Getting closer........

[1968CamaroSS_Sam]

Happy Birthday. Very nice project you have going.

[Motown 454]

Happy Birthday Jim . Good luck with the startup.

[Jim Nilsen]

Thanks for the birthday wishes.

I am going over all of the connections and programming this morning to make sure that windows vista hasn't decided to change things on me. I hate vista for thinking it is smarter than me to decide what changes need to be made or not or just plain delete it.

The plan is to try the ignition this afternoon. I have to go to radio shack and get some capacitors for the DCC controller and put them in. A bit of power steering fluid and oil and we can fill the gas tank and calibrate the sender. Then turn the key and pray for ignition.

There are a few 1st on this car for things that I hope work well if not I have backup parts to change things.

It has been a long road to get to this day and I was hoping to be driving on this day but bringing it to life on my birthday is probably the destiny that was meant to be.

May I live as long as the Cormaro and be able to adapt as well.

There will be a moment of silence and prayer and then the sound of a starter trying to bring the beast to life. I hope I can say

IT"S ALIVE IT"S ALIVE

[Jim Nilsen]

So far so good, Radio Shack had the capacitors I needed to get started so it is on to the next step after I get them on.

I keep thinking that about 4pm I will be mentally ready to do it, whether the car is ready is another story to be told tommorow.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Happy Birthday, Jim! I hope you get it fired up today.

[Jim Nilsen]

We gave it a couple of hours of trying and didn't get it start but we could get it to fire here and there.It has to be a timing problem but we couldn't see anything that wasn't to the instructions for installing the distributor that was wrong. Had a couple of programming errors that still didn't get things going after changing them.

The racepumps fuel pump isn't getting fuel to the rails and I think a call to them in the morning will lead me to the right solution. I believe I may have to prime it like an old pump and get some fluid to it to make the seal so it will pump.

Ran the battery down to the point that we borrowed the one from my pickup.

The learning curve on this efi is putting me in the ditch for the moment.

A call to Accel in the morning hopefully will help me figure it out.

If anyone wants to add any comments about what might be something to do I am open to anything.

It's been a long day and i am tired.

[Jim Nilsen]

Well it has been an interesting morning.

I got on the phone to racepumps and got to talk to Howard about my problems with priming the pump and such and if they had a solution to my problem.

After describing my needs and setup he told me that I should use the electric setup and not the racepump. He was very honest about how people have treid to get it to work and at the worst possible time,like in traffic on a very hot day and it would just die.

The idea is a great one and for high horsepower he said it is the solution for most. But for a basic setup like I have it just doesn't work well. It took several years to get the research to confirm this and in that time it progressed to not being the setup that is best for me.

Howard understood where I was coming from and seemed to appreciate my desire to make it work but told me straight out that I should go to electric pump and he would refund my money for the Racepump. After all of the time that has passed he still is going to give me a full refund. I have to say that it isn't what I really wanted or what he wanted but it is great to know that there are still good people in the world and he is one of them.

So the rest of the story is that if you have big crazy horsepower a racepump will help you, if you have a mild setup it won't.

So if you really need it they can help and if you are looking for a solution to a fuel problem they will work with you towrd a solution.

So now I need to run a return line and the wiring for the electric fuel pump.

I tried to do something to make the car safer in case of tragedy and not have fuel spraying from an electric pump but now I have to comply with the old way move on and add saftey in the system to kill the pump if needed.

So take it for what it is worth and hopefully it will work in the end.

[Payton King]

at least you got a good result....just not time wise.

I will assume that you are going to run an in tank pump. Even if you run an inline pump. Put it at the back of the car close to the tank. After the pump place a regulator. Run your return from your regulator back to the tank and dead head the system at the motor. That way you are not recirculating hot gas back to the tank. It will run fine that way. I have mine done that way along with about everyone else I know. I would assume you battery is in the back. Wire in a relay and run one hot wire from your ignition to the back and your are done. Do not, however run your ground from the pump directly to the battery. Been there and done that and just about caught my car on fire. That is another story for another time.

Also do not get too big of a pump. My LS1 made 425 at the wheels and I was running an Aeromotove A1000....waaaay to big. I am running a Walboro 225 and it is plenty of pump. If you get one too large it will bypass a ton of fuel and you will have fuel starvation problems when you get to about 1/4 of a tank in corners.

[Jim Nilsen]

at least you got a good result....just not time wise.

I will assume that you are going to run an in tank pump. Even if you run an inline pump. Put it at the back of the car close to the tank. After the pump place a regulator. Run your return from your regulator back to the tank and dead head the system at the motor. That way you are not recirculating hot gas back to the tank. It will run fine that way. I have mine done that way along with about everyone else I know. I would assume you battery is in the back. Wire in a relay and run one hot wire from your ignition to the back and your are done. Do not, however run your ground from the pump directly to the battery. Been there and done that and just about caught my car on fire. That is another story for another time.

Also do not get too big of a pump. My LS1 made 425 at the wheels and I was running an Aeromotove A1000....waaaay to big. I am running a Walboro 225 and it is plenty of pump. If you get one too large it will bypass a ton of fuel and you will have fuel starvation problems when you get to about 1/4 of a tank in corners.

Thanks for the info, I was going to call Accel and ask them if that is what works best.

I have the Bosch pump that came with the kit and the relays are already installed and the wire is just tucked up under the dash ready to go to the rear.

What regulator did you run and what pressure? and did you use 1/4in line for your return or the same as the feed?

From what I am understanding you are putting the regulator after the tee and on the return line side,Right?

I really appreciate the time and help, I am not going to let this kick my ass and win. With a little bit of help I can do this without having to resort to paying someone to come out and get me going. I really want to get it right and not spend anymore $$$ than it takes to do it right.

Thanks a million !!!

[Steve Chryssos]

Confirmed on the RacePump. Howard is a great guy. But our RacePump cost us the win at RTTH4. Very hot conditions caused multiple vapor lock episodes. Lots of cars were suffering vapor lock and or heat soak. Since the RacePump is so difficult to prime, we ate the starter trying to get the car re-fired so many times. Pulled the RacePump and went electric.

[Payton King]

Have a pick up tube to a intank filter, to the pump. Outside the tank. I have -10 AN to an Aeromotive filter, filter to Aeromotive EFI regulator. Comes in one side and out the other to -8an to the motor. The return port on the regulator is -6 AN back to the tank. Fuel pressure on an LS1 is set at 60 psi. That is shown in the picture below.

When I went to the Walbro 225, it was -6 out of the pump that I used a -6 to -10 coupler to go into the the filter. Only change I made.

Does this make sense? I am running mine in this configuration, so is Steve Rupp, Jody (Mali2ude), Scott Gulbranson (lat-G) the list goes on. Jody is probably the biggest test as he is running a twin turbo LS2.
W

[Jim Nilsen]

Have a pick up tube to a intank filter, to the pump. Outside the tank. I have -10 AN to an Aeromotive filter, filter to Aeromotive EFI regulator. Comes in one side and out the other to -8an to the motor. The return port on the regulator is -6 AN back to the tank. Fuel pressure on an LS1 is set at 60 psi. That is shown in the picture below.

When I went to the Walbro 225, it was -6 out of the pump that I used a -6 to -10 coupler to go into the the filter. Only change I made.

Does this make sense? I am running mine in this configuration, so is Steve Rupp, Jody (Mali2ude), Scott Gulbranson (lat-G) the list goes on. Jody is probably the biggest test as he is running a twin turbo LS2.
W

Makes sense to me. What micron size filters do you have? 35 in the tank before the pump and 10 before the regulator?

I just ordered the same regulator today and am making my bracket to hold the fuel pump. They claim the pump I have is good for 800hp so I should be good there.

So far the change over is going smoothly but time consuming to say the least. I am so glad that I did the engineering to be able to do this just in case.

Thanks for the pic, that looks really nice and tidy and keeps all of the filters out of the engine bay which I like. The most likely to leak place is always the filter and they are usually in the worst place and can start fires.

Don't you wish the Walker exhaust clamps had a left and a right so the bolts be going the same direction, it's the liitle details of semetry that I always strive for but can never acheive when they just don't let ya.

Thanks , this is helping a lot.

[ProTouring442]

I tried to do something to make the car safer in case of tragedy and not have fuel spraying from an electric pump but now I have to comply with the old way move on and add saftey in the system to kill the pump if needed.

Get one of those inertia switches like Ford uses. You can get them from several vendors, or pull one from a salvage yard. They are easy to hook up, and in case of a serious impact, will shut the fuel pump off.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[Payton King]

it is a 10 micro filter. What pump are you running? Don't get one too big. It is an in-tank or in-line pump? If it is in-line make sure you mount it on rubber to cut down on the noise and vibration.

On a seperate note, are you coming to RTTH's?

[Jim Nilsen]

it is a 10 micro filter. What pump are you running? Don't get one too big. It is an in-tank or in-line pump? If it is in-line make sure you mount it on rubber to cut down on the noise and vibration.

On a seperate note, are you coming to RTTH's?

I have the inline out of tank pump that came with my kit. It shouldn't be too big. it is a Bosch pump and when I researched it ,it came up as a very good choice and should work for anything I plan to do.

The mount I am making will be isolated around the pump and at the base.

I am trying like heck to get the car going to make it to RTTH. I will be incomplete on the interior a bit if I do but I have to get past this to do it. I will come to see everyone even if I might not be able to participate in the track events.

With you guys helping me it sure is speeding it up.

Thanks

[Payton King]

It is all about having fun anyway. If you car does not make the trip and you do. Hunt me down and I will let you make a run with my car at the autocross...you are not allowed to turn a better time though. LOL

[David Sloan]

It is all about having fun anyway. If you car does not make the trip and you do. Hunt me down and I will let you make a run with my car at the autocross...you are not allowed to turn a better time though. LOL

And it is a blast to drive!!

[Jim Nilsen]

And it is a blast to drive!!

That is an invitation I will take Payton up on for sure if it goes that way. I hope to be there with a yellow Cormaro on,I will leave the bells at home,lol

I had soooooo much fun at the Motorstate event and am ready for more.

I am trying to win the battle of the EFI and never thought it would be this hard until I found out that the instructions were leaving out the important stuff it takes to do it complete without an EMIC.
Even trying to find an EMIC where you live is a feat in itself that makes you wonder how many of these units are out there.

Thanks again Payton your setup is awesome!

[Jim Nilsen]

The change over to the electric pump is going good and I am so glad that I have the right configuration to hopefully have no problems in my future with it.

With so many others running this configuration already it has made it easier to know that I also have the right parts in the right places. Having all of the filters in the same area is a plus along with not having it by the engine anymore.

Here is a pic of the new setup and a couple others.

It is really nice how the Racepac guages match to the Stewart Warner speedo. Just a little bit of a difference in the pointer but it is very close.

The exhaust needs another braket to hold the pipes in the exact place in the rear but it can wait for now.

Thanks for the help everyone.

[Ron S]

Just bring it Jim,my junk is usually held together with duct tape and zip ties at these events,thats part of the fun.Our cars will never be totally done,but I'm going to enjoy pounding on mine every chance I get, as I peck at all the little things. Ron