How are the factory dual saddle fuel tanks supposed to be routed?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Casca2525

Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2025
Posts
34
Reaction score
14
Location
Chesley
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
C30
Engine Size
454
My dash doesn't have a cutout for that switch on it. Instead, my dash has this switch:

You must be registered for see images attach


That switch is mounted right under the steering column on the left side.

Can that switch be used instead of the one lined to above? You know, just to keep a factory appearance and avoid cutting a hole?

if your worried about looking "factory" stay with the classic kit it looks sturdier than the amazon and the bat handle toggle switch it comes with matches yours in appearance and is the exact same size hole and will slide right in and as long as its mounted right the label will line up! if not rotate the switch body 180 degrees
 

Casca2525

Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2025
Posts
34
Reaction score
14
Location
Chesley
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
C30
Engine Size
454
Wow I just looked at the price of those holley pumps. I'd buy an external FPR a 6 port Pollak valve and 2 ep 381 pumps on 87 senders,I can buy all that for the price of 1 Holley pump and probably have change .
ok, so as I read this: I need to get a non in tank pump sending unit cut the pick up line and fit in the ep381 pump unit there by creating and in tank pump sending unit?
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
10,167
Reaction score
19,654
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
ok, so as I read this: I need to get a non in tank pump sending unit cut the pick up line and fit in the ep381 pump unit there by creating and in tank pump sending unit?
No you use 87 senders which use tbi pumps but instead of using tbi pumps you use ep381 pumps
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
10,167
Reaction score
19,654
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
thanks for this, I am in a similar boat, quick question did any of these trucks come with 3 tanks? my Scottsdale w 454 has 2 filler doors on drivers side 1 in front of the flare saddle and currently only tank and one at the back of the flare, like a logical spot for a rear tank, as well as a 3rd on the right where the right side saddle tank would be?

I ask because I travel regularly from eastern Ontario to south western Ontario, pulling a 26ft house trailer, about a 1600km round trip, so I'm thinking 3 tanks could be handy
No, three tanks was never an option. Also you should ask your own questions on your own threads,it gets confusing when we are working with multiple vehicles and situations on the same thread.
 
Last edited:

Old Guy Bill

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2023
Posts
981
Reaction score
2,960
Location
KY
First Name
Bill
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
400
I went through the complete dual tank system when rebuilding my truck.
New tanks, new lines, the original six port valve, it was tested with air and worked fine. This includes the return line, which is 1/4", the vent line is the 5/16" one.
The only change I made was switching the tank & return lines at the valve, this made the main tank the left side. It also requires flipping the dash switch in the bezel.
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
10,167
Reaction score
19,654
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
oh ok sorry
NBD it just gets things confused when we start working on 2 or 3 different vehicles. Questions meant for car 2 are assumed to be for car 1 etc.
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
10,710
Reaction score
8,240
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
I have a 75 Custom Deluxe K20 with factory dual tanks. I had wiring "issues" as well. IMO, the best way to fix all that was to replace the FACTORY pickups in the NEW tanks, buy the correct transfer pump that mounts in the frame rail......and from there it goes to the mechanical fuel pump. I also replaced the original in cab fuel switch (FACTORY) and kept the old one as a spare just in case. The only thing I changed was the fuel pump to a Holley blue with a pressure regulator and DON'T FORGET FUEL FILTERS ! This is probably the easiest way to get back to 'normal'. You can use the mechanical fuel pump if you want to..........but lately the quality of aftermarket mechanical fuel pumps has been very sketchy. I went through THREE pumps before I said to hell with it and went to an electric fuel pump and a pressure regulator. I installed a much higher horsepower engine and didn't want any fuel starvation. These old square bodies like to drink. So , in short I would say.......TRY to remain as much factory as you can. They worked well when new and occasionally you might have to replace a rotten fuel line. But I'm running stainless 3/8" fuel line and don't have much exposed rubber anywhere. Tuck everything up nicely. Wire it NEATLY. Protect the wires! It can be frustrating at times. Finding a GOOD ground is essential. 90% of these fuel problems are ground related. Take your time and use all the drawings the other fellas have posted and you'll be ok. Good luck.
TRANSFER PUMP? What TRANSFER PUMP? do you mean valve?
 

75BEASTK20

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 5, 2024
Posts
116
Reaction score
152
Location
B.C. CANADA
First Name
Cal
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
427
Yeah, my bad. It's not a pump. More of a valve switch to use whichever tank you pick.
 

LeperGnome87

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2026
Posts
17
Reaction score
2
Location
Saint Joseph, MO
First Name
Adam
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
454
I would go with an in tank electrical pump from an 87 chevy. Grey wire runs your pump. Purple wire runs your float. Then get a switch from an 87 chevy and wire it into a relay and that way you can get rid of the stupid selector valve. Those never worked right anyway. The switch was a simple on and off switch. You may need to grind a tab off of one terminal. Check out Ugly Truck on YouTube, he has a lot of videos on fuel systems. Mainly for LS swaps but im sure you can adapt it to what you are doing
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
10,167
Reaction score
19,654
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
I would go with an in tank electrical pump from an 87 chevy. Grey wire runs your pump. Purple wire runs your float. Then get a switch from an 87 chevy and wire it into a relay and that way you can get rid of the stupid selector valve. Those never worked right anyway. The switch was a simple on and off switch. You may need to grind a tab off of one terminal. Check out Ugly Truck on YouTube, he has a lot of videos on fuel systems. Mainly for LS swaps but im sure you can adapt it to what you are doing
I do not believe this. If you have a return system,and you should, you won't have any way to pick which tank fuel returns too,so you can end up over filling one tank. Aren't you having problems blowing the needle off the seat with this arrangement? Are you running a return line from the regulator? Is it big enough,otherwise it becomes a restriction and fuel pressure keeps building because it can't escape through the restrictive size of the return line. Result,you blow the needle off the seat and carb pukes fuel out the bowl vent.
 
Last edited:

LeperGnome87

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2026
Posts
17
Reaction score
2
Location
Saint Joseph, MO
First Name
Adam
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
454
Nope, i got a 5/16 return line to an adjustable fuel regulator and 3/8 for the feed line. I'm still testing stuff but I will post pictures soon. But at the same time i could be wrong, my in tank pump i switched to is a 15 psi pump i think, i need to double check my previous posts.
 

Broken85

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2024
Posts
310
Reaction score
449
Location
Cumberland, NJ
First Name
A
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Nope, i got a 5/16 return line to an adjustable fuel regulator and 3/8 for the feed line. I'm still testing stuff but I will post pictures soon. But at the same time i could be wrong, my in tank pump i switched to is a 15 psi pump i think, i need to double check my previous posts.


I think what Ricko is also asking is how are you selecting which tank the return line is going to without a switch valve??
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
9,558
Reaction score
17,536
Location
The Right side of Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
Nope, i got a 5/16 return line to an adjustable fuel regulator and 3/8 for the feed line. I'm still testing stuff but I will post pictures soon. But at the same time i could be wrong, my in tank pump i switched to is a 15 psi pump i think, i need to double check my previous posts.
Why would you have a regulator on return line?
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
48,665
Posts
1,074,137
Members
43,333
Latest member
duncan_schawalder
Top