gman72
Active Member
So it terminates in the frame rail. I see. I thought it had to go all the way to the engine bay.
73 Cuda fuel sender return port
- Thread starter gman72
- Start date
Ronbo73
Well-Known Member
You can run a hose from the second (open) port on your sending unit to the line that runs where the charcoal canister used to be. Trim the old return port line back and connect with a rubber 1/4" hose to the fuel/vapor separator. The old line is 1/4" which is what my 440's return line is.
Ronbo73
Well-Known Member
I was amazed that, that is the way they did it back then. The venting starts and ends back there.
Ronbo73
Well-Known Member
However you do it, keep us posted.
gman72
Active Member
Yeah, that is wild. I believe they make little safety valves in case of an accident so that fuel doesn't just slosh out of the vent line. I will definitely keep you guys in the loop.I was amazed that, that is the way they did it back then. The venting starts and ends back there.
gman72
Active Member
I'll have to get the fuel vapor separator. Right now I have a traditional 2 port fuel filter.
gman72
Active Member
Cool. Thanks, I appreciate it.
Steve340
Well-Known Member
I wouldn't worry about the liquid fuel return. The car never had it originally and fuel vapor lock does not seem to be one of your issues.
I would concentrate on the fuel tank venting side of things.
I would concentrate on the fuel tank venting side of things.
Steve340
Well-Known Member
There is a post on the FBBO site you should look at.
Vapor Separator is the title posted by Charger Fan.
The diagram and explanation posted by Vaanth will help you for sure.
Vapor Separator is the title posted by Charger Fan.
The diagram and explanation posted by Vaanth will help you for sure.
gman72
Active Member
Thanks, I will check it out.
gman72
Active Member
Having a hard time finding a 3/8 fuel sender without the return. I have only found a couple and not sure of the quality. I might have to go to 5/16. It is 1/16 narrower, but for my small block 340 and Edelbrock 600 cfm I think I should be ok.
Challenger RTA
Well-Known Member
The only dumb question, is the one that's not ask when it needs to be ask. Go to the sites and navigate to your needs. Service manual
pschlosser
Well-Known Member
in my opinion, you won't need a 3/8 fuel line, and 5/16 will be just fine. that's the way it came from the factory, even on the 6-barrel 340 motors.
and your existing 3/8 sending unit with a plugged return line will behave just like the other sending units without a return line.
if you're like me, I can sometimes over think stuff and make them complicated. I invite you to not overthink this.
gman72
Active Member
I totally am like that. I overthink things I am not familiar with. I am doing this now and taking you all on this journey. LOL.
gman72
Active Member
Ok, I finally have an update. My plan was to use the 1/4 line that used to go to the charcoal canister in the engine bay as the fuel return line. I would have to get a fuel vapor separator.
But first I wanted to remove the tank and inspect it. Upon lowering it I noticed it had holes in it that had been repaired with what appeared to be some sort of epoxy/JB weld. So the shopping list now included a tank. I also needed to get the vent line that goes into the trunk and then vents to the frame rail. The sending unit pick up tube was all rusted and crumbling so add that to the shopping list. I also took the passenger rear wheel off to get a better look at everthing. I looked at the brake shoes while I was at it and boy were they thin! They didn't look very useful at all. I guess that is my next project.
So since I had disconnected everything and was waiting on parts I figured I would blow out the 3/8, and 1/4 hard lines going into the engine bay. ( I had disconnected the 3/8 line from the carb). The 3/8 line seemed to be clean. The 1/4" line was clogged. I could not free it up. So... new shopping list. I figured while I was replacing the 1/4" I might as well replace the 3/8.
So after a few weekends of life getting in the way I got a chance to start. I ran the lines first and it was somewhat uneventful. (Except for the brake line I hit when I was shoving the fuel lines up by the passenger front wheel. It wept, but seemed the connection was fine.) I mounted the fuel vapor separator on the frame rail under where the vapor canister would be. It did not fit by the fuel pump.
Next up I ran the line to the carb. I was able to route it so the oil dipstick wouldn't hit it every time you pulled it to check the oil. I got a prebent line that I had to bend a number of times but it seemed fine.
Next I installed the new sending unit into the tank.I wassurpirsed at how the lock ring was a super tight fit. (I bought a spectra tank and sending unit). I still have the old ring just in case there was a leak when I went to fill up the tank. I installed the tank.
Next tank vent. 1 problem. My frame rail doesn't have the opening for the vent. So @Ronbo73 helped me out with some measurements and a little step by step guide. I got that cut and installed.
A couple of weekends went by and I finally had time to put some gas in it and see how I did. Well here is where it gets a little interesting. I have another car up against the back of the Cuda so I would have to roll it out of the garage to fuel it. I get in and I forgot the keys, but the shifter shifts into neutral(it is an automatic) So I start to roll it out. (some of you already know that was a big mistake). My drive way slopes slightly down and away from the garage. I also have a 2 foot retaining wall on either side of the drive way. Well, the car was pointed slightly towards the right side wall. So I go to steer, but since the keys are hanging across the garage and not in the ignitioon the wheel locks up and won't move. Oh Crap! Ok I hit the brakes... No brakes! So at that point there was about 4 seconds before impact. The longest and shortest 4 seconds of my life! I am not going fast by any means. But time is running out. I put my foot out of the car and trying to stop it but I can't. Put it in park I think to myself. I do, but nothing happens. Then I think parking brake! That didn't work either, and by that time my front quarter panel was scraping aganst the retaining wall. So the connection from that brake line I hit earlier was fine, but the line itself had cracked. That combined with the fact that my dumb ass didn't go grab the keys led to me testing the strength of my retaining wall. Man I was so pissed with myself.
So I angrily push it off the wall and continue with my original plan. I put in 5 gallons of gas and I go to start it up. It took a few tries and some ether spray to get it going, but It started, and there were no leaks along the lines. I need to add some more gas to see if the sending unit ring leaks. Hopefully it is fine and I can get started on project#2 Brakes.
Thanks for all of your suggestions and input. I really appreciate it.
But first I wanted to remove the tank and inspect it. Upon lowering it I noticed it had holes in it that had been repaired with what appeared to be some sort of epoxy/JB weld. So the shopping list now included a tank. I also needed to get the vent line that goes into the trunk and then vents to the frame rail. The sending unit pick up tube was all rusted and crumbling so add that to the shopping list. I also took the passenger rear wheel off to get a better look at everthing. I looked at the brake shoes while I was at it and boy were they thin! They didn't look very useful at all. I guess that is my next project.
So since I had disconnected everything and was waiting on parts I figured I would blow out the 3/8, and 1/4 hard lines going into the engine bay. ( I had disconnected the 3/8 line from the carb). The 3/8 line seemed to be clean. The 1/4" line was clogged. I could not free it up. So... new shopping list. I figured while I was replacing the 1/4" I might as well replace the 3/8.
So after a few weekends of life getting in the way I got a chance to start. I ran the lines first and it was somewhat uneventful. (Except for the brake line I hit when I was shoving the fuel lines up by the passenger front wheel. It wept, but seemed the connection was fine.) I mounted the fuel vapor separator on the frame rail under where the vapor canister would be. It did not fit by the fuel pump.
Next up I ran the line to the carb. I was able to route it so the oil dipstick wouldn't hit it every time you pulled it to check the oil. I got a prebent line that I had to bend a number of times but it seemed fine.
Next I installed the new sending unit into the tank.I wassurpirsed at how the lock ring was a super tight fit. (I bought a spectra tank and sending unit). I still have the old ring just in case there was a leak when I went to fill up the tank. I installed the tank.
Next tank vent. 1 problem. My frame rail doesn't have the opening for the vent. So @Ronbo73 helped me out with some measurements and a little step by step guide. I got that cut and installed.
A couple of weekends went by and I finally had time to put some gas in it and see how I did. Well here is where it gets a little interesting. I have another car up against the back of the Cuda so I would have to roll it out of the garage to fuel it. I get in and I forgot the keys, but the shifter shifts into neutral(it is an automatic) So I start to roll it out. (some of you already know that was a big mistake). My drive way slopes slightly down and away from the garage. I also have a 2 foot retaining wall on either side of the drive way. Well, the car was pointed slightly towards the right side wall. So I go to steer, but since the keys are hanging across the garage and not in the ignitioon the wheel locks up and won't move. Oh Crap! Ok I hit the brakes... No brakes! So at that point there was about 4 seconds before impact. The longest and shortest 4 seconds of my life! I am not going fast by any means. But time is running out. I put my foot out of the car and trying to stop it but I can't. Put it in park I think to myself. I do, but nothing happens. Then I think parking brake! That didn't work either, and by that time my front quarter panel was scraping aganst the retaining wall. So the connection from that brake line I hit earlier was fine, but the line itself had cracked. That combined with the fact that my dumb ass didn't go grab the keys led to me testing the strength of my retaining wall. Man I was so pissed with myself.
So I angrily push it off the wall and continue with my original plan. I put in 5 gallons of gas and I go to start it up. It took a few tries and some ether spray to get it going, but It started, and there were no leaks along the lines. I need to add some more gas to see if the sending unit ring leaks. Hopefully it is fine and I can get started on project#2 Brakes.
Thanks for all of your suggestions and input. I really appreciate it.
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