Kenny Bee 194
Member
I am looking for some advice for completing my fuel system installation for my 1971 Nova. It appears to me by the way certain things were slapped together on it that my Nova was a race car in its former life that was converted to a street car. Not necessarily a bad thing as it has some nice upgrades.
The original fuel system that came with the car had a ½” braided steel flex line routed to an electric fuel pump mounted behind the rear end (bad location!) with a 3/8” line running to the carburetor. I have relocated the fuel pump behind the fuel cell under the trunk and I’m now replacing the 3/8” line with a ½” line.
The old system had a check valve installed toward the front of the car and I am trying to determine the best location (if any) for the check valve in my new fuel line routing. I came up with the following options:
Option 1 would locate the check valve just downstream of the post filter near the fuel cell under the trunk.
Option 2 would locate the check valve downstream of the post filter under the car near where the fuel line would route upward into the engine bay to the regulator.
Option 3 would locate the check valve in the engine bay near the fuel pressure regulator.
and,
Option 4 would be not to use a check valve.
The value of using a check valve, as I see it, is to keep fuel in the lines to allow quick filling of the carb fuel bowls and possibly allow quicker starting for vehicles that have mechanical fuel pumps and/or sit for extended time periods. However, the use of an electric fuel would essentially negate that advantage as you can prime the fuel system with the electric pump prior to starting.
Thus, I am leaning toward not using a check valve. I am curious to see what you all think; am I missing anything? Thanks.
Kenny Bee
The original fuel system that came with the car had a ½” braided steel flex line routed to an electric fuel pump mounted behind the rear end (bad location!) with a 3/8” line running to the carburetor. I have relocated the fuel pump behind the fuel cell under the trunk and I’m now replacing the 3/8” line with a ½” line.
The old system had a check valve installed toward the front of the car and I am trying to determine the best location (if any) for the check valve in my new fuel line routing. I came up with the following options:
Option 1 would locate the check valve just downstream of the post filter near the fuel cell under the trunk.
Option 2 would locate the check valve downstream of the post filter under the car near where the fuel line would route upward into the engine bay to the regulator.
Option 3 would locate the check valve in the engine bay near the fuel pressure regulator.
and,
Option 4 would be not to use a check valve.
The value of using a check valve, as I see it, is to keep fuel in the lines to allow quick filling of the carb fuel bowls and possibly allow quicker starting for vehicles that have mechanical fuel pumps and/or sit for extended time periods. However, the use of an electric fuel would essentially negate that advantage as you can prime the fuel system with the electric pump prior to starting.
Thus, I am leaning toward not using a check valve. I am curious to see what you all think; am I missing anything? Thanks.
Kenny Bee
