Holley Sniper and Gas Tank Swap

[chuckler3]

Old, dirty saddle tanks are coming out and I'm leaning towards the 31 gallon Blazer tank to go with a Sniper EFI swap. This is also going to coincide with new brake lines

Two tank options I'm looking at currently:

FT5018A - 1982-91 Blazer, Jimmy, Suburban; Zinc Coated Fuel Tank; 31 Gallon

This high quality replacement fuel tank for 1982-91 Jimmy, Blazer, and Suburban models measures 28-3/4 x 28-1/8 x 12-3/4 with a 1-5/8 I.D. fuel filler neck is manufactured in zinc coated steel to replace the original exactly.

www.classicindustries.com

https://www.efisystempro.com/efi-fuel-tank-1982-87-chevy-blazer-tm15b-t-kit

I'm still sorting through the particulars/odds/ends but am currently planning on pulling the bed in the coming weeks and starting the teardown.

Is there a Holley-specific pump/sending unit I should be considering with the non-efi tank from Classic?
Are either of those tank options better than the other?
Sanity/idiot check?

 

[Vbb199]

87+ tank and sending unit from a k5 or burb.

As far as your pump, what kinda horsepower are you supporting?

An ACdelco ep381 will support up to 450hp and fit right in your 87-91 burb or k5 sending unit.

(Have done it and proven it)


If you need more than 450hp like I did, I installed a walbro 455 , which supports 700+ hp, and will fit in a 87-91 k5 or suburban sending unit with some zipties or hose clamps to secure it.

You must be registered for see images attach

If you're exceeding 650hp, it's time for either bigger injectors in the holley (higher flow rate) or a holley super sniper.

 

[chuckler3]

Thank you.
Is the difference in the 87+ tanks just that they're factory EFI tanks or does the 82-91 tanks still work for my needs?

I just have a 360hp Blueprint crate, so no extravagant HP needs.

 

[Vbb199]

Thank you.
Is the difference in the 87+ tanks just that they're factory EFI tanks or does the 82-91 tanks still work for my needs?

I just have a 360hp Blueprint crate, so no extravagant HP needs.

The 87-91 tanks are baffled inside,

They are the "fuel injected squarebody" tanks.
(Tbi injection)




Then it sounds like an acdelco ep381 will fit right into your 87-91 sender and tank.




In my instance for my c10, I have a 1 year only 1987 c10 saddle tank and sending unit for the 1 year only half ton pickup truck that had tbi.


Note for you, when you order the fuel tank + sender, remember to match them

31g tank + 31g sending unit

--or--
41g tank + 41g sending unit



I've confirmed they don't interchange





Btw I chimed in because I'm running holley efi + the 87 saddle tank in my 79

I misunderstood the HP support of the ep381 and killed two of them in short order trying to support a bigger horsepower motor than the pumps could support.

So I moved up to the walbro 455. Noisey b@stard, and didn't fit so nicely like the ep381 did
But buddy when them secondry barrels open on that sniper, its glorious, all American music

Just the feel of a traditional holley carb.

 

[Vbb199]

I will also let you know, for an immediate solution, the holley "master install" kit comes with a inline frame mounted pump that'll support the 650hp the regular sniper supports.



That means, you can run whatever tank you want. If you wanna put a jerry can in your bed, it'll work.

As long as there's a return.

The sniper Likes that return.

 

[Vbb199]

And holley sells retro fit sending units for the various gas tanks too.

Many options.

 

[chuckler3]

Extremely good info. Thank you.

Quick status update:

Tank:

FT5021A - 1987-91 Chevy GMC Blazer, Jimmy, Suburban; Zinc Coated Fuel Tank; w/Fuel Injection; 31 Gallon

Correct reproduction of the original fuel tank designed for with 1987-91 Chevrolet and GMC Blazer, Jimmy, and Suburban models. This reproduction fuel tank is manufactured in stamped steel featuring a heavy zinc coating for rust and corrosion prevention.

www.classicindustries.com

EFI:

Holley Sniper EFI 550-511 Holley Sniper EFI Self-Tuning Kit - Black

Holley's Sniper EFI is the absolute best way to upgrade your car to fuel injection with just 4 simple connections required. This 4-barrel system features a dual pattern bolt on design built to fit 4150 flange & spreadbore manifolds. Sniper is designed to be installed at home in your garage or...

www.holley.com

In-Line:

Holley EFI 526-7 Holley EFI Fuel System Kit

Holley EFI fuel kits are the perfect addition to your Sniper EFI or Holley EFI kit. They are engineered using Holley fuel pumps, regulators and filters coupled with quality Earl's plumbing to provide a fuel system tailored to the needs of your EFI System. The secret to Earl's Vapor Guard hose...

www.holley.com

That's some good money savings too oddly enough. If these pieces are appropriate, I'm just a filler neck away from being on the right track.

Anyone ever run the fuel filler neck back to the original fuel door on the K10? I'm guessing I'll run into tight spaces between body and frame from the rear access of the blazer and my front access on the K10.

 

[leverhead]

If it helps, I have a 75 blazer, currently with quadrajet, but plumbed it efi ready using stock tank (31 gal) and Tanks Inc retro fit pump with tray (PA-4) and extra thick gasket (6G-F). Works great. No noise, starvation or cavitation issues. Some pics attached.

Plumbed with Gates Greenshield and braided teflon hose at flex points, and hard line along frame, AN fittings etc. Using relay and #10 wire for power, and weatherpack at the tank for easy removal. Currently have a bypass reg for carb but have a Holley Stealthram that I may go with in the near future. I kept the OEM sender in the stock location and used it for the vent and return. Hope this helps.

 

[chuckler3]

More information is always appreciated, so thank you.
Ended up with the 31gal TBI tank from the blazer which apparently fits in the frame.. I know others have done it, but was still expecting the worst.

Holley sniper and their sniper retrofit in-tank pump for the blazer tank are coming..
Still need to pickup fuel lines hard and soft. Also need Holley to ship that hardware... that'd be nice.

Other half of this project is replacing all the brake hardware. So all new hard lines (the LMC box showed up in one piece so that's a good sign), master/booster... actually hooking up the rear brakes since the lines were snapped and the proportioning valve is apparently seized.
Also pretty sure the brake fluid is from the late jurassic period..

So project "make it start when i tell it to, and stop in general" has started..
now to start thinking about how to route the filler neck up to the stock fuel door in front of the rear tire on the driver side.. well that a whole mess of other labor-intensive work... something about cutting frame supports so that tank actually squeezes down in there. Gonna throw a beer at it and see what happens.

 

[chuckler3]

Making some progress. Waiting on some paint to dry on the frame supports that have been moved and some rain to stop so I can get underneath it and drill up through to bolt down the angle steel for the straps.

Started looking into the fuel line options and have decided to go with ss hardline and replace all the factory stuff since it stops so short.

Looking for recommendations on tooling to bend/connect the SS hardline as well as PTFE tooling for the ends. - that's a whole new world for me so I'm starting from scratch.

Second pic shows the lack of clearance longitudinally of for the rear end to come up and make holes in the tank. Got a solid 5.5-6" vertically between the two and a renewed need for longer bump stops anyways since the 4" spring lift on it negates the current stockers.
Second pic also shows the brilliance of my painting abilities. I'm here all week.

 

[consti2tion]

What size SS hardline did you end up going with?

 

[77 K20]

Tracking this- as I want to do the same thing. Someday.

Is your truck a shortbed?


Would there be any advantage to using bedliner on the outside of the gas tank? To help protect it from getting a hole rubbed thru it by the straps? Maybe even a "real" one like LineX?

 

[chuckler3]

Tracking this- as I want to do the same thing. Someday.

Is your truck a shortbed?


Would there be any advantage to using bedliner on the outside of the gas tank? To help protect it from getting a hole rubbed thru it by the straps? Maybe even a "real" one like LineX?

I'm actually just finishing up getting the new hard brake lines in, temp installed the new braided PTFE fuel lines, and am starting in on the wiring (my least favorite part). The next step is to drop the tank one last time, spray bedliner on most of the underside, and stick some 1/16" rubber around my new contact points.

Truck is a long bed. Still mentally working through the fill neck routing.. Gonna be a fun couple of days trying to wrangle the bed while it's propped up on some 4x4's

 

[chuckler3]

What size SS hardline did you end up going with?

Ended up replacing all hard fuel lines with PTFE/steel braid from Hot Rod Fuel Hose. Kits were decently priced and the hardware appears to be good quality. Haven't run anything wet through them yet.

 

[CalSgt]

Ended up replacing all hard fuel lines with PTFE/steel braid from Hot Rod Fuel Hose. Kits were decently priced and the hardware appears to be good quality. Haven't run anything wet through them yet.

Just read through your project thread, sounds like a fun one.