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How
to Make More Horsepower - Part III
Over
the last two months we talked about getting air
in and out of the engine. This month we will discuss
putting more fuel into your engine. One thing
to make sure of is that what you do is enough
for now and any future upgrades you plan on doing.
The
first place to start is the fuel pump. The stock
fuel pump will do fine for little upgrades, but
if you are going to add bigger injectors or carburetors,
you will need a better fuel pump. It is good idea
to get the best fuel pump and filter you can afford.
If you are using a mechanical fuel pump, spend
the money and upgrade to an electric fuel pump.
Depending
on your vehicle, you may need to upgrade your
fuel lines. If you vehicle has a mechanical fuel
pump and you will be upgrading to an electric
pump, then you need to upgrade your fuel lines.
The fuel pump manufacturer will have specifications
on the size of the fuel lines you will need. Make
sure to follow this or you can ruin the fuel pump.
Another item you will want install on your fuel
line is a fuel pressure regulator. This is necessary
to make sure you keep a good pressure for the
carburetor or fuel injectors. You don’t
want to blow out any seals now that you have that
high pressure pump.
If
your vehicle is fuel injected, you want to look
at the fuel rail and injectors next. The fuel
rail is what feeds fuel to the injectors. You
need a bigger fuel rail to feed bigger injectors
otherwise the injectors will starve because it
cannot get enough fuel. This brings us to the
last item, the fuel injectors. Larger fuel injectors
will put more fuel into the engine.
For
carbureted vehicles, you can upgrade to bigger
carburetor. Going to a bigger carburetor will
also get you more air into the engine. There are
several options to do this. You can add two carburetors,
four barrel carbs with vacuum secondaries, or
four barrel double pumpers. The choice really
depends on the needs.
Now
you should have a basic understanding on what
you can do to upgrade your fuel system. Since
all engines are different, as well as the needs
of the person driving it, it is best to consult
a performance fuel company such as Holly, Mallory,
Barry Grant, etc. Companies like these have profiles
to help you decide what is best for you. These
companies also carry bolt-on performance replacements
parts for a variety of vehicles.
As
always, if you have any questions or comments,
please send them to sales@kmwperformance.com.
You can also check us out online at www.kmwperformance.com.
see
ya next month!
Vincent Wright
sales@kmwperformance.com
http://www.kmwperformance.com
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