So, I'm doing the hutch mod and have the assembly out. I measured the distance on the original unit, 15.5 inches from the bottom of the cover to the bottom of the foot.

Now I'm putting the new foot on the 3/8" line and with the compression fittings the shortest I can make the assembly is 16.5". So I go look at the original foot and it is deformed, jammed up flat and a bunch of the tiny rubber nubs around the center hole are broken off. When I pull the foot to its intended shape, it measures 16.5". Seriously? They jammed a 16.5" fuel pick up assembly into a 15.5" space?

So my question is how is this thing designed to work? It would seem my factory set up had the foot compressed to the point where the pick up was mashed into the bottom of the tank. I was thinking the foot should rest at or near the bottom, but not smashed into it.

Any thoughts? It would appear I am going to need to cut off some of the factory pick up line to make the thing fit? Does that sound right?

 

Some don't even replace the pick up foot when doing this mod, they simply put a short 90* on the end of the pick up pipe and face it away from the return line, you can get it real close to the bottom of the actual tank this way too

 

measure your tank from the lip of the opening to the bottom and make it that long. Like rickster said you could just add a length of hose instead of the foot and leave it laying in the bottom. I assume your adding a pre pump screen

I will admit when I did mine I installed a new foot. If I ever have to go back in and it's broken again I'll just add hose.

 

Forgot to add that little gem, it is 15.5 from the lip to the tank bottom. So the factory set up was pretty much mashed into the tank. I can see some evidence of the screen on the tank, left a little impression. I'd rather not cut the original pick up, but there is a fair bit of junk in the tank. It would get screened (adding a Racor pre pump) and probably not clog the fuel line but...

Trying to find a good place to mount the Racor now.

 

Are taking the factory screens out completely?

 

also you can use a 3/8 drill and open up the bore of the new foot so it will slide further up the tube

 

Yes. Factory screens are going to be gone. Basically with the foot and compression fittings I'm an inch too long. So it's either don't put the foot on or cut the factory pick up. The foot is snug to the compression fitting. I've made that as short as possible.

 

I don't remember having that problem but mines a truck. maybe a different tank in the ex. cut the factory pick. your modifying it anyway. or go with the hose laying in the bottom

 

Drop the original foot in the trash and take the new foot back for a refund.
Either use a short piece of 3/8 metal pipe with a compression fitting or attach a piece of 30R10 with a couple of clamps.

 

I didn't think flexible fuel line was rated to be immersed in diesel?? Just to have it flow through it.

Just trying to prevent further problems coming up down the road.

 

I trimmed the factory pick up to keep the foot. It will sit about 1/4' above the tank bottom. Yeah, some loss in usable volume but... I''ll manage. There was enough debris in the tank that, however unlikely, I'm paranoid it would clog in the line before the Racor so I wanted the screen.

Still at a loss for why the original was smashed into the tank. I guess it was March Madness the week that was installed.

 

"Trying to find a good place to mount the Racor now."
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If you have not already, most mount to the frame rail just ahead of the fuel pump. Just be certain that there are no vacuum leaks. Most double clamp the hose, however there are other options in types of clamps/fittings.

 

That is why I said 30R10, it is rated for fuel pressure inside and contact outside the hose.

 

Where is the best place to buy the Racor filer set-up. I need to do this mod soon and may as well start collecting parts. This filling up at a 1/4 tank all the time is getting old.

 

I picked mine up from TDS Industries, https://www.tdswarehouse.com/