EFI fuel pump location?

[OldsCool]

Doing a Hamilton FI kit on my CJ7 and need some advice. Instructions suggest the pump should be as close to the tank as possible. It also suggests the pump be mounted as close to level with the bottom of the tank as possible. The difference in actual line feet from being closest to the tank vs. closest to level with the bottom of the tank is around 2.5 feet.

Which do you guys think is more important? Closest to the tank or level with the bottom? I've always heard closest to the tank but I'm new to FI conversions so I thought I'd ask those that have done it already done it.

If you've done a TBI swap, where did you mount your pump? Pics would be great, too!

 

[mtnwhlr]

I have never done a TBI but I know with a electric pump you need to have it below the tank so the fuel siphons to it because they are pushers and will not pull the fuel from the tank.

 

[gr8dain]

I heard it had to be lower as well. But rather than put it on the frame rail in front of the rear wheel, I pit mine by the tank where a friend put his and has never had a problem. He is running the same pump and wheels his Cj pretty hard. So I took his advise. It is definitely more protected here. Placed it on the cross bar in front of the tank. Having a 20 gallon tank, having it that low would be a problem.

 

[ttuseth]

I mounted mine on the frame rail above the skid plate.

Sent from my VS501 using Tapatalk

 

[Torxhead]

I did quite a lot of research on where to install the electric fuel pump. Mine is currently installed at a low point on the frame rail with a free flowing filter being mounted about a foot away prior to the pump to protect the pump from containments. I have noticed other recommendations for the pump be as close to the tank as possible. Probably due to the poor suction ability of an electric pump, this seems to work just as well. In the location where mine is mounted the pump is fed by fuel siphoning its way into it. I can disconnect the inlet fuel line and the tank would be drained in short time. An important factor on both setups is that the fuel tank vent system must be in working order. I also have between 14.5 and 15 volts to the pump when the engine is running. Plastic fuel lines should be at a minimum. Carrying a spare pump could come in handy, but I have not used mine yet in over 12 years of running this system. The best place to put the pump is inside the fuel tank though.

 

[gr8dain]

I agree with Torx on the fact that the optimal place in in the tank. I considered my options for that and decided to use the one that came with the kit for now.

 

[hole]

Cant argue what anyone else has suggested, and mine is mounted to the cross member immediately in front of the tank. It's not ideally located towards the top of the tank, but it's out of harms way, easy to get to and has worked perfect for me for 10+ years. Knocking on wood now

 

[RiverandSand]

I heard it had to be lower as well. But rather than put it on the frame rail in front of the rear wheel, I pit mine by the tank where a friend put his and has never had a problem. He is running the same pump and wheels his Cj pretty hard. So I took his advise. It is definitely more protected here. Placed it on the cross bar in front of the tank. Having a 20 gallon tank, having it that low would be a problem.

Mine is mounted in the same location, can't get much closer to the tank than that. While I'm not using EFI, I do have an electric fuel pump. As alluded to in another post the pump should be below the tank, but for short distances the pump will suck "up hill" without an issue.
I agree in tank is the best, but finding one to fit in a jeep tank is the challenge.

 

[mriplaybass]

I agree with what everyone else has said. I mounted my electric pump on the outside of the frame ahead of the drivers side rear tire as high up as I could go still trying to account for the relationship to the bottom of the fuel tank, and keeping it protected from trail hazards. It also helped to keep the pump cooler since the typical under body heat was minimal in that location. I had this when the engine was still carburated. Now that we have switched to EFI, the pump is in the tank. We chose this option due to high altitude operation. If you only operate at lower altitude, an externally mounted pump will work fine.

 

[Belizean]

I agree with what everyone else has said. I mounted my electric pump on the outside of the frame ahead of the drivers side rear tire as high up as I could go still trying to account for the relationship to the bottom of the fuel tank, and keeping it protected from trail hazards. It also helped to keep the pump cooler since the typical under body heat was minimal in that location. I had this when the engine was still carburated. Now that we have switched to EFI, the pump is in the tank. We chose this option due to high altitude operation. If you only operate at lower altitude, an externally mounted pump will work fine.

I haven't installed mine yet but I ordered the intank pump, figuring installed would be out of the way and protected

 

[gr8dain]

I haven't installed mine yet but I ordered the intank pump, figuring installed would be out of the way and protected

Which one did you get? Will it have a sending unit and drop right into the current hole in the tank? When I looked at the Holley pump, i would have to crate a new hole next to the current sending unit. I heard there was at least one on the market that would drop into the existing spot. But I have not searched yet.

 

[OldsCool]

Having a drop in solution for the factory tank would be sweet. Bill Hamilton responded to my email and he confirmed what you guys were saying. He said closest to the tank is better. He also told me that the pumps he provides with the kit will lift 12" of fuel with no issue. So I think I'll take the rout of mounting it to that same crossmember that gr8dain did.

Thanks!

 

[Belizean]

Which one did you get? Will it have a sending unit and drop right into the current hole in the tank? When I looked at the Holley pump, i would have to crate a new hole next to the current sending unit. I heard there was at least one on the market that would drop into the existing spot. But I have not searched yet.

New hole

 

[gr8dain]

New hole

Ok. Thought you might have found a direct swap replacement.

 

[Belizean]

Ok. Thought you might have found a direct swap replacement.

I've had a tank with two holes before. If needed in the end I could get a custom tank. I want pump in the tank

 

[mriplaybass]

We used a Tanks Inc. PA4 unit for our EFI. It puts our 67gph @ 100psi.
Although the existing fuel tank was in fairly good condition, I decided to just get a new tank rather than having to thoroughly clean out all the gas vapor to avoid blowing myself up.
After cutting the hole, I clamped and marked the bolt holes.
Once all the holes were drilled, I put a couple cups of lacquer thinner into the tank along with a magnet, and swished it around to get all the metal shavings out.
Then all that I had to do was put the module in so that it would not hit the float arm of the original sending unit.
I left the original fuel pick up tube in place. I had heard so many people say that if an in tank pump fails, you have to drop the tank to change it. Big problem out on the trail. My solution to this was to attach a fuel line from the original fuel line to a location under the Jeep where I installed a mounting bracket for an external pump of comparable capacity. The fuel line is capped off to prevent leaks or contamination. Then I wired the in tank pump and the external pump with the same water proof quick disconnects. If my in tank pump fails, all that I have to do is take the spare pump out of the off road tool box, disconnect the line from the in tank pump and hook it to the external pump, uncap the spare fuel supply line and hook it to the intake side of the pump, and switch the power from one pump to the other. The return line continues to use the in tank module. About a 10min job.

 

[Belizean]

Thats a good idea Bass. My Sniper system actually came with the external pump and I bought extra the internal pump. If I get ambitious like you I might copy you.

 

[Posi]

Factory optional 20 gallon tank, fuel pump in tank

 

[Belizean]

Factory optional 20 gallon tank, fuel pump in tank

Posi you talking about a modern factory optional tank that would work in a old CJ ? I actually have a 96 Cherokee in the driveway with that, not sure about the fit.

 

[Posi]

Posi you talking about a modern factory optional tank that would work in a old CJ ? I actually have a 96 Cherokee in the driveway with that, not sure about the fit.

Yes, 1980 cherokee 20 gallon tank will fit perfect in a 76 and up CJ
For whatever reason I no longer see the photo of the tank I posted.