Gas Tank Sending Unit & AN Fittings

[DriveWFO]

Is there a way to adapt AN fittings to a stock gas tank sending unit?

[Ray_McAvoy]

Hi DriveWFO,

The stock sending unit will have a section of either 5/16" or 3/8" steel tubing coming out of it. The end of that tubing will have a little bead that's meant to help hold the stock gas hose in place.

If you were to cut just a little bit off the end of the stock sending unit tube (just enough to remove that bead), you could use an AN to tube adapter fitting. Like Summit number RUS-639200 or RUS-639210.

[DriveWFO]

Hi DriveWFO,

The stock sending unit will have a section of either 5/16" or 3/8" steel tubing coming out of it. The end of that tubing will have a little bead that's meant to help hold the stock gas hose in place.

If you were to cut just a little bit off the end of the stock sending unit tube (just enough to remove that bead), you could use an AN to tube adapter fitting. Like Summit number RUS-639200 or RUS-639210.

Sweet, thanks for the tip!

[NovatoriusRex]

Hi DriveWFO,

The stock sending unit will have a section of either 5/16" or 3/8" steel tubing coming out of it. The end of that tubing will have a little bead that's meant to help hold the stock gas hose in place.

If you were to cut just a little bit off the end of the stock sending unit tube (just enough to remove that bead), you could use an AN to tube adapter fitting. Like Summit number RUS-639200 or RUS-639210.
I plumbed my entire fuel line with similar Aeroquip fittings and can't complain about them. No leaks yet. :D Pics of the installed couplers & tube nuts are on my website. Somewhere around page 18 or 19.

[Toms73NovaSS]

I originally had a 5/16 line in my sender and talked to several places about replacing it with a 1/2 line, no one wanted to touch it so I decided to try it myself. However, I did not want to mess with the stock sending unit and mess up my gas gague.

So what I did was send down a 1/2 line next to the original one and used a bulkhead fitting at the top, with a touch of sealer for extra assurance. Worked great no problems the only thing I had to do was to loosen the tube to get it to shimmy in the tank then retighten once the lever on the sending unit was in the hole.

I wanted the 1/2 line so that I would not starve the 500 hp 454.

Here are some pics.

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/2979/p00016456pw.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/5544/p00016440ke.jpg

http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/1904/p00016439zr.jpg

[tpinovaII]

I originally had a 5/16 line in my sender and talked to several places about replacing it with a 1/2 line, no one wanted to touch it so I decided to try it myself. However, I did not want to mess with the stock sending unit and mess up my gas gague.

So what I did was send down a 1/2 line next to the original one and used a bulkhead fitting at the top, with a touch of sealer for extra assurance. Worked great no problems the only thing I had to do was to loosen the tube to get it to shimmy in the tank then retighten once the lever on the sending unit was in the hole.

I wanted the 1/2 line so that I would not starve the 500 hp 454.


I'm not naming any names, but I think some folks are goin' to be stealing that idea. That is pretty slick. Keep that up and we might start accusing you of being one of them 'smart people'.

[Toms73NovaSS]

I'm not naming any names, but I think some folks are goin' to be stealing that idea. That is pretty slick. Keep that up and we might start accusing you of being one of them 'smart people'.

Copy away! That is what sharing is all about. I am definately a 'smart @ss' at times......;) (Depending how you take my humor)

on a side note tpinova, did you do your own chip tuning for you tpi setup? I have some good resources if you would ever need them.

Here is a shot of mine in my Formula (with Procharger), My other Toy!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b259/tjkoprevich/engine.jpg

[shaggy]

I did something similar except I cut off the end of the sending unit line and flared it with a 37 degree flare. I then used a steel tube nut adapter for the AN line. I dont use the aluminum ones since you arent really suppose to mix materials because this can allow galling and wear.

[tpinovaII]

Now that is pretty. I like the polished look but I decided to keep more of a OE TPI look. I wanted this car's underhood to look more all business. I rarely raise the hood around other people anyway. I did go for the pretty stuff on the outside and interior though. These days comfort and low maintenance are a huge priority with me.
http://images.kodakgallery.com/servlet/Images/photos1518/4/65/54/36/82/0/82365465408_0_BG.jpg

I had John at Random Technologies burn a custom chip based on the raw data that we recorded using Diacom Software. Mine is the '92 speed density system so I have often wonder how much closer I could get to optimum if I experimented with my own burner but I have never pursued it. Just lately, I have been taking the if it ain't broke don't fix it approach. I do have a few projects planned for the old girl for '06. It just so happens, one involves dropping and modifying the gas tank. I have some wicked upgrade ideas for my fuel delivery system. I hope they work.

http://adobe.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=k0o9vek.13gy66n4&Uy=-2ei8xa&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1

[shaggy]

Im doing a similar project but I plan on burning my own chip with the density setup. I have a chip burner and I also replaced the prom with a flash chip so I can just burn over and over. I will be using datamaster with a custom cable I made for like $5 with parts I got at radio shack and a cheap notebook computer I got on ebay. I havent gotten everything up and running yet but I did run the computer on a bench to make sure everything was working properly. I have datalogged some of my friends cars with my notebook and homemade cable setup for testing purposes and everything works great.

[tpinovaII]

Im doing a similar project but I plan on burning my own chip with the density setup. I have a chip burner and I also replaced the prom with a flash chip so I can just burn over and over. I will be using datamaster with a custom cable I made for like $5 with parts I got at radio shack and a cheap notebook computer I got on ebay. I havent gotten everything up and running yet but I did run the computer on a bench to make sure everything was working properly. I have datalogged some of my friends cars with my notebook and homemade cable setup for testing purposes and everything works great.
The engine and drivetrain were finished and finalized a few years back. I spent the last three years mainly focused on bodywork, paint, interior, and creature comforts. I have to confess to being unaware of the flash chip option for the earlier ECMs. That sounds like something I should look into. Would you have any good sources for info on that set-up? I'd like to learn more about it.

[shaggy]

I learned everything about prom burning here. If you really want to get deep into the old systems check this forum out. These guys have gotten so far to actually implement a "program as you go" piggy back for your prom. In other words you can program on the fly like the newer ecms. The guys in this specific section are real helpful and really know their stuff and are always improving on the old tech if yoru willing to learn. Do lots of searches and you should be able to find any answer you need.

http://thirdgen.org/techbb2/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=16

Here are some links to programs I use.

http://www.ttspowersystems.com/diagnostic.htm

http://tunerpro.markmansur.com/

This is the interface I built to work with my notebook. Its a failry simple cable to build for beginners.

http://www.home.aone.net.au/~techedge/vehicle/2tran.gif

[shaggy]

Also look for a program called vemaster. I have it if you cant find it. It will help get your ve tables from 0-3000 rpm where it should be automatically. It basically works by taking a log file and your current bin and it calculates to give your setup the correct bin to burn without thinking. I found the link here.
As of now the vemaster will only work with a datmaster log file but maybe some seraches will uncover other loggers to work as well.

http://home.comcast.net/~jgeorger/

Heres a quote how it works.

VEMaster parses the logged data file using only closed-loop, part-throttle data. The LT1 computer has 16 closed-loop fuel trim cells. Each of these cells contains 2 pairs of learns: a long-term left-and-right pair (a.k.a. BLM) and a short-term left-and-right pair (a.k.a. INT). For each VE cell in the VE tables, the program grabs the average BLM from the fuel trim cell the VE cell lies in, interpolating if necessary. The pcm bin file is modified, so be sure to make a backup copy before you run the program.


Here is the link for the piggy back system for the older ecms to allow program on the fly.

http://misterbill.homeip.net/aboutprominator.asp

This is how it looks when installed and hooks to any computer with a functional parallel port.



http://www.misterbill.homeip.net/prominator/images/prominator7747.JPG

If you have any questions feel free to ask.

[tpinovaII]

Thanks for the info. My mother called while I was reading the first post. She is still talking. This will probably take a while she has coved the lasted church info. Started the latest family member gossip now. I'll get back to this as soon as I can.

[Toms73NovaSS]

I have been a member of thirdgen.org for 3-4 years and things have come along way since then in the field of chip tuning.

I use many of the things that shaggy uses.

I made the same interface as the schematic shows and it works well.

www.moates.net is also a great site for chipburing stuff.

All you would need would be a laptop and :

G1 Memory Adapter: TPI Etc
http://www.moates.net/images/g1.jpg



and this Autoprom APU1
This setup is very nice because it uses usb port allows you to scan (don't need to make a cable)
and burns chips when you are all done emulating and are done tuning. It also comes with the scanning software liscence also.
http://www.moates.net/images/apu1.jpg



I originally used one of his adapters and used a chip burner to burn the chips, however, I switched over to his Ostrich with allows on the fly changes. Particularly since I swapped from the 7730 (speed density) used in 90-92 thirdgen f bodys and corvettes to 7749 (speed density with boost capabilities)

If you want to get into fine tuning your setup there is definitely a steep learning curve, however, once you can get you head wrapped around it it is really cool. Infact I even made my own wideband 02 sensor/interface. However, now you can buy a setup for what it would cost to make your own.

Lots of cool stuff out there!!

[Toms73NovaSS]

We actually Hijacked DriveWFO's thread pretty bad :o


We probably should do a seperate thread on the topic if the conversation is to continue.

Sorry Dave.
;)

[tpinovaII]

We actually Hijacked DriveWFO's thread pretty bad :o


We probably should do a seperate thread on the topic if the conversation is to continue.

Sorry Dave.
;)

My apologies to DriveWFO. I do appreciate the info though. The secret of my success has always been that I try to consult someone more knowledgable than me before tackling any new project. My brother is far more computer savy than I am so I had him look this over. And I quote...
This is a very interesting thing to get involved in.
I think I'll be investing in new toys in the near future.

[DriveWFO]

http://www.eriestreetmachines.com/forum/html/emoticons/hijacked.gif

Hey, no biggie!

[Toms73NovaSS]

hopefully tou got your answer!:D

[DriveWFO]

hopefully tou got your answer!:D

Yes, I did. I didn't know they made fittings specifically for adapting hardline to AN fittings :)

[72Orange]

I originally had a 5/16 line in my sender and talked to several places about replacing it with a 1/2 line, no one wanted to touch it so I decided to try it myself. However, I did not want to mess with the stock sending unit and mess up my gas gague.

So what I did was send down a 1/2 line next to the original one and used a bulkhead fitting at the top, with a touch of sealer for extra assurance. Worked great no problems the only thing I had to do was to loosen the tube to get it to shimmy in the tank then retighten once the lever on the sending unit was in the hole.

I wanted the 1/2 line so that I would not starve the 500 hp 454.

I've considered doing this too. But won't the stock 5/16 pickup starve the 1/2" line?

I've always wondered what people that went to 1/2" line do considering I've never seen a 1/2" pickup.

[Toms73NovaSS]

I've considered doing this too. But won't the stock 5/16 pickup starve the 1/2" line?

I've always wondered what people that went to 1/2" line do considering I've never seen a 1/2" pickup.


My setup is 1/2 line. ;) I just left the old part of the sender to hold fuel level sender in place.

[72Orange]

My setup is 1/2 line. ;) I just left the old part of the sender to hold fuel level sender in place.Gotcha, now the pictures make more sense. Quite ingenious. I like it!

[Toms73NovaSS]

Update:

Have gotten lots of requests for parts used in my conversion:

I used 1/2" alumunum tube flared using 37deg an flare

and (summit part#s)

RUS-660580 NUT TUBE COUPLING #8AN PKG 2
RUS-660660 SLEEVE TUBE 8AN PKG 2
RUS-661260 ELBOW 90DEG FLARE BULKHEAD #8
RUS-661900 NUT BULKHEAD #8

[DriveWFO]

Just a note, my sending unit didn't have enough room for the bulkhead nut, so I ended up scraping the whole thing. Could've sold somebody that good sending unit too :o

[Toms73NovaSS]

Just a note, my sending unit didn't have enough room for the bulkhead nut, so I ended up scraping the whole thing. Could've sold somebody that good sending unit too :o

What it the stock sending unit?

73'-74' are the same, just curious.... did you drill the hole too close to where the original tube comes in?

[DriveWFO]

What it the stock sending unit?

73'-74' are the same, just curious.... did you drill the hole too close to where the original tube comes in?

As far as I know it was a stock sending unit. I centered the hole I had to drill but the nut would hit the existing hard lines coming out of the sending unit.

[luke'snova]

Tom,
what kind of issues did you encounter between the bulkhead fitting and the underside of the trunk floor? If any.

Luke

[68chevyll]

Here's my solution:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d180/Bad68Nova_/100_0669.jpg

[DriveWFO]

Here's my solution:

Yeah, same here.

[Toms73NovaSS]

Tom,
what kind of issues did you encounter between the bulkhead fitting and the underside of the trunk floor? If any.

Luke

It just snuck in there I did have to have it angled properly (as in my pic) to get the line to clear as went across the top of the tank. It was close but it did fit.

[Toms73NovaSS]

There are a few other items that come to mind. I do belive that I did chamfer the points on the lower side of the bulkhead nut. see attached sketch.

Also when it comes time to insert the sender in to the tank you need to loosten the nut tube coupling (or even disconnect). Slide in tank and then connect once it is in the tank with the top part sticking out about 3-4". Then just tighten up the coupling and lock the plate in place. Should be good to go.

Lastly under the collar of the bulkhead fitting you could but an o-ring just to make sure a good seal.