89 LX 5.0 Fuel Rail Recommendations

Ncarter

Member
Jul 9, 2020
17
2
13
Michigan
I put a turbo on my 5.0 but didn’t change the fuel rails. Recently caught fire because the return fuel line pushed apart at the snap fitting. Running a 320 lph fuel pump and 92 lb injectors. I’m thinking that’s too much juice for the stock system. Looking for recommendations on what folks have used on their builds.

Thanks
 
Sooooo 320 lph is equivalent to 507 lb/hr of gasoline and you have 8 injectors at 92 lb/hr.

Let's talk wide open throttle = 8 * 92 = 736 lb/hr. I am pretty sure that at idle you are okay but there is no way the pump you have can support these injectors.

The average answer is that stock fuel rails run out anywhere from 500-600 rwhp. The real problem with them is they cannot move the volume of fuel needed by larger injectors. This is based on my searching and reading a couple years ago when I was contemplating buying rails. Seems like the two issues most talk about addressing first is the stock fuel lines and the fuel pump hanger as the connections on it are small as well.
 
Sooooo 320 lph is equivalent to 507 lb/hr of gasoline and you have 8 injectors at 92 lb/hr.

Let's talk wide open throttle = 8 * 92 = 736 lb/hr. I am pretty sure that at idle you are okay but there is no way the pump you have can support these injectors.

The average answer is that stock fuel rails run out anywhere from 500-600 rwhp. The real problem with them is they cannot move the volume of fuel needed by larger injectors. This is based on my searching and reading a couple years ago when I was contemplating buying rails. Seems like the two issues most talk about addressing first is the stock fuel lines and the fuel pump hanger as the connections on it are small as well.
Totally agree and I’m learning that the hard way. My first fire was the hanger when it melted the pressure release valve. I replaced that with larger hoses. The new hoses popped open on the return end while running. They didn’t mix well with the stock rail.

Wondering what brand or type you would recommend. Only looking to get close to 500-rwhp. Turbo is rated at 6-7 lbs of boost. Two fires in three years just want the proper setup for safety.
 
The reason I went with the Pro-M hanger was due to fuel return cavitation issues with most hangers. I just looked at their site and they now want $400 for that hanger which is just insane. I read they were bought out so that will be the last thing from them I ever buy. Here is one that also has the extended return line down to the bottom of the tank at a much more reasonable price:


Buddy of mine just completely replumbed his fuel system on his 69 fast back with Evil Energy fittings and teflon lined braided hose and it works great. Their prices are pretty damn hard to beat as well.


I think this fuel filter will go where the stock one goes and you can put AN fittings on it.


You will need a couple of adapters for the stock fuel rails where are here:


Other companies make them as well so shop around.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ncarter
I’m less concerned about the fuel rail and injectors than I am about the stock style lines supporting that level of flow. In a return setup you dump more fuel back into the tank, especially at cruise/idle. I’ve seen (stock style) fuel pressure regulators set on the lowest setting still be higher than base pressure of 39psi vac off simply due to being a massive restriction in flow.

At that flow rate you should really be going with AN lines and a aftermarket non-rail mounted regulator
 
It depends how much time and $$ you want to put into it.

I used an Aeromotive fuel pump hanger, (it has the return hose to the bottom of the tank and fits fox tanks), Areomotive filter, Aeromotove Regulator, Anderson Motorsports fuel rails (clears factory distributor) and Fragolia 6AN PTFE lines and fittings.

IMO if you're gonna do the rails and hanger it's probably a good idea just to do the lines as well. The factory return line is really small. Any bit of restriction with years of gunk can cause high fuel pressure issues. Happened to me anyway.

I covered the install pretty well in my thread starts at post #165 https://stangnet.com/mustang-forums...-prom-engine-management-install.928171/page-9
 
stock rails and lines will support 500hp boosted, been done for years in street strip cars that only see full throttle blast for a 1/4 or 1/8th mile, some would upgrade to sn95 rails, your stock stuffs just getting old and failing.

If you want to upgrade, any extruded AN style rails that fit and PTFE lines that suit your end goals, most of the fuel system stuff is ridiculously over priced when you break it down to stuff marketed to a single car model, most ppl I know just buy a cheapy evil energy PTFE kit, if its a Sbf, they end up using a high ram so rails are included. Then rig up double or tripple hell cat pumps for big hp boosted stuff so they can use E85, most run LS stuff now though since its cheap to just throw boost at junk engines.

Year one was blowing out the 03 cobra style, fox body tanks they had made, that let you use a late model fuel hat not too long ago, but looks like prices went back up, think on3 and few others still sell them in the $350 range if you want stock style tank.