Fuel tank mod

[ForcedFirebird]

I can certainly put a tank where my stock fuel filter is, and I can move the filter to the engine bay, but I don't have room for the pump with the tank where my filter sits unless it's really small. I think the pump needs to be co-located with the tank which limits my options. Not crazy about putting the tank in the trunk.

Surge tank and pump don't need to be close. You could put the surge tank under the car where the filter goes, and the filter in the frame rail like an early model. Both would actually fit up front like I did in the e36 posted above (my buddies e30 is like that too).

[hoveringuy]

Early cars had the fuel filter mounted vertically in the engine compartment under the master cylinder. I use this fitment/placement for the fuel filter to get it out of the fuel tank area.

I can certainly put a tank where my stock fuel filter is, and I can move the filter to the engine bay, but I don't have room for the pump with the tank where my filter sits unless it's really small. I think the pump needs to be co-located with the tank which limits my options. Not crazy about putting the tank in the trunk.

[redneckvtek]

Early cars had the fuel filter mounted vertically in the engine compartment under the master cylinder. I use this fitment/placement for the fuel filter to get it out of the fuel tank area.

[ForcedFirebird]

Thanks, that's basically a plastic version of what you showed earlier.
I would like to see how it slots into the e30 fuel filter area, the one you had on the e36 looks like it was up front.

The e36 has the fuel filter on the frame rail, so I just utilized that space. Yes, I make them out of aluminum, then pressure test them. I have a pic somewhere of the ls1 swapped w211 race car we did. MB used a lift pump and it would starve at 1/2 tank - which was mounted vertical behind the rear seat back.

I purchased the 2nd one from ForcedFirebird (Thank you!) , the first one is plumbed exactly as he laid out above. It is small like a flask so it can be placed up in this space with some effort.

You're welcome. Thought it was you who bought it. I had a few of them and one was laying around forever in my upper cabinet over my office desk. Think it was in there for like 5yr? lol. They are available again, but they are now +$200!

I have a late tank, so my hole looks more like this. I could certainly fit a reservoir there, particularly if I fabricated it so the connections were orientated to my advantage. Put the fuel pump up front?

You can. On the e30 race cars, I use the "battery tray" to mount the fuel filter, you could easily put a pump there. One of the other guys in my group made a small tank and put it in the battery tray and strapped the pump to it.

[hoveringuy]

I have a late tank, so my hole looks more like this. I could certainly fit a reservoir there, particularly if I fabricated it so the connections were orientated to my advantage. Put the fuel pump up front?

[bradmer]

Pictures, P/N's, details?

I purchased the 2nd one from ForcedFirebird (Thank you!) , the first one is plumbed exactly as he laid out above. It is small like a flask so it can be placed up in this space with some effort.

[hoveringuy]

vw pn: 533201511a

Thanks, that's basically a plastic version of what you showed earlier.
I would like to see how it slots into the e30 fuel filter area, the one you had on the e36 looks like it was up front.

[ForcedFirebird]

pictures, p/n's, details?

vw pn: 533201511a

[hoveringuy]

I installed the VW surge tank in our 87 325i sedan after a Corvette almost ran me over due to fuel starvation on the fastest right hander at Willow Springs. It was absolutely terrifying and I thought for sure that I was going to be the cause of a 100 mph crash. We put almost 200k miles on this car and never experienced fuel starvation once, until hpde's.

It has been over 3000 track miles with no fuel starvation since the plastic external surge tank was installed down by the filter,.

Pictures, P/N's, details?

[ForcedFirebird]

however the low pressure intank pump is kinda spendy when it does go so it would be nice to have an alternative for that.
I use just over a quarter tank of fuel per 20 minute session with our stock S52 e30.

Chevy Vega carburetor pump (1975) works perfect, and was mentioned a couple times in this thread. It's a low pressure lift pump, Vega was carbureted.

[bradmer]

Another update... This setup works great until it doesn't. My second pump failed, probably because it ran dry.
I was running two high pressure pumps in parallel, looks like that's not a solution because I underestimated how much it would be running dry.

I'll be doing surge tank.

I installed the VW surge tank in our 87 325i sedan after a Corvette almost ran me over due to fuel starvation on the fastest right hander at Willow Springs. It was absolutely terrifying and I thought for sure that I was going to be the cause of a 100 mph crash. We put almost 200k miles on this car and never experienced fuel starvation once, until hpde's.

It has been over 3000 track miles with no fuel starvation since the plastic external surge tank was installed down by the filter, and I have purchased another of the same type of surge tank from a r3v forum member for our 87 325is that should be at the track next year. For me it is a safety issue, if you are tracking your car you need to know about this prior to sphincter pucker.

The car does not burn through fuel pumps, however the low pressure intank pump is kinda spendy when it does go so it would be nice to have an alternative for that.
I use just over a quarter tank of fuel per 20 minute session with our stock S52 e30.

[ForcedFirebird]

I've ran these in the stock tank to a swirl pot. If you dig, I think they are just a pinto pump... But felt better ATL used them in their tanks for the lift pump

Right now I have an ETA pump on the Driver side and a 318i pump on the passenger. Seem to do a pretty decent job..

Same. I actually use the Vega pump for stock e24/e28's as well. Much less expensive alternative to purchasing the whole pump and carrier.

I know. I am just trying to illustrate the point that for most cars, the dual pump and/or hydramat are going to be a waste of time and money. Some people just like to learn the hard way, though.

I was agreeing and amplifying. We did all these "fixes" and the surge tank was the one that ended up being the bees' knees. That e36 was just a couple months ago, made several dozen just like it.

[Digitalwave]

It was ALL of us e30 guys lol, not just SE, or even Spec (we have it in Champcar). Typically long right handers, like T1 & 16 at SIR, T1 and t12 at RA etc.

We had the same issue when we were campaigning the e36.

I know. I am just trying to illustrate the point that for most cars, the dual pump and/or hydramat are going to be a waste of time and money. Some people just like to learn the hard way, though.

[moatilliatta]

I've ran these in the stock tank to a swirl pot. If you dig, I think they are just a pinto pump... But felt better ATL used them in their tanks for the lift pump

Right now I have an ETA pump on the Driver side and a 318i pump on the passenger. Seem to do a pretty decent job..

[hoveringuy]

Interesting you all are having trouble. I have run the 2 pumps in-tank for literally 60,000 race miles and haven't had any issues. Even before the hydramat was a thing, I could pull all but about a quart of fuel out of the tank. With the hydramat, you get it all - it will leave maybe half a cup before it shuts off.

I use OE replacement fuel pumps by bosch or siemens in the original hangers on both sides, now with hydramat as well.

I found that the siphon jet does a pretty good job at moving the drivers side fuel to the right, and the second pump will run dry. I could hear the change of its pitch when it did that which happened more frequently as the fuel got lower.

I called Walbro tech support dude and I asked him how long the pumps could run dry and he said "anywhere from 30 seconds to 30 minutes..." It would need to be a pump that's 100% tolerant of running dry, maybe that exists, dunno. I will say that it WAS very effective as long as that second pump was running, just doesn't seem reliable.