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Fuel return line |
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1973gts 
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Joined: 05-March-2018 Location: Grand Rapids Mi Status: Offline Points: 614 |
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 Topic: Fuel return linePosted: 24-September-2020 at 9:38AM |
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Is the fuel return line necessary for safe/good operation? I've read different things whether it is really needed or not. I've got new lines from Inline Tube but they don't make the return line. thanks - dave
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Dave - 1973 GTS N code
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72FordGTS
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GTS.org Admin Joined: 06-September-2005 Location: Ontario, Canada Status: Offline Points: 5848 |
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Posted: 24-September-2020 at 3:47PM |
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What are you doing for a fuel pump? For electric a return system is ideal. For mechanical pumps it's not necessary but with today's fuels it may help keep the fuel a bit cooler. I don't believe any of the Torinos from these years had return lines which is why there was no return line available, but I am not 100% certain (possibly Police Intercpetor package Torinos may have, but they had electric pumps).
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Vince
1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
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72 RS 351
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Joined: 04-September-2014 Location: Knoxville TN Status: Offline Points: 2767 |
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Posted: 25-September-2020 at 2:26AM |
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Ditto. The mid 80's police 351 Crown Vic's had a return line to the mechanical fuel pump. That helped with vapor lock some. How the lines are routed on the engine is critical, spend plenty of time on that, that will help more than an extra line to the pump. Note for OEM plastic fuel lines; I added EFI to my 86 Crown Vic for a 302 HO engine. Messing with the factory fuel lines and the fittings to attach to them was hell. I would avoid plastic lines if at all possible, don't modify or work on them(replace plastic lines with steel or hoses).
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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1973gts
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Joined: 05-March-2018 Location: Grand Rapids Mi Status: Offline Points: 614 |
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Posted: 25-September-2020 at 3:22AM |
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Vince, I'm doing a mechanical pump, I will probably clean up the return line the best I can and reinstall it, I believe mine came with it originally but not sure. Don, the Inline Tube lines are metal and are shaped the same as original so should be all set. thanks - dave
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Dave - 1973 GTS N code
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BadHabit351
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Joined: 21-June-2013 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 217 |
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Posted: 18-November-2020 at 7:22AM |
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It's not a return line. It's a vent hose that runs up to a charcoal cannister mounted on the right side if the engine compartment. Part of the early emmisions set up. I don't have a cannister that's any good so mine is open. When I run the car hard (lots of acceleration, twistys, etc), I get fuel smell in the engine compartment. Otherwise, no issues.
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1973/72 Gran Torino Sport
1971 Torino GT convertilble 2013 Ford Fusion 2004 Ford SuperDuty 2013 Mustang GT |
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BadHabit351
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Posted: 18-November-2020 at 7:27AM |
I used Inline Tubes on my car (stainless). Very nice kit...simple to install if you're torn down. More difficult if the body is still on the frame. The part of the fuel line that is next to the tank is almost impossible to get between the body & frame because of the bubble flair. Almost impossible, but somehow I was able to do it on a friend's Montego.
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1973/72 Gran Torino Sport
1971 Torino GT convertilble 2013 Ford Fusion 2004 Ford SuperDuty 2013 Mustang GT |
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72 RS 351
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Posted: 18-November-2020 at 8:24AM |
If you wanted to, you could use a charcoal canister from a later car, used or new, to reduce the fuel smell. My late 90's Explorers have that system near the fuel tank. They have two identical canisters, and a small box which has basically a filter inside to keep out debris. The fumes go out when they get hotter and expand, and come back in during cool down. The canisters for my 98 were about $60-80 each, I bought one years ago before I learned that there were two in these. I get a fuel smell in two of mine that are all original, being 23 years old the charcoal isn't that effective now.  This picture shows that filter box to the far left, it's mounted on top of the cross member. Simple plastic lines connect the components, most newer cars have them buried unseen and they weigh almost nothing as a group.
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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1973gts
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Posted: 18-November-2020 at 9:15AM |
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I went over all my pictures of the car from before I tore it apart and saw that the return line went to the intake area but was capped off and not functioning so I am not going to put it back on. I cleaned the charcoal cannister up and painted it and since I had the line from Inline tube I installed it and will probably put some kind of one way valve on the cannister outlet port. For BadHabit351 it looks like the 429's came with a return line on the drivers side but it's not available from Inline Tube so as Vince said I think I will be fine without it. Again thanks to all - dave
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Dave - 1973 GTS N code
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BadHabit351
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Posted: 19-November-2020 at 12:39AM |
Did not know 429 cars had that line. Thanks for the info.
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1973/72 Gran Torino Sport
1971 Torino GT convertilble 2013 Ford Fusion 2004 Ford SuperDuty 2013 Mustang GT |
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lynchster
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Posted: 12-December-2020 at 10:56AM |
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I bought the stainless kit from inline and decided I'm going to use the evap line as a return line if I switch over to fuel injection.
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Chuck
72 Gran Torino Sport 13 Taurus SHO "Mr Pig" |
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Rockatansky
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Posted: 12-December-2020 at 4:27PM |
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evap line may not be large enough diameter for a return? they say the return needs to be at least the same size or larger than the supply to prevent any restriction, the return has to free flow 100% of supply w/o building back pressure on the regulator |
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72 GT Ute
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72 RS 351
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Posted: 13-December-2020 at 3:22AM |
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The return line is the same or smaller in all stock Ford EFI pre-1999 systems. The main line is typically 5/16", the return on all of my 90's Fords I'd say are close to 1/4" small. Common is to use the 5/16" stock main fuel lines as the return, and replace the tiny old line with 3/8" or AN 6 lines. That's for mild power, serious fuel systems they go to AN 8 size for the feed. Unless the power is going to get over 500-600hp, 3/8" feed line is enough for typical fuel pressures, 35 or 65psi.
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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1973gts wrote: