About to install new sending unit and fuel pump in my blazer and try to get it ready for blazer bash . Is the baffle in the tank that great on the Tbi tank or not?
CK5
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Do I need a t b I tank?
- Thread starter fastazz81
- Start date
I dropped the TBI pump in my not TBI tanks. So far so good
As long as you have a lot of fuel, it's fine. The problems come with low levels of fuel and on angles. Electric pump has capacity to pump more fuel, than a Manuel pump
I had a good joke to go with this, but got bored trying to find a picture...
The stock GM baffle is a very good design, except the part being plastic and breaking in many instances lol.
The aftermarket tanks, thus far, have less than good baffles in them, and I honestly suspect that they are slightly (5%?) better than having no baffle at all.
I'd like to see Holley make this that would work easily with the EFI GM pumps like we use: http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...reId=10001&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&Nrpp=180 I've asked them about it, wouldn't hurt if anyone else also wants to email and ask them. I did get a response when I sent them the suggestion. They show a C10 tank on their page, show they have worked with these trucks before.
My saddle tanks are factory TBI tanks with the baffle tray. Both of them have been dented in where the tray is and it has cracked the trays but not busted them up completely. I've been a little reluctant to buy aftermarket tanks because I've heard their baffle trays are not as good. Even with the tray, if the tank gets low enough the truck will die when I'm stopping for a red light. It restarts right away, but that when I know it's time to get to a gas station now!
I don't recall if this is exactly what the baffle looks like on the Spectra tanks for our trucks, but it's equally pointless:
What is the point of that sump (not even a baffle really) with holes in the bottom? When fuel gets low, which is when you need it, it will just drain out of the bottom! The K5 replacement tank from Spectra has the same pointless holes that allow fuel to drain out.
This is what the aftermarket should be doing, which is similar to the GM design, but steel:
I for one would spend a fair bit more money to have that in my tank.
What is the point of that sump (not even a baffle really) with holes in the bottom? When fuel gets low, which is when you need it, it will just drain out of the bottom! The K5 replacement tank from Spectra has the same pointless holes that allow fuel to drain out.
This is what the aftermarket should be doing, which is similar to the GM design, but steel:
I for one would spend a fair bit more money to have that in my tank.
454Sub
5/8 ton status
The last wheeling trip I went to we brought out our LS SAS baby Blazer. Had a half of a tank with a butchered sending unit. The new LS sending units do this same thing but on a smaller scale. The first downhill (300+ yards long) it ran out of gas and wouldn't fire till the bottom. I had my feet on the dash waiting to hit a tree.
Kain
3/4 ton status
when gas is low turning fast will cause fuel issue, ask me how i know
My spectre TBI tank has a shallow pie tin spot welded to the bottom of it, where the pickup is. Not much to it.
Kain
3/4 ton status
was going to swap out closer to winter to tbi tank for the baffles, plan on making a few wheeling trips
Just be cognizant that it PROBABLY won't make a bunch of difference if you already have problems. Unfortunately it seems like a waste of money.
I've never had an issue, but I don't really wheel, and knowing how ineffective the aftermarket (spectra) baffle is, I don't let it get below 1/4 tank if I know I'll be hitting any angles, even for logging roads.
If I do eventually have problems, I'm tempted to take a piece of sheet metal, coil it into a spiral (similar to the home brew square steel baffle shown above, but round), narrow enough to fit through the tank opening, and short enough to clear the float arm, which is high enough it probably won't be much of an issue. Might have to account for the fuel strainer, but that wouldn't be terrible. Weld a thin piece across the bottom of the coil to finish the baffle. Weld/braze a new "leg" off the sending unit to support the baffle against fuel slosh, like GM did factory later on:
and use the existing pickup tube as the other support. Ignoring all the other complexities of that sending unit design.
I've asked a couple manufacturers to design something like the above pic for retrofit to GM vehicles, everything from the 60's to 90's could use it, and if adjustable for height as those apparently are, would be far better than the alternatives that exist now. I also contacted Spectra years back to tell them their baffle sucks, but not aware anything has changed. People keep buying them as-is, I'm sure that makes them happy.
