97 Ranger, Mechanical Fuel pump.

[The 5.7 Ranger]

Ive got a 97 ranger, successfully put in a small block chevy 350, ive got a mechanical fuel pump on the engine and i was trying to find ways to retain the stock tank location/wiring. Can i use the sending unit from an 80's carbed ranger in the 97 tank? Or would i have to get the tank and sending unit?

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

No it won't fit and 1997 fuel gauge wouldn't work with 1988 and older sender/float, Ford change the OHMs in 1989

You could pull the fuel pump assembly and remove the pump, install longer pick up hose and sock/strainer

If you ran it out of gas you would need to prime mechanical pump to get siphon back, i.e. remove fuel line on carb, pour fuel into the hose so mechanical pump gets filled, replace hose, crank engine

 

[The 5.7 Ranger]

How hard is it to remove the pump assembly from the the whole assembly? What size hose would i need to run for the pickup hose and from sending unit to the pump? Priming the system is not an issue

 

[Ramcharger90]

The best thing for you to do in my opinion is use the 97 fuel punp with a fuel pressure regulator with a bypass valve returning the unused fuel pump to the tank

 

[RonD]

Video here, about 4:00min in you get a good look at the 1997 Ranger fuel pump assembly: youtube.com/watch?v=0_9k0wqgmIc

Just a couple of hose clamps, fuel pump is the white cylinder at the bottom

You need to measure current distance from top of assembly to bottom of pump because thats where your pickup tube needs to be, 1/2" from bottom of the tank, with a strainer/sock around it

Strainers/socks seen here: https://www.oreillyauto.com/shop/b/fuel---emissions-16775/fuel-pumps-tanks-16472/fuel-pump-strainer-16843/fuel-pump-strainer-12308/2121c7a153ca

They need to be large because they WILL get clogged up bit by bit.............and you don't want to have to clean them every year, lol, so the bigger the better


Yes, +1 with RamCharger90 in using the current fuel pump and ditching the mechanical pump
You already have the return line in a 1997
Pressure regulator is not cheap but not too much either

You could just have Key on power to the fuel pump, or use an oil pressure switch with current FP relay