suburban tow truck fuel issue

[Dwight Southerland]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

The inner fender is the wrong place to route fuel lines. Chevrolet put them on top of the frame rail on cabureted trucks because air flows there.

The big block carbureted trucks had a 1/2 fuel line from the tank all the way to the fuel pump, it was necked down for a 3/8" hose. They also had a different pick up in the tank. I always used a genuine Delco fuel pump for a 70 Chevelle on my big block trucks, that seemed to be the most reliable and effective mechanical pump, the big Holley race style pumps would at times have pressure spikes that caused a Q-Jet to flood.

See if you can find the correct fuel tank and the correct sending unit and pick up for an earlier truck with a big block and a carburetor. You can probably even find the fuel lines.

?? Alan, I put 386K miles on an 86 454 GMC Suburban (last carburated model), but it had a 3/8 line. The line did run outside the frame rail mounted toward the top of the frame channel, if that is what you mean by the top of the frame. I replaced the fuel pump once and used a NAPA pump. No problems ever. I replaced the tank once (the original developed a split along the bottom) with a tank from an 89 model. I used my pickup and sending unit, still no problems. 40 gal tank.

Jack, that's weird!!