Fuel gauge question

[foryorent]

Hey guys, I have a question on the fuel gauge for the ultima. The standard factory gauge has 2 needles on it, one for each tank, right? Is there any way to use a single satandard fuel gauge and have it measure the fuel in both tanks as one? I am looking at the auto meter nexus gauges and would like to use there fuel gauge if I go this route. So can you combine the readings from both tanks into one standard gauge with one needle?

Also, does the ultima use both fuel tanks at the same time? Or one then the other?

Dan

[CanAm Dave]

Hi Dan

The standard setup is a normal fuel gauge. If you have the twin tanks, then each tank has its own pump. You have a switch to use either the left or right hand tank. The switch operates the pump for that tank and the fuel sender from that tank to drive the fuel gauge. The tanks are only linked near the top of the tanks with a small gauge breather hose.

Regards Dave

[mkoch1]

I use an autometer gas guage but it reads in reverse full = empty, empty = full. The standard factory set up is to use one tank at a time. There is a dash switch that switches the full pump + the guage from tank to tank. With my EFI set up I only pull from one tank and have a large -10 cross over conecting both tanks. My fuel guage can still be swtiched from tank to tank but 90% of the time they read the same anyway.

mark

[foryorent]

So in your setup, where you only pull fuel from one tank and connect them, do the 2 tanks enpty pretty evenly?

[mkoch1]

yes the fuel level in both tanks stay about the same. I pull fuel and return fuel to the same tank.

larger image

mark

[builder]

Dan, don't mean to hijack. Maybe you will find this info useful, too.

Mark, that's an excellent diagram. I plan on something similar. The LS7 uses a "return-less" fuel rail system. Here's my preliminary drawing. Some questions for you:

1) Who made your surge tank?
2) What size is it?
3) What PSI are you regulated to?

Also, has anyone used an internal pump?

Thanks,
-- Scott

[mkoch1]

Caton racing makes custom tanks www.cantonracingproducts.com/ Not sure on the size but here are the specs www.markkoch.net/images/canam/fuel/finalTank.gif I think the fuel pressure is set to 62 psi. I set it to what ever the stock corvett runs.

mark

[CanAm Dave]

Hi Scott

A couple of us that I know of in the UK are using the ATL Racing Fuel Cells swirl pot/surge tank. The capacity is 1.5litres. The top four connections are -6 and the bottom one is -8 (I've changed my to -10). In the UK you can get them from www.demon-tweeks.co.uk, they ship international.



Regards Dave

[builder]

Great info. Now that I am ready to start, it's time to get down to specific components. Thanks, Mark and Dave.

[builder]

The SCCA does not allow an external fuel surge tank. I may have to rethink this system.

[steve_d]

builder said:

The SCCA does not allow an external fuel surge tank. I may have to rethink this system.

External to what?

Steve

[builder]

steve_d said:

builder said: The SCCA does not allow an external fuel surge tank. I may have to rethink this system. External to what? Steve

...external to a main fuel tank. This information comes from talking with the guys at ATL Racing Fuel Cells.

[steve_d]

Are they trying to sell you a cell?

Steve

[builder]

steve_d said:

Are they trying to sell you a cell? Steve

Ha-ha! That's what I was thinking. ATL USA doesn't make the surge tanks because (ATL said) nobody is allowed to use them in competition here. However, ATL UK makes them. I don't get it.

There are only about six "sanctioned" events I want to participate in. Four of them are SCCA. I am waiting for an answer from SCCA now. Will post my results.