VP44 Banjo Bolt

[JPittman]

I know about Ray's bolts... but for my 1999 why not use the tapped banjo bolt that's for the VP44 on a '01 and put in it the fuel outlet side of the fuel filter for a FP hose? Haven't seen any discussion on this.



Thanks for the help.

 

[TowPro]

when you say "FP Hose" I hope you don't mean a Fuel Pressure Hose as meaning one that you are going to run into the cab to run an oil pressure type gauge? It will leak, It will make a mess, It may even start a fire, It will smell nice, but your girl wouln't think so!



don't your 99 have 2 taps on top of the fuel filter? One is pre and the other is post fuel filter.



Try this, Take a oil pressure (light type) sending unit from a 80 version Chevy gas motor (80 is best because they had low oil pressure then).



Mount it in one of the fuel filter tap fittings, run a wire from it to a light bulb inside the truck. Now run a switched hot wire to the other side of the light. Now if the fuel pressure goes below around 5psi, the light will come on. (I been meaning to install one on mine, but I been too busy. )

Originally posted by JPittman

I know about Ray's bolts... but for my 1999 why not use the tapped banjo bolt that's for the VP44 on a '01 and put in it the fuel outlet side of the fuel filter for a FP hose? Haven't seen any discussion on this.



Thanks for the help.

 

[JTBMC]

TowPro,

I like that idea something else I can play with. Sould the 5# figure be pre filter or post filter.

Thanks TJ

 

[Bigsaint]

I thought you had 1/8" NPT (or is it 1/4" NPT) on the top of your FF housing on the '99's ? Whichever size it is, it would be real easy to add a gauge. The senders/mechanical line are set up typically for 1/8" NPT fittings. If it's 1/4" NPT ( and pretty sure it's 1/8") all you would need is a reducer.



The light isn't a bad idea, but a gauge would be better as you can watch for erratic pressure and a slow lose of pressure, both can be signs of a pending failure.



If you want to put a mechanical FP gauge in the cab, use the -4AN braided SS line and a rubber snubber line at the pressure source, to reduce any noise in the cab. My mech. FP gauge is on the hood, but I can tell ya that it HAS NOT leaked ( I check it quite often) and works well. I recently swapped the 0-15 Autometer FP gauge out for the Autometer Boost/Vac. gauge as I needed to be able to read beyond 15 psi's as this is my pre filter gauge. If you are going to put only one gauge in, and that is enough, I just like gauges , use post filter as the source. If your FF is getting ready for a change, this would be a good opportunity to change it when you put the gauge in. When you FP starts to read lower, you know it's time for a new filter. Pre- filter readings will not show the drop across a dirty filter.



Scott W.

 

[CumminsAholic]

I've had my mechanical fuel pressure gauge in the cab now for over a year and it hasn't leaked a drop, nor does it smell. Using the post filter test port I ran a -4an braided SS line to a 0-15 psi Autometer Ultralite gauge. It's worked flawlessly. Like Scott said it's a good idea to have the gauge to see it there's any fluctuations in pressure, a sign the pump's about to go out. With just a light you may know that the pump went out, but how long do you have to drive home like that and how much damage did it cause... probably none, but for how much it costs I'd ad the gauge, electric if you're worried about a leak, but I prefer a mechanical gauge because I've never heard of one failing. You see electrical senders going out all of the time because of the vibration.

Corey

 

[THancock]

BigS, where is it that your guage leaks? Is it at the guage or the other end. I'm glad it works well, but the leaking would drive me nuts. There has to be a way to fix it.

 

[1tuffram]

Mechanical FP gauge ?

You guys using mechanical fp gauges, do you fill the line with diesel or leave it full of air? If you fill the line going into the cab with diesel how do you do it without getting diesel all over inside the cab? I have heard of some folks with mechanical fp gauges having problems with noise transfer into the cab, is this common for all mech fp gauges?



I want to use IssPro EV gauges, but since they do not have an electrical EV series fp gauge out yet. I may end up using the mechanical gauge. I was told IssPro does not sell an isolator (nor recommends) with thier mechanical fp gauge because it will cause the IssPro gauge to read lower than it really is. Can folks using IssPro mechanical EV series fp gauge offer any comments. Should I use an isolator? The person I talked to said if the ss braided line is installed with the correct sealant on the threads there is no concern for leaks

 

[TowPro]

Re: Mechanical FP gauge ?

I agree "if done right it should not leak". But also there has got to be a law about running a line with fuel into the cab. If I was doing an inspection on a truck that had a mechanicial gauge, I would have to read the inspection book real hard to cover my butt first!



Just the thought of fuel inside the cab scares me. In a front end or front side crash, the way the cab folds up with its crumple zones, the thought of that fuel line getting cut, and spraying fuel inside the cab scares me. Sure its not explosive, but "what if"?

 

[Bigsaint]

THancock, sorry, that was a error on my behalf... meant to say " it has not leaked". I'll fix the post above . If I had a gauge that leaked for over a year, I'd be wearing a straight jacket right now .



Scott W.

 

[THancock]

Me too, glad you are as sane as the rest of us. For a minute there I was a wonder'n though.

 

[JPittman]

TowPro



Sorry that I didn't go into more detail. No, I'm not running a FP hose into the cab. On my '99 I have installed the Schraeder valves in the test ports and using Briar's test gauge. When I get the Westach electrical gauge from Geno's I will put a tapped banjo bolt in the fuel outlet line (the line that goes from the top of the filter to the VP44), and run the hose to the sender. This way I will have two methods of testing. If the sender goes out I can confirm it by using Briar's gauge.



What I was curious about is why not use a tapped banjo bolt from '01 and later that is on the VP44 and use that in the fuel outlet instead of Ray's bolt?



Thanks for the replies.

 

[FourBarR]

mechanical gauges

been reading with interest discussions on running fuel and oil in the cab . i have been a aircraft maintainence engineer with a us a& p for over 20 years. cessna , piper , and several other manufactures run 100 octain gas and oil into the cockpit gauges . i have not seen problems with this system as long as you use good hose with proper fittings. having said this i have on order westack electric gauges on order thru piers. Oo. Oo. Oo.