Like many of you I have an aftermarket secondary fuel filter. I think it is probably the best investment for our trucks especially given the potential for injector failure. I have had a Kennedy Mega for about 2 1/2 years now. I never had any air-trapping stalling until I replaced the element a few months ago. I called John Kennedy and he offered a couple of solutions, but the best was a lift pump.

Lucky for me he is only about 3 1/2 hours from here. I headed for Loyal Wisconsin for a lift pump and new shocks. I just completed a trip with the camper to Indiana (7 hours each way). So far with about 1000 miles, I have no more stalls.

As I understand it, our stalling is a complex issue. Our trucks have the fuel pump on the ENGINE side of the fuel filters, so the fuel is SUCKED through the filters, not pushed through. Because of this any fuel filter will trap air on the dirty side. This is because, IIRC, the "surface tension of the fuel on the surface of the filter media in a suction side fuel pump system makes it very difficult for air/fuel vapor to pass through the media. The condition is worsened with very fine media."

So by introducing a secondary fuel filter you may increase the air entrapment problem and this could lead to stalls at start-up. It is readily apparent that the air entrapment existed before the ultra-fine filters were added. Take an OEM filter after 10k miles and cut it open.......the media is like new on the top 2/3rds of the filter and black on the bottom. This is not because dirt settles to the bottom, it is because the filter is 2/3rds empty/dry. This is well explained in a report I think by Baldwin, anyone have the link?

Anyway, by adding the lift pump I am keeping the system under POSSITIVE pressure. I will no longer build up any air and will not have stalling problems. In addition, I will be using the ENTIRE filter media surface. This is important because the more media surface used, the SLOWER the flow of fuel through the media. This theoretically will result in CLEANER fuel and longer filter life.

I have had my differences with John, especially regarding air filters, etc.. However, after visiting with him and spending the day seeing his shop, I think he has this fuel system thing nailed down.

The lift pump is a centrifugal pump which should last the life of the truck. The electronics he has put together allows for an oil pressure switch which shuts off the pump if there is no oil pressure (a safety feature), a pre-ignition prime feature which starts the pump when the key turns to pressurize the system before start-up, and a push-button primer which allows you to use the pump to prime the filters at filter change. It also has a red light indicating when the pump is running. The only trick is lowering the fuel tank to install a hose. John may have an alterative way to install without lowering the tank.

All in all it appears to be a pretty simple install. However I cannot comment on that with 100% certainty since I was outside helping John out with some tree trimming and removal while John did the lift pump install.

Thanks John for all the help and thanks for all of your hard work on the filter and lift pump systems. They are Top Notch. SPICER

Can't wait to get mine -- I'm still caught up in the order process. There must some kind of a line... and I am way at the back.

Yes, the install was actually pretty simple. There was no mod to the stock pickup in Arlen's case, so I just dropped the tank and mounted the pump. Put the tank back in and connect the outlet hose and that was it.













PS. I robbed the test stand pump to get Arlen going. I expect pump motors in late this week, but have been saying that for the past couple/few...

Found the correct link for Baldwin report............................


http://www.baldwinfilter.com/engineer/pdf/94-6r.pdf

):h


You wouldn't know by looking at the picture, but this was over 20' in the air. I watched him climb vertically using nothing but the rope rig.

That doesn't look too complicated. Hopefully, it won't be for me when I try it :)

Does that pump being mounted on the hot side of the heat shield, next to the driveline with the fuel hose running though the heat shield throw up a flag in anyone else's mind? Why expose the fuel lines to a little more heat? What if you live on a bumpy road and that hose is constantly rubbing on the heat shield where it passes though? Seems to me it could work its way through and basically cut the hose. What if you break a U joint? Is that pump going to withstand the impact of the driveline hitting it with 800-1000+ Ft-Lbs of torque on it? Also if anything (i.e. driveline, road debris hits that hose where it penetrates the heat shield it could sheer it. Would a safety tech at a track allow this set up?

It just doesn't seem safe to me...

Lotta what if's, but suffice to say if I didn't trust it, I'd not have done it...

Some tracks teching wont like the rubber line there but if it were SS braided it would pass I believe. Thats also why you are supposed to have loops ;) Plastic gas tank wont like drive shaft either. If you have a driveshaft beating around under there you will do lotsa damage period. I personally chose between the frame with a big hunk o steel to protect it but you dont have a whole lota room to play with there. I like the area in front of the cooler too but my set up was too big to go there. JMO

I believe that you cant have rubber line on the inside of the frame and only a few inches under the hood. Going off memory there though......

Edit#2 I have never had a tech look under my truck even after running 12 flat and telling em I wanted 11's and coming back 2 weeks latter. Talked to the tech guy quite a bit but he didnt put to hard an eyeball on my truck. Its not a matter of not getting caught breaking the rules though and I'm not advocating it. I would check the NHRA rule book to be sure and then decide what is best for you.

Remember this is a street truck that is bone stock...

If someone doesn't like mine this way then I guess I'll have to use braided, but IMHO, the AQP hose is plenty tough...

Tough yes and is it unsafe??? Not IMO, the pro lock stuff and all the other stuff is tough stuff, the SS covered stuff may be more abrasion resistant and such and take more of a shot but if your fuel line gets whacked hard enough to cut the blue stuff you got bigger problems IMO. Just saying I dont think it would technicly pass tech. Weather you care or weather you get caught(slim chance) ect is up to the guy putting it on his truck like you were saying John. If it works for him than thats what matters

Are you guys kidding me?

John you must not realize this, but most Safety features are based on ifs
For example, GM puts a heat shield on your fuel tank because constant elevated heat produced but the exhaust can damage it. When you go to the dentist do you put your arm out over the lead shield while getting x rays?

Phil, not everyone runs loops, in fact most do not. There are lots of high power rigs here that don’t run at the track. One of the big reasons newer fuel tanks are plastic is it’s resilience to impact. Where metal tanks crease and leak, plastic bounces back. Besides, it’s on the other side of the heat shield.

Phil, why do they have rules at the track? Mainly for safety. What you are saying (advocating it or not) is it’s okay to run unsafe as long as you don’t get caught. You’re missing the point, the point is to make things safe, not “get one over on the man”

If the truck is bone stock, what is the need for the lift pump?
The fact is it’s not bone stock. It has an aftermarket fuel filter. Isn’t the extra filter the reason for adding the pump?
Why do most people add a lift pump? Is it because they have a stock truck? Is it because they have an added fuel filter that needs it? Or could it be they are running programs that increase the demand for fuel?

Are you saying you have a separate set up for a ‘bone stock’ truck and a different, perhaps safer set up for a performance oriented truck? If so, why?

Is that AGP hose stronger that metal? It takes a while, but if you rub rubber on metal, it will wear through.

It’s just a bad spot IMO….

Blueox,
The first time I saw the picture I too was questioning the location of the hose. Being on a truck that at stock alone has lots of vibration at highway speeds.
Myself I would put it in another location.
But a lot of safety concerns are from past experiences. Not what if's.
Fuel tanks were moved inside the frame rails since the older GM pickups haveing impact problems. Plastic tanks are also less corrosive, which was a past experience.
Like ratlover mentioned, by just putting the lift pump infront of the tank or on the other side of the heat shield (if possible) it will not stop a wild drive shaft from coming in contact with it. That heat shield will fold and anything on the other side will be effected too.
To finish up here. John has a very nice product and I am very interested in it, but I would chose to locate it in a different location with some stainless tubing .065 wall and swagelock fittings. If this is possible.

I am perfectly comfortable with the location as was Spicer and that is really all that matters. I have provided multiple mounting holes in the pump heads so that a guy can mount them however he wants.

About every driveshaft that I have ever seen pop was at the rear. Yes this makes a club and a nasty one at that. The shield will do very little to protect the tank. I'm not worried one bit about this. My LLY is set up this way and I have plenty of clearance. Again, this is not a prescribed mounting location merely a note of how I do them.

Phil, why do they have rules at the track? Mainly for safety. What you are saying (advocating it or not) is it’s okay to run unsafe as long as you don’t get caught. You’re missing the point, the point is to make things safe, not “get one over on the man”



Dont dissagree with anything you have said. I must not have made myself clear though. I'm definatly not advocating trying to slip by the rules. What I ment was the rules are X and you are a big boy and can decide if you want to abide or not. Certian rules I dont want the guy next to me bending or breaking becasue it could affect my safety like people dripping stuff on the track but if someone wants to run 9's with no cage and helmet then thats thier choice IMO. I think we are on the same page;)

Dont think you could mount the pumps behind the shield, could mount em infront of the cooler I think and they are pretty safe there IMO

My TTS pumps are mounted in front of the cooler
mike

I orded the el-cheapo version of the lift pump yesterday from K-D, seems like it's available now. When it gets hot the diesel in my AUX tank tarts "outgass'n" in it's filter pretty bad. The folks that installed it didn't run the return line through the heat exchange "not neccesary you know." If your have'n this done make sure they route the lines that way ( thru the heat exchange) and use larger than 3/8" hoses to "feed the beast!" I get to re-plumb the whole system next week, yippie!:beerchug: