I_chew_big_red
Junior Member
Strap in ladies and gents, this is a long one from a novice. For clarification, I drive a 1985 Dodge W150, 5.2L (318), 3-speed auto, 30 gallon tank, Edelbrock Performer intake manifold, and Edelbrock 1406 carb.
I think my fuel line is in a bad spot. The fuel tank is on the left side of the truck, but the fuel pump is on the right side of the engine block. The fuel line runs from the tank, crosses over the exhaust (true duals), and runs along the inside of the frame until it reaches the engine compartment. There is about 4" of space between the fuel line and the exhaust pipes where it crosses over them, and there is about 3" of space between the fuel line and exhaust where it runs along the inside of the frame. The fuel line comes into the engine compartment to the right of the engine, sits on the wheel well, and hooks up to the fuel pump on the bottom right side of the block. Given how close the fuel pump is to the exhaust manifold and considering how the fuel line comes into the engine compartment, the fuel line is sitting about 3" away from the exhaust manifold. I do not like that.
I have a clear fuel filter (plastic) just before the fuel pump and a metal fuel filter on the line from the pump to the carb. I regularly see a very large bubble in the clear plastic filter.
When I bought the truck a few weeks ago, I did not like how close the fuel line was to the exhaust manifold. I'm not a pretty man, so I sure don't need any more burn scars. I decided yesterday to zip tie (plastic) the fuel line to the wheel well to make sure the line doesnt bump into the exhaust manifold while driving. However, after I zip tied the fuel line, I started up the truck and it died about 200 feet from my driveway. It has never done this before. I couldn't get it started--it tried to turn over, but it was acting like it was out of gas. In reality, I only moved the fuel line about 1" away from the exhaust manifold to zip tie it in place and there was no tension on the line when I moved it, so I dont think it got pinched or became constricted in any way. Anyway, I popped the hood, cut the zip tie, and the truck started right up and I drove it back home.
Can someone show me how their fuel line is set up? I'm going to fab some aluminum sheet metal to create a heat shield to protect the fuel line near the exhaust headers, along the frame, and where it crosses over the exhaust. I plan on sanding this metal, priming it, and painting it with high temp engine paint. I then plan on buying thermal shielding (https://www.heatshieldproducts.com/automotive/thermal-and-heat-shield-sleeving/hp-color-sleeve) to wrap the entire fuel line. I would like to avoid having to pay for all of this if there is a more simple way to run the fuel line. Also, I would prefer to not catch on fire as well.
Thanks
I think my fuel line is in a bad spot. The fuel tank is on the left side of the truck, but the fuel pump is on the right side of the engine block. The fuel line runs from the tank, crosses over the exhaust (true duals), and runs along the inside of the frame until it reaches the engine compartment. There is about 4" of space between the fuel line and the exhaust pipes where it crosses over them, and there is about 3" of space between the fuel line and exhaust where it runs along the inside of the frame. The fuel line comes into the engine compartment to the right of the engine, sits on the wheel well, and hooks up to the fuel pump on the bottom right side of the block. Given how close the fuel pump is to the exhaust manifold and considering how the fuel line comes into the engine compartment, the fuel line is sitting about 3" away from the exhaust manifold. I do not like that.
I have a clear fuel filter (plastic) just before the fuel pump and a metal fuel filter on the line from the pump to the carb. I regularly see a very large bubble in the clear plastic filter.
When I bought the truck a few weeks ago, I did not like how close the fuel line was to the exhaust manifold. I'm not a pretty man, so I sure don't need any more burn scars. I decided yesterday to zip tie (plastic) the fuel line to the wheel well to make sure the line doesnt bump into the exhaust manifold while driving. However, after I zip tied the fuel line, I started up the truck and it died about 200 feet from my driveway. It has never done this before. I couldn't get it started--it tried to turn over, but it was acting like it was out of gas. In reality, I only moved the fuel line about 1" away from the exhaust manifold to zip tie it in place and there was no tension on the line when I moved it, so I dont think it got pinched or became constricted in any way. Anyway, I popped the hood, cut the zip tie, and the truck started right up and I drove it back home.
Can someone show me how their fuel line is set up? I'm going to fab some aluminum sheet metal to create a heat shield to protect the fuel line near the exhaust headers, along the frame, and where it crosses over the exhaust. I plan on sanding this metal, priming it, and painting it with high temp engine paint. I then plan on buying thermal shielding (https://www.heatshieldproducts.com/automotive/thermal-and-heat-shield-sleeving/hp-color-sleeve) to wrap the entire fuel line. I would like to avoid having to pay for all of this if there is a more simple way to run the fuel line. Also, I would prefer to not catch on fire as well.
Thanks