Cad-T-Bird New fuel System and getting closer to nitrous

July 30, 2007, 09:01:53 PM

Well I put two more day in on the Cad-T-Bird trying to fix the problems and install the nitrous system.

I had Friday off, Saturday I had to do family stuff but I did get to work on it Sunday too.

I welded in the rear sump into the tank. I took it out and used the hot water pressure washer at the highest temp and washed it out five times. When I got done it was very clean and you could not even smell the gas. I took a chance and cut out the hole with the plasma cutter and did not use the dry ice trick, nothing bad happen. I figured that if it was going to do anything the first puncture with the plasma would do it.

Then I welded in the sump and had a hell of a time. I ran a bead with the mig and tested it with air and soap, looked like a bubble factory. I tried to weld some more, and more, and more, and more and still still did not fix all the leaks. Then it came to me to clean it up really well and use JB Weld, this did the trick, no more leaks.

Then I installed my Mallory 140 pump and filter I got from eBay, it also came with enough 8n braided line to go to the engine. I ordered a whole bunch of Russell fittings and blue line from Jegs (when you open the box the line says Parker on it so it's track approved). Installed the Mallory regulator with return and tied it to the old fuel line for a return. Also plumbed the nitrous thank with a separate Mallory regulator that also has a return (just like I was told).

When I turned on the pump it did not work, so much for excellent condition on item purchased from eBay. Took it apart and it full of corrosion and frozen. Cleaned it all up (plenty of PB Blaster) and got it to work again (unexpected waist of time).

Next I got it working and set the pressure of the main system to 5 pounds and I had a leak. Apparently I nicked the gas line (I replaced the original plastic line with 3/8 hard line) with the welder when I was welding everything solid for the rear suspension and made a pin hole. This pissed me off so I took out all the hard line and ran 6n blue stuff all the way back to the tank (more unexpected waist of time).

Did not get the fuel pump wired for the nitrous tank or any of the nitrous stuff in except for the tank in the trunk with blow off pipe.

So in conclusion I now have;
Rear sump, 140 Mallory pump, 8n line to regulator, 6n return line to tank, 6n line to carb. A completely different fuel system for the nitrous with a one gallon fuel cell, nice RobbMC filter, Holley Red pump (I know you don't like this), Regulator and 6n return line, 6n line that will go to the nitrous fuel.

So what was wrong with the original system?
The original tank had a pot in the middle of the tank about 2 to 3 quarts, this was feed by a half inch line that went to the front of the tank. When I took off the gas would go over the side and empty the pot, and since the feed line to the pot was in the front and all the gas was at the rear, there was no gas.
Next I had a pin hole in the line before the pump so it was sucking air, not a good thing. I did not see this because it was not pressurized and it was near the top of the run but when I used it for a return it came right out.

Anyway the car runs again but the nitrous is not hooked up yet.

Once again this takes more time than it should and costs a lot more money than I thought it should.

I'm I having fun yet?