View Full Version : Alternative gas tank for LT1/LS1 conversion?
sbca96 05-19-2006, 09:10:38 PM OK, I have heard that you can drop a 3rd gen pump into a 2nd gen tank, and
others say you should use a Rock Valley tank. There are downsides to each
of these, the first is no baffling, and the second is 900 bucks!! I'm wondering
if there is a compromise somewhere between. GM made a couple other cars
with F.I. in the 80's, like the Buick Regal GN. The tank dimensions are kinda
close, and the filler is in the rear as far as I can tell.
Camaro tank is 21 gallons.
Dimensions are 39" 5/8" x 21 1/4" x 10" 1/4"
Buick tank is 17 gallons
Dimensions are 36 1/4" x 24 1/4" x 8 7/8"
Anyone gone this route?? Or is this the lower fuel pressure system, and not
the ~42 psi required for the LT1/LS1? Thoughts?
Tom
Aceshigh 05-19-2006, 11:07:13 PM http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501139&highlight=Fuel
Oh....and BTW, you can have Rock Valley MODIFY your existing tank for under $300 + cost of the internal pump.
I'm actually in the process of doing it this week. ;)
ZedMan 05-20-2006, 03:16:16 AM Tanks, Inc (http://www.tanksinc.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=product/product_id=84/category_id=61/home_id=61/mode=prod/prd84.htm) has a middle ground solution. It's an intank pump/sump.
joeljet 05-20-2006, 07:46:52 AM i'm having ricks hot rods in elpaso modify mine for 295. i just bought a walbro 255 pump for an ls1 replacement. they are going to mod tank, install pump in their housing off to the side, so i can use my original sender in stock place just need to cap sender suction line. sound about the same as rock valley. who closer for less shipping?
sbca96 05-22-2006, 05:06:54 PM I looked at the Tanks, Inc, and the Rock, I read that thread (Ace) about your
tank you were having done. I was just thinking that there MIGHT be a tank
out there that fits the 2nd Gen without resorting to welding and shipping. I
have read that the Chevelle guys use Impala SS plastic tanks. The Monte one
looks fairly close, though it holds less fuel. I had figured that a local shop is
probably able to modify the tank (carefully), but a "bolt in" would be nice. Has
anyone looked at other models? Or even brands? I was also looking at the
90's T-birds, but they have a side filler tube. Mustangs are on the side also.
Tom
Chevelle66 05-24-2008, 05:11:01 AM I was looking on summit today the 90 caprice tank seems to be similar dimensions as the 2nd gen tanks.... they are tbi ? any one know if this would or wouldnt work? LOL Im a carb guy with an LS1 i want out of the garage and a 72 camaro i wanna drive daily!
GetMore 05-24-2008, 09:25:31 AM Wow, talk about resurrection!
At least it looks like you know how to use the search function!
I remember reading about somebody using a Caprice tank, but I don't remember what kind of car they were using it in. I do know that they had to modify the tank slightly to lower some high spots. Since the tank is plastic they used a heat gun (hair dryer) to heat the plastic so it would bend easier and then stay in the new form.
As far as I know all you need to do to change the tank from TBI to MFI is change the fuel pump. I think that's just a matter of swapping one for the other, and no real modifications are required. However, I'm not positive.
Just make sure you get a pump capable of enough pressure. The LS1 uses anout 10 psi more than older MFI systems and flow ratings drop off quickly as pressure demand increases on all electric pumps.
Thrash 05-27-2008, 04:50:14 PM I emailed Rock Auto and they said to have a third party do the mod. So I bought a new tank for my 75 T/A and the Tanks pump kit and will try to do it myself.
2manytoys 05-27-2008, 08:30:50 PM I just ordered a tank for my 69 from these guys. but they also have them for 70-73 camaros. I should have the tank in next week and can let you know how it looks.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1970-71-72-73-CAMARO-FIREBIRD-FUEL-INJECTION-FUEL-TANK_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742Q2em153Q2el1262QQcategoryZ10076QQihZ014QQitemZ330206183354
http://i12.ebayimg.com/04/i/000/c7/c6/c873_1_sbl.JPG
Mizzouri 05-27-2008, 09:29:00 PM I was looking on summit today the 90 caprice tank seems to be similar dimensions as the 2nd gen tanks.... they are tbi ? any one know if this would or wouldnt work? LOL Im a carb guy with an LS1 i want out of the garage and a 72 camaro i wanna drive daily!
I heard that the 94-96 Impala tank is a close fit and cutting the trunk due to the high sender is necessary. SurlyJoe on ls1tech.comn says he has one in his 2nd gen bird. I have sent him a PM requesting pics. Til then I need call a junk yard tomorrow and see if I can scare one up locally. Since I am about to get my engine and trans mounted this Friday (hopefully) I really need to sort this out soon.
Mizzouri 06-08-2008, 05:55:31 PM Alright, here is what I got from SurlyJoe on his Impala tank on his 72 Firebird. I plan to go this route and will post pics once I get it in there.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s24/Mizzouri72/Firebird/Fuel%20tank/DSC03249.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s24/Mizzouri72/Firebird/Fuel%20tank/DSC03248.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s24/Mizzouri72/Firebird/Fuel%20tank/DSC03247.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s24/Mizzouri72/Firebird/Fuel%20tank/DSC03246.jpg
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s24/Mizzouri72/Firebird/Fuel%20tank/DSC03242.jpg
ks71z28 06-12-2008, 05:10:35 PM I was looking on summit today the 90 caprice tank seems to be similar dimensions as the 2nd gen tanks.... they are tbi ? any one know if this would or wouldnt work? LOL Im a carb guy with an LS1 i want out of the garage and a 72 camaro i wanna drive daily!
I used the 90 Caprice sending unit, and a Walboro 255lph pump, I had to cut out the bottom of the tank due to the fact the Caprice sender is longer, so I made a dropped sump the extends down 3", and 1" above the bottom of the tank. The caprice sender has a guage sender, return line, and will actually fit the tank opening at the top! I got mine from a TBI car, say 89 or so, the square boxy style. I auto cross and road race, so it has to work well. I can run the car as low a 1 gallob before it dies going over the speed bumps! Never had any issues in 4 years! I paid a local fabricator $100 to make and weld in the sump. Have a pro do it because of the safety!
Keith
purpleflame 07-14-2008, 11:57:15 PM has anyone looked at the dual feed setup that rock crawler guys use for their fuel injected motors was wondering how well this works these guys slosh their fuel sideways all the time and dont seem to run into any air problems or fuel loss, but I wonder about the low pressure pump getting too much draw from the high pressure but they dont seem to say much about it .might seriuosly look into this cause its a inexspensive way to do it and your not modifying the tank at all. heres the web site I found it on.
www.fordfuelinjection.com/?p=95
ZedMan 07-19-2008, 12:41:41 AM To guarantee fuel all the time, the low pressure pump capacity would have to exceed the high pressure pump capacity. However, since the low pressure pump doesn't need to build very much pressure (the max it would ever need is however much it takes to push fuel through the return, I can't imagine that being even 1psi) you don't need a very expensive low pressure pump.
Todd80Z28 07-19-2008, 11:22:43 PM Do you think I could just use a 70-73 tank in my '80? Obviously, I'd have to make a spacer to take up the space under the trunk floor that accounts for the 3 gal difference, but other than that, are the dimensions the same?
Knuckle Dragger 07-20-2008, 01:21:28 AM Do you think I could just use a 70-73 tank in my '80? Obviously, I'd have to make a spacer to take up the space under the trunk floor that accounts for the 3 gal difference, but other than that, are the dimensions the same?
The filler neck is different too.
purpleflame 07-22-2008, 11:02:02 PM To guarantee fuel all the time, the low pressure pump capacity would have to exceed the high pressure pump capacity. However, since the low pressure pump doesn't need to build very much pressure (the max it would ever need is however much it takes to push fuel through the return, I can't imagine that being even 1psi) you don't need a very expensive low pressure pump.
I agree the low pump being 70GPH @5psi and the High pump is 50GPH @ 100psi, So my huge question is will this work it seems by logic it will and they state it runs up to 700 hp, I am hoping to be at 600+ on my stroked LT1 and really want to make this work I already have the pumps just need the accumulator. this diagram shows the set up let me know what you think. I would also think a adjustable regulator would also help in this.
John Wright 07-23-2008, 08:03:01 AM I'm trying to cross this bridge too. I just bought a TPI motor for my 70'. I'm thinking of going the 3rd gen sender in the stock tank route(w/ a homemade baffle).
ULTM8Z 07-23-2008, 10:29:13 AM Here's an example of the intermediate tank idea...
http://www.geocities.com/hrayhouston/antisurgetank.html
Even with my baffle, it'll still give me fits below 1/4 tank. I'm thinking about doing an anti-surge tank later on down the road myself.
John Wright 07-23-2008, 10:32:58 AM Mike, I saved that link for future reference.....I have read of several ideas similar that one where two fuel pumps were being implemented(low pressure high volume to feed a high pressure pump so that the high pressure pump never has a chance to pick up any air).
ks71z28 07-23-2008, 01:37:12 PM I'm trying to cross this bridge too. I just bought a TPI motor for my 70'. I'm thinking of going the 3rd gen sender in the stock tank route(w/ a homemade baffle).
John,
As noted befor I did the same thing, but the best pickup/sender is from a late 80's caprice, or you can actually modify a stock pick up to do the same thing. I built a sump on the bottom of the tank and the return line keeps it full, especially when the tank is low. One day I was driving and the car died going over a speed bump, so when I got home i drained the tank and there was about 1/2 gallon in it! I autocross with about 5 gallons in the tank with no issues. I spent very little on the parts to make this work, a 255lph pump is all you need, and when it is inside the tank it is MUCH quieter!
Keith
ks71z28 07-23-2008, 01:38:22 PM Oh yeah my point, the 3rd gen sender is a long spring loaded deal and won't fit in our tanks, the caprice one actually fits the flange on out tanks!
PolarBear 07-23-2008, 01:46:59 PM Oh yeah my point, the 3rd gen sender is a long spring loaded deal and won't fit in our tanks, the caprice one actually fits the flange on out tanks!
You mean the 4th gen sender? 3rd gen is basically a pump with a tube on it. Is the caprice one like the 4th gen but fits in the tank?
ULTM8Z 07-23-2008, 04:49:35 PM Oh yeah my point, the 3rd gen sender is a long spring loaded deal and won't fit in our tanks, the caprice one actually fits the flange on out tanks!
Not sure what you mean. I'm running a 3rd gen sender and it fit like a glove.
ks71z28 07-23-2008, 11:26:23 PM ok, maybe it was a 4th gen sender that was spring loaded. 3rd gen and 4th gen cars are real similar at the rear
PolarBear 07-24-2008, 08:24:32 AM Yes the tanks are almost the same size, they even use the same straps. IIRC the underside from the rear seats back is the same
1st and goal 07-26-2008, 09:25:01 PM ok, maybe it was a 4th gen sender that was spring loaded. 3rd gen and 4th gen cars are real similar at the rear
4th gen's are of the spring loaded type.
Here's a link to my custom made twin 255 wal bro intank pumps, the one pump was a full time pump the other one was activated by a hobbs switch that was set to 2#'s of boost.
This was from my 94 Z/28, these pumps fed my 383 w/D1 19# boost.
http://www.geocities.com/marc94z/twins.html
PolarBear 07-29-2008, 09:11:24 PM the caprice one actually fits the flange on out tanks!
Is the caprice one like the 4th gen sender, its a can with the pump inside and spring loaded?
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