Fill ’Er Up
Installing a MagnaFuel fuel system for a boosted, 1,000rwhp street car
Written by Steve Baur
Photography by the author, Dean Santiago, and Kevin DiOssi
Back when the Fox Mustang was making 300 horsepower with bolt-on mods, the factory fuel system could be upgraded with a simple swap of the in-tank pump. These days four-digit horsepower numbers are not uncommon, so feeding such a powerplant is going to require something a bit more than a drop-in replacement. We contacted MagnaFuel to find out what it takes to build a fuel system for a turbocharged Fox Mustang that competes in True Street and requires enough E85 fuel to support 1,000 horsepower at the wheels.
The subject vehicle is equipped with a Bennet Racing-built, 331ci small-block Ford that features a Turbonetics 88mm turbo and Ford Performance Z304 heads. The tune-up wasn’t exactly optimal, and the fuel system was old and subpar, especially with a switch to E85 fuel on the way. Using E85 requires a larger volume of fuel than a gasoline-based system will, so the entire fuel system was re-engineered to support that as well as a higher engine output.
MagnaFuel proprietor Robbie Ward put together a capable fuel system that starts with a pair of the company’s ProTuner 750 electric fuel pumps, which are the biggest electric units that the company offers. They are capable of supporting up to 2,000 horsepower, depending on the volume required.
These pumps are a great choice for street cars as they offer quiet operation, are self-priming, use continuous-duty motors that offer high torque with a low electrical draw, and can be mounted vertically or horizontally. The ProTuner 750 pumps are also user-friendly in that they can be rebuilt if needed, and feature a hard-anodized finish to keep them looking great for years to come.
To keep the fuel clean and the pumps running smoothly, we are using a MagnaFuel 74-micron pre-filter (PN MP-7009-BLK) on the inlet side and a 25-micron post-filter (PN MP-7008-BLK) on the outlet side of the pumps.
Moving from the pumps forward, we utilized MagnaFuel’s ProStar 4 EFI regulator to keep the existing billet fuel rails on the car supplied with plenty of fuel. The particular regulator we used (PN MP-9950-B-BLK) is a large, two-port EFI regulator with a 1:1 boost reference. It offers two #8 AN outlets and a single #8 return line. MagnaFuel also sent us a bevy of AN fittings to put it all together and the company’s dual relay harness to connect the pumps to power.
While MagnaFuel is well known for its blue and magenta-hued products, the company now offers them in all black, which is what we chose.
John Maguda at Spike’s Performance and Refinishing in Ocala, Florida performed the installation. Having worked on high-performance machines for over 20 years, Maguda can usually be found servicing Pro Mods or no-prep race cars for some of the quickest and fastest racers in the country.
Check out the accompanying photos to see how it all went together. When installing an aftermarket fuel system, following the path that the OEMs chose is not a bad place to start, and modifying the layout to suit your vehicle’s needs is an easier affair once you have a solid place to start.
SOURCES
MagnaFuel Products Inc.
(719) 532-1897
MagnaFuel.com
Spike’s Performance & Refinishing
(352) 207-1815
SpikesRefinishing.com
A longtime supplier of fuel system solutions to racers and enthusiasts, MagnaFuel had just what we needed for an ultra-high-horsepower street machine.
For our application, MagnaFuel’s Robbie Ward specified the use of two pumps as the boosted powerplant and E85 fuel choice required a larger volume of fuel. The ProTuner 750 (PN MP-4303-BLK) features #8 AN inlet and outlet ports with a pressure range of 20-120 psi. At 12.5 volts, they draw 14 amps at 45 psi.
John Maguda handled the installation at Spike’s Performance & Refinishing in Ocala, Florida. The plan was to mount the new MagnaFuel pumps behind the rear bumper cover. After Maguda pulled the cover and mocked up the pumps, we found adequate clearance between them and the bumper support bar.
Next, Maguda attached the anodized black hose fittings and began measuring the length of fuel line required.
Often having to make repairs at the racetrack, Maguda made quick work of the hose cutting with some tape and a cut-off tool.
These particular fuel line fittings utilized a ferrule that is inserted into the fuel line and secured between the two fitting halves.
A MagnaFuel fitting (PN MP-6200-BLK Y) was used to combine the dual #10 feed lines into a single #10 AN line to supply the engine. Caked-on rubber on the underside of the car is a sure sign that the vehicle is a drag-strip veteran.
The feed and return lines are temporarily fitted to the frame rail so they can be cut to length in the engine bay. Maguda then fastened them using rubber-coated steel clamps.
The #10 AN feed line is split into two lines to feed the fuel rails, which then return to the fuel pressure regulator.
You may find that some aftermarket Fox Mustang fuel systems have a dead head on the driver’s side fuel rail, but that largely went out of favor as fuel demands increased, and nowadays each rail returns to the regulator as you see here.
Maguda mounted the MagnaFuel fuel pressure regulator on the back side of the passenger-side strut tower as it offered the best layout for all of the attached fuel lines and the fuel pressure sensor.
Part of a great fuel system is ensuring the fuel pumps receive the proper electrical supply. To accomplish that, we used MagnaFuel’s dual-relay wiring kit to connect them to the rear-mounted battery.
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With a tank full of E85 and the new MagnaFuel fuel system to provide it, this Bennett Racing 331ci small-block Ford engine churned out 980 rear-wheel horsepower at 18 pounds of boost on a super-safe tuneup.
This is the time we live in, where street cars fill up at the gas pump but need parachutes at the racetrack because of how fast they are. With turbocharged and supercharged cars, E85 is an inexpensive alternative to race gas that many enthusiasts utilize.
Despite a traction issue, car owner Dean Santiago coaxed a best elapsed time of 9.1 seconds from the car during NMRA True Street competition. With some suspension work and further tuning, mid-to-low eights are expected.
Installing a MagnaFuel fuel system for a boosted, 1,000rwhp street car
Written by Steve Baur
Photography by the author, Dean Santiago, and Kevin DiOssi
Back when the Fox Mustang was making 300 horsepower with bolt-on mods, the factory fuel system could be upgraded with a simple swap of the in-tank pump. These days four-digit horsepower numbers are not uncommon, so feeding such a powerplant is going to require something a bit more than a drop-in replacement. We contacted MagnaFuel to find out what it takes to build a fuel system for a turbocharged Fox Mustang that competes in True Street and requires enough E85 fuel to support 1,000 horsepower at the wheels.
The subject vehicle is equipped with a Bennet Racing-built, 331ci small-block Ford that features a Turbonetics 88mm turbo and Ford Performance Z304 heads. The tune-up wasn’t exactly optimal, and the fuel system was old and subpar, especially with a switch to E85 fuel on the way. Using E85 requires a larger volume of fuel than a gasoline-based system will, so the entire fuel system was re-engineered to support that as well as a higher engine output.
MagnaFuel proprietor Robbie Ward put together a capable fuel system that starts with a pair of the company’s ProTuner 750 electric fuel pumps, which are the biggest electric units that the company offers. They are capable of supporting up to 2,000 horsepower, depending on the volume required.
These pumps are a great choice for street cars as they offer quiet operation, are self-priming, use continuous-duty motors that offer high torque with a low electrical draw, and can be mounted vertically or horizontally. The ProTuner 750 pumps are also user-friendly in that they can be rebuilt if needed, and feature a hard-anodized finish to keep them looking great for years to come.
To keep the fuel clean and the pumps running smoothly, we are using a MagnaFuel 74-micron pre-filter (PN MP-7009-BLK) on the inlet side and a 25-micron post-filter (PN MP-7008-BLK) on the outlet side of the pumps.
Moving from the pumps forward, we utilized MagnaFuel’s ProStar 4 EFI regulator to keep the existing billet fuel rails on the car supplied with plenty of fuel. The particular regulator we used (PN MP-9950-B-BLK) is a large, two-port EFI regulator with a 1:1 boost reference. It offers two #8 AN outlets and a single #8 return line. MagnaFuel also sent us a bevy of AN fittings to put it all together and the company’s dual relay harness to connect the pumps to power.
While MagnaFuel is well known for its blue and magenta-hued products, the company now offers them in all black, which is what we chose.
John Maguda at Spike’s Performance and Refinishing in Ocala, Florida performed the installation. Having worked on high-performance machines for over 20 years, Maguda can usually be found servicing Pro Mods or no-prep race cars for some of the quickest and fastest racers in the country.
Check out the accompanying photos to see how it all went together. When installing an aftermarket fuel system, following the path that the OEMs chose is not a bad place to start, and modifying the layout to suit your vehicle’s needs is an easier affair once you have a solid place to start.
SOURCES
MagnaFuel Products Inc.
(719) 532-1897
MagnaFuel.com
Spike’s Performance & Refinishing
(352) 207-1815
SpikesRefinishing.com
A longtime supplier of fuel system solutions to racers and enthusiasts, MagnaFuel had just what we needed for an ultra-high-horsepower street machine.
For our application, MagnaFuel’s Robbie Ward specified the use of two pumps as the boosted powerplant and E85 fuel choice required a larger volume of fuel. The ProTuner 750 (PN MP-4303-BLK) features #8 AN inlet and outlet ports with a pressure range of 20-120 psi. At 12.5 volts, they draw 14 amps at 45 psi.
John Maguda handled the installation at Spike’s Performance & Refinishing in Ocala, Florida. The plan was to mount the new MagnaFuel pumps behind the rear bumper cover. After Maguda pulled the cover and mocked up the pumps, we found adequate clearance between them and the bumper support bar.
Next, Maguda attached the anodized black hose fittings and began measuring the length of fuel line required.
Often having to make repairs at the racetrack, Maguda made quick work of the hose cutting with some tape and a cut-off tool.
These particular fuel line fittings utilized a ferrule that is inserted into the fuel line and secured between the two fitting halves.
A MagnaFuel fitting (PN MP-6200-BLK Y) was used to combine the dual #10 feed lines into a single #10 AN line to supply the engine. Caked-on rubber on the underside of the car is a sure sign that the vehicle is a drag-strip veteran.
The feed and return lines are temporarily fitted to the frame rail so they can be cut to length in the engine bay. Maguda then fastened them using rubber-coated steel clamps.
The #10 AN feed line is split into two lines to feed the fuel rails, which then return to the fuel pressure regulator.
You may find that some aftermarket Fox Mustang fuel systems have a dead head on the driver’s side fuel rail, but that largely went out of favor as fuel demands increased, and nowadays each rail returns to the regulator as you see here.
Maguda mounted the MagnaFuel fuel pressure regulator on the back side of the passenger-side strut tower as it offered the best layout for all of the attached fuel lines and the fuel pressure sensor.
Part of a great fuel system is ensuring the fuel pumps receive the proper electrical supply. To accomplish that, we used MagnaFuel’s dual-relay wiring kit to connect them to the rear-mounted battery.
With a tank full of E85 and the new MagnaFuel fuel system to provide it, this Bennett Racing 331ci small-block Ford engine churned out 980 rear-wheel horsepower at 18 pounds of boost on a super-safe tuneup.
This is the time we live in, where street cars fill up at the gas pump but need parachutes at the racetrack because of how fast they are. With turbocharged and supercharged cars, E85 is an inexpensive alternative to race gas that many enthusiasts utilize.
Despite a traction issue, car owner Dean Santiago coaxed a best elapsed time of 9.1 seconds from the car during NMRA True Street competition. With some suspension work and further tuning, mid-to-low eights are expected.