans. Electric fuel pump.
4, I have two 650cfm carbs. One holley dual feed with vac secondarys and one holley single feed with vac secondarys. Witch one would yeild better results on my mild 355 vortec roller
Sorry for all the questions. I'm still noob
1, I have a fuel return line, is it used in carbed applications?
2, if I use a holley engine bay mounted electric fuel pump, what do I do with the stock in tank pump?
3, Will i need to upgrade to a high output alternator? (No heat/ac, no radio, no ecm). Electric water pump, dual electric fans. Electric fuel pump.
4, I have two 650cfm carbs. One holley dual feed with vac secondarys and one holley single feed with vac secondarys. Witch one would yeild better results on my mild 355 vortec roller
Sorry for all the questions. I'm still noob
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 407
Likes: 10
From: Clarksville,TN
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 5.7 w/Paxton
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: confused..please help
1. yes; pump has two lines and smaller is the return.
2. not sure about stock pump just leave it and see what happens.
3. no...probably not.
4. I don't think a mild 355 needs the dual feed.
2. not sure about stock pump just leave it and see what happens.
3. no...probably not.
4. I don't think a mild 355 needs the dual feed.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 553
Likes: 1
From: Ballwin, MO
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: 355 tpi
Transmission: 5 speed
Re: confused..please help
1. No you don't need the return line for a carb application. Just cap that line off.
2. For the stock in tank pump you will need to remove it and add or extend the line going to the sock or in tank prefilter. Best thing to do is get a a sending unit for a carb application.
3.No what you have should be fine.
4.The single feed would work great, The dual feed would work great, the dual feed just looks cooler, And if it was my set up I would go for the dual feed.
2. For the stock in tank pump you will need to remove it and add or extend the line going to the sock or in tank prefilter. Best thing to do is get a a sending unit for a carb application.
3.No what you have should be fine.
4.The single feed would work great, The dual feed would work great, the dual feed just looks cooler, And if it was my set up I would go for the dual feed.
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 407
Likes: 10
From: Clarksville,TN
Car: 1989 GTA
Engine: 5.7 w/Paxton
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Re: confused..please help
1. No you don't need the return line for a carb application. Just cap that line off.
2. For the stock in tank pump you will need to remove it and add or extend the line going to the sock or in tank prefilter. Best thing to do is get a a sending unit for a carb application.
3.No what you have should be fine.
4.The single feed would work great, The dual feed would work great, the dual feed just looks cooler, And if it was my set up I would go for the dual feed.
2. For the stock in tank pump you will need to remove it and add or extend the line going to the sock or in tank prefilter. Best thing to do is get a a sending unit for a carb application.
3.No what you have should be fine.
4.The single feed would work great, The dual feed would work great, the dual feed just looks cooler, And if it was my set up I would go for the dual feed.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 14
From: Not in Kansas anymore
Car: 82 Z28
Engine: 383 SP EFI/ 4150 TB
Transmission: T400
Axle/Gears: QP 9" 3.73
Re: confused..please help
You don't.
Elec fuel pumps are "pusher's ,designed to be mounted as close to and below the tank level ( to self prime )
mech engine mounted pumps are "suckers" that use a diaphragm to create a suction that will suckthe fuel to the engine bay.
Elec fuel pumps are "pusher's ,designed to be mounted as close to and below the tank level ( to self prime )
mech engine mounted pumps are "suckers" that use a diaphragm to create a suction that will suckthe fuel to the engine bay.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: ontario
Car: 1987 camaro
Engine: 5.7 vortec
Transmission: 700R4
Re: confused..please help
OK so I just realized that the 305 that was in my car had a mechanical fuel pump that fed the quadrajet carb and it worked fine. Having said that, would it be safe to say that I could just install the pump mentioned below. Mount it to the fire wall and not worry about what's in the tank pump wise??
Holley p/n 12-802-1
110 PH "Blue" Electric Fuel Pump With Regulator
Rotor/Vane Design, Street/Strip Application, Economically Priced, Gasoline Only
Holley p/n 12-802-1
110 PH "Blue" Electric Fuel Pump With Regulator
Rotor/Vane Design, Street/Strip Application, Economically Priced, Gasoline Only
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 553
Likes: 1
From: Ballwin, MO
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: 355 tpi
Transmission: 5 speed
Re: confused..please help
Second since when does a mechanical fuel pump need a return line, And where would that be? Its not on the fuel pump, just one line in and one line out, Its not on the carb that the OP is using, And with that being said The OP is not going to be using a mechanical fuel pump, but instead an electrical fuel pump. I know for a fact that my RV with a big block chevy and on my boat with a SBC that they don't have any return lines , one runs an electric fuel pump one a mechanical, and both ave holley carbs.
So be for you give an answer make sure it is the right answer for the question.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 553
Likes: 1
From: Ballwin, MO
Car: 1987 Trans Am
Engine: 355 tpi
Transmission: 5 speed
Re: confused..please help
OK so I just realized that the 305 that was in my car had a mechanical fuel pump that fed the quadrajet carb and it worked fine. Having said that, would it be safe to say that I could just install the pump mentioned below. Mount it to the fire wall and not worry about what's in the tank pump wise??
Holley p/n 12-802-1
110 PH "Blue" Electric Fuel Pump With Regulator
Rotor/Vane Design, Street/Strip Application, Economically Priced, Gasoline Only
Holley p/n 12-802-1
110 PH "Blue" Electric Fuel Pump With Regulator
Rotor/Vane Design, Street/Strip Application, Economically Priced, Gasoline Only
Is there a reason you want to mount it under your hood on the fire wall?
If you plan on going to the drag strip it will not pass inspection there.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 43,187
Likes: 43
From: Littleton, CO USA
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: L92/LQ4 (both w/4" stroke)
Transmission: 4L80E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Re: confused..please help
Second since when does a mechanical fuel pump need a return line, And where would that be? Its not on the fuel pump, just one line in and one line out, Its not on the carb that the OP is using, And with that being said The OP is not going to be using a mechanical fuel pump, but instead an electrical fuel pump. I know for a fact that my RV with a big block chevy and on my boat with a SBC that they don't have any return lines , one runs an electric fuel pump one a mechanical, and both ave holley carbs.
So be for you give an answer make sure it is the right answer for the question.
So be for you give an answer make sure it is the right answer for the question.
Personally, I would not run a carb'd 3rd gen without a return line.
I also wouldn't use a Holley electric pump in a street driven carb'd 3rd gen. What I did do with my carb'd 3rd gen is run a Carter M6626 mechanical which has the return built into like the factory pump. It's rated at 120 gph, which should feed the proposed engine just fine.
If you're going to do an electric pump for a mild street engine, then I'd suggest using an in-tank electric pump.
Oh, wait, we're talking about a 1987 model 3rd gen. Guess what - it already has an in-tank electric pump, and if it was factory carb'd, it had an engine-mounted mechanical with return as well. Make sure the in-tank pump is working. If it isn't, neither the Carter mechanical (or any mechanical) nor an external electric will be able to adequately suck through a non-working in-tank electric.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: ontario
Car: 1987 camaro
Engine: 5.7 vortec
Transmission: 700R4
Re: confused..please help
Thanks guys, the 305 that was in the car had a block mounted mechanical fuel pump and yes there is a return line. (2 lines in, 1 line out) my new engine, (98 vortec) does not have a provision in the block for a mechanical pump. So if my car has a in tank electric pump, could I not use that alone or do I need a inline pump with regulator like I mentioned in my last post to achieve the correct ammount of fuel the carb needs??
Supreme Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,592
Likes: 31
From: IL
Car: 1988 Formula
Engine: 421 Little M block
Transmission: TH400 w/brake
Axle/Gears: 9" 4.30s, Wilwood discs, 28X10.5-15
Re: confused..please help
A manual steering gearbox from the Chevy S10 pickup will bolt right in place.
You will have to re-use the pitman arm on your power steering box, so be sure to save that.
A Chevy Vega box will work too
You will have to re-use the pitman arm on your power steering box, so be sure to save that.
A Chevy Vega box will work too
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: ontario
Car: 1987 camaro
Engine: 5.7 vortec
Transmission: 700R4









