Upgrade lines when switching to e85?

[Stew Pidaso]

Hey guys I'm making the switch to e85 soon and would just like some other opinions. I have stock fuel lines from a rewired 255hp lph wally running 93oct but in making the switch to e85 should I upgrade the lines. I plan on getting the 450 lph walbro pump and I've heard people say that switching to a -6an line is smart but have heard others say its not as necessary. Just thought I'd ask for some opinions on here.
Thanks
Nick

[Riceburning101]

People have done the swap with stock lines and been happy with it. Your going to be running a lot more pressure and flow than stock plus your car being an older car and with older rubber fittings etc i think it would be a smart idea for the long term usage to replace/upgrade. Just my thoughts.

[MY1GDSM]

Originally Posted by Stew Pidaso

I've heard people say that switching to a -6an line is smart

You would be replacing the line with ones that are nearly the same size... .

You tell me if that's smart?

-8an maybe But unless you looking at 600+ hp there's no reason to do anything with the lines... .

[turboglenn]

When i went to E85, I was on a "normal" mustang style 255, stock lines and a stock regulator, running 720's.

I started running out of fuel on myt 57 trimat about 24-25psi so I upgraded to 1000's and still fell short on fuel (and this was after chagning out all the clogged fuel filters from the initial swap), after that i wentand installed dual 255HP's and -6 line for the feed, an IE fuel lab 818 filter and line to rail, and using an aeromotive AFPR with the OEM feed asthe new return..afterthat i had TONS of fuel

Wellwhen i went AWD, i was only able to put o 255HP in the tank due to timeconstraints, and am now on 1600cc injectors, and still a single wally 255 and i've not ran short on fuel yet at 522hp but thetrans blew before redline so i MIGH have been near it's limits at 8k RPM (trans blew at about 6k)

That being said, take it for what it is, either teh mustang pump (non HP), the stock fuel lines, or the OEM filter, one of them was VERY limiting.. like I said, currently only one 255HP on 1600's hitting only ~60% IDC at ~500WHP and no signes of losing fuel during the 482hp and 507hp pulls i made before the trans went

Push lock (blue stuff) is cheap and easy to work with and replacing the OEM filterand banjo bolt it has along with then line to the rail IMO are GREAT mods. but honestly, if you want great drivability (meaning you're picky to want it to run like it was stock) get either 1200's or 1450's.. those are what i'm gonna down grade to since i don't need the fuel of the 1600's and i AM one who wants as close to possible OEM driving and idle (my idle is perfect by the way,only have issues at really high vacume low throttle cruising sometimesbecause the plsewidth has tobe so much smaller than any injector likes to keep AFR"s in stoch range)

Another thing i recomend is ditching the "cap and o-ring) tjhat holds the pump in the hanger, i've never had one that didn't push out under high pressure ad leak, now days i put a piece of blue push lock line about an inch long over the pumpoutlet, clampit on and force that into the "female" part of the pump hanger, it fits so tight it won't leak, and can't push out because it's fittedallthe waydown the pump outlet..then i hold the pump to the hanger wtih a hose clamp, just don't overtighten it

[ramsack]

A -6 AN hose is going to be MUCH larger inside than the puny ~5/16 line that kinks down to much smaller than that in bends. If you want to make your pump work harder, stick with the stock line. Remember, the flow charts you see for pumps are not the pressure at the injectors, it's the pressure at the pump. The better flowing line you have the closer the pressure at the pump will be to the pressure in the rail.

People think one dimensionally with lines, and most don't even consider that it's cross-sectional area is what matters. 5/16" tubing with a 0.02" wall thickness is going to have a 0.058 in² area. 3/8" tubing with a 0.028" wall thickness is going to have a 0.08 in² area. Area increases mostly exponentially while the diameter increases linearly.

[MichaelSuch]

Running stock fuel lines and filter, along with the banjo and fuel feed. I dyno'd at 501hp with just a rewired 255, 1250cc injectors and an AFPR. I started running lean due to the banjo fitting and tiny fuel feed on the filter above 26psi. What are your power goals?

[MY1GDSM]

I don't think that the OP "needs" -6an lines and regardless the stock lines in a 1g with the pump they plan to run will be more then surfice for what I see in there mods list. I not to long ago tuned this car on the same setup and I doubt the op will get close to the power it was putting down( no offence)

If not I still wouldn't recommend that small a line if upgrading and the majority of the time people are saying to replace the line because of the E85(wrongly from my experience) not because the limits of them ironically most the time with lines that are no more safe with the fuel they are complaining about...

But, that's interesting glenn wonder really what was limiting you... . I always punch the reliefs in the 255's I use if they are not a HP or if It is an the car is on higher boost and has a higher BFP..

[codeofdastreets]

Replacing the fuel lines in my opinion would defenity be a waste of money unless your power goals are 600 plus hp..If it was my car, I'd do a pump, afpr, injectors,and aftermarket fuel filter.These 4 mods have been proven to make over 600 hp on e85 and be daily driven on the right performance mods.

[Stew Pidaso]

My power goal is 500awhp. I have all the supporting mods needed for everything and I want to keep my IDC's below 80% and yeah I understand about the flow numbers being at the pump. I just want to keep everything safe and want to get the fuel to the injectors. Also it seems like most of you guys are saying that a wally 255 is holding up with 500whp so is the 450lph unnecessary as well? Havent heard much feedback on that pump

[MichaelSuch]

Honestly I wish I would've went to atleast a 340lph FP if not a 450. At 500 it seems as if the 255 on e85 is being pushed pretty hard. If you want it safe I would do it once and go with a 450, I will be upgrading mine eventually.

[Stew Pidaso]

yeah I mean I think its way better to stay on the safe side