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'66 El Camino: Engine Swap, Pt. 1 Our 1966 El Camino gets a major upgrade by swapping the old, worn engine for a newer, fuel-injected powerhouse. From "Resto Rides" episode DRRD-102

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Now that the upgraded engine has been bolted up and plugged in it's time to upgrade the fuel system. The new fuel tank will allow the fuel injector to properly do its job. The upgrade also includes installation of custom fuel lines.

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Materials and tools:

standard shop tools
saw
shop rags
drill and bits
eyelet connectors
new fuel tank
fuel lines

Fuel Tank Upgrade

• First, the exhaust pipes are removed to allow for additional workroom. Because the car is on jack stands, Andrew cuts them out using a saw.

• After the pipes are out of the way, disconnect the fuel line, the filler neck and the vent line. Then it's time to drop in the tank.

• Clamp locking pliers to the rails to hold the weight of the tank while the nuts are removed. After the nuts are removed, tap the bolts with a rubber hammer to break them loose. Then lower the tank.

• Measure the distance between the mounting bolts, and cut two support bars out of the square stock.

• Both of the support bars get drilled in at the original tank mounting bolt locations all the way through using a step bit to make nut access holes on the bottom.

• Loosely bolt the first bar into the forward mounts, and then raise the new tank into position.

• Once the tank is up, use shop rags to hold the bolts in place, and tighten up the support bars.

• Run straps to the bars over the top of the tank to hold it in place.

• Clamp the straps to the forward support bar, and then drill a couple of holes in the bar and bolt the straps into place.

• In the back, drill two more holes in the frame of the car, and mount the other ends of the straps there to hold the new tank in place.

• While Christie hooks up the canister purge line to the tank vent and tucks it up alongside the frame, Andrew attaches eyelet connectors to the harness that came with the in-tank fuel pump.

Fuel Lines

• After Christie connects the purge line she screws the fuel line adapters onto the tank. She then snaps the fuel lines onto the tank with the new quick-clip ends.

• Once the harness is attached to the pump and sender terminals on top of the tank, Christie swaps out the filler hose for a longer piece that will reach the new tank. She attaches a fresh tank vent line to the car's filler neck. Then she pops out the factory tank plug and secures both of the hoses to the tank.

• Next she runs the lines up along the frame.

• Then Christie mounts a fuel filter along the driver's side rail frame. She cuts the sending line at the new filter, puts a quick clip on the end, and attaches the hose to the filter.

• After both sides are connected to the filter, use fuel line clips to secure the lines to the frame.

• Finally, Andrew attaches the engine fittings to the engine.

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