Hi all
Had a problem awhile back on a delivery towing a large trailer full of cabinets. Fuel gage was down to 1/8 tank so we pulled in to fill up, as we pulled in I noticed it starting to hammer. It was making sounds I've never heard out of it before. I figured it was done! Long story short, the towing guys put five gallons of fuel in and I got it filled up and she started running good again.
After being back in town a month later, I was down to 1/4 tank and it started to make knocking sounds again, went straight to station and filled up, all good again. Now two days ago the ''low fuel'' light came on so went to fuel up and it started to hammer as I pulled into get fuel. All good after fueling up.
I think it's pretty obvious I have a fuel pick up problem! What do you guys suggest I do? btw, I am able to do my own work on it, at least if I know what the issue is. Thanks in advance.
Dave

 

Click Hutch Mod in my signature. Air gets into the fuel line by way of:

• A dropped pickup foot
• O-ring seals on the quick-connects between the pump and the tank.

Once it's in there, it can cycle around by way of the mixing chamber. If the screens in the mixing chamber are plugged, fuel pressure drops and the injectors knock.

I installed the FRx [LINK]to complete the modification.

I recommend not letting the gauge get that low until the mods are done.

 

Thanks Tugly, I'm at work now but, will check it out when I get a chance. Will get back to you after I read it if I have more questions.

 

There has been some excellent threads over the last couple of months regarding the hutch/harpoon mods. Should keep you busy reading for a while.

 

Ok, I had a few minutes so I read Guzzel's instructions on the Hutch mod. I'll read some of the treads on this subject here and when I feel I've read enough, I'll most likely get the kit so I don't have to run around gathering up parts.
Doesn't look like it's beyond my abilities so far.
Thanks,
Dave

 

It is fairly easy, just cumbersome to lower and raise the tank. You will want to use most of the fuel before dropping, or siphon out or pump out. Even a gallon sloshing from front to back gets a little exciting. Get the pick up "foot" before also, it can be hard to find locally by itself. Guzzle is an excellent resource.

 

I just filled up so it might be awhile before i jump on this. Gives me time to round up parts I guess. Thanks again, I'll be back with questions or to let you guys know how it went.

 

Hey Tugly,

I have completed the Hutch and Harpoon mods about a month ago and noticed a diffrence with my truck...I now have in hand the FRx mod......What challenges did you encounter with installing the FRX?....What was the installation time?
_____
Jeff

 

Good morning Jeff, I installed the FRX kit about 6 weeks ago. Installation took me a couple of hours. Use the middle spring for the regulator return, it will come with three. Gold one if my memory is correct.

The instructions included on the Riff Raff site are very good. Only thing I'd note additionally would be to emphasize the use of a square socket for the plugs if you can get one. I used a very good set of vise grips and an open end wrench. Others that have used a square socket seem to like it a lot. The back plug on the drivers side was a little tough because there was a plenum bolt right in the way of the wrench's swing arc. Once I quit trying to work around it and just removed that plenum bolt temporarily, it went a lot more smoothly. You'll see the bolt I'm referring to once you get to that point.

Removing the fuel bowl mounting bolts is critical to get the required clearance to install the return block. I thought I could get away with not doing this. I was incorrect.

I'm working opposite of you incidentally, got the hutch parts on my bench and looking forward to tackling that this weekend. So, let me reverse things on you. Any tips?

Tom

 

did the hutch mod with about 8 gal in the tank - not easy, but had a strong son to help. Get some good fuel line removal tools - I got some cheap ones that did not work - too thin. The plastic removal tool has to have some thickness to push the fuel line spring out of the way. Then the line pops right off.

 

I suspect the foot has come apart but i think replacing it with another plastic foot is a waste or money.

 

Here is a picture of mine. No plastic boot to come apart.

3/8 compression fitting & short 3/8 metal line for pick-up (replaced plastic boot)
5/16 compression fitting & 5/16 metal line for return.

 

So......just the pipe like in the picture?

 

I'm looking at this with my phone so the picture is too small for me to see the end of your fuel pick-up tube. Did you flare the end of that tube? Also, how long did you end up extending the fuel pick-up tube from the circular plate on the top of the tank? What distance from the bottom of the tank did that leave the end of the pick-up tube?

Thanks,
Drake

 

The hardest part was calculating how much to renumerate woodnthings for taking on getting the itty-bitty plugs out of the fuel rails on the heads. Sorry.