fuel line setup, please judge

[cricha5]

I would appreciate some constructive criticism on the fuel line setup I'm about to buy. I'm putting a 2006 ford ranger i4 duratec engine into my 2993 nissan 240sx. The fuel rail on the duratec is one of the dead end ones where the fuel pump controls the pressure, so I neeed to convert it to return style like on my 240sx. So knowing that, I also have to get an adjustable fuel pressure regulator. Since I have to get an adjustable fuel pressure regulator and modify the fuel rail, the best option seems to switch to an fittings, so the plan is:

weld an-6 fittings to both ends of fuel rail.
earl's oem tubing adapters an-6 for supply and return 3/8 fuel lines.
jegs an-6 femal male inline filter (up to 70 psi) which will be screwed directly to the earl's oem tubing adapter on the supply line.http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/15034/10002/-1
Aeromotive Compact EFI Fuel Pressure Regulator http://www.jegs.com/i/Aeromotive/027/13105/10002/-1
ebay nascar surplus an-6 braided line with fittings from filter to fuel rail, fuel rail to regulator, regulator to earls oem adapter on return line.Deleted by Admin

This has all been a little confusing for the simple reason that much of the aftermarket stuff out there uses much bigger fittings (an-8 or -10) which seems too large for a normal fuel system. an-10 seems pretty standard for fuel filters (aeromotive). Maybe it's mostly drag racers who get this stuff. There are cheaper fuel pressure regulators out there, but again the fitting sizes aren't usually an-6 and they are not included in the price. So in general I figure that when getting a cheaper fpr and all the fittings and reducers, the price will be the same, if not more.

I really can't waste money on this build, so any criticism will be helpful. Thanks.

[devastator]

Looks about right to me. I bought a VERY similar regulator from Aeromotive and had to add -6AN to 3/8 NPT adapters to it. Only advantage here is that I was able to plumb a schrader valve into the regulator for checking my fuel pressure with a pocket gauge. I also used a 3/8 NPT to 3/8 barbed fitting on the, rubber hose, return line as it is not under any substantial pressure. There are affordable 3/8NPT to -6 AN(JIC) adapters available from McMaster Carr as well.
Remember to check what kind of fitting your fuel pump has on it.

[re-animator]

3/8" npt to -6AN adapters will save time and money. Run a search for 3/8" npt fuel filter on ebay. You'll get many options. Also, you can get adapters for 8AN to 6AN. I've got one on my return line.

Beware of cheap regulators, they don't work well. I had to buy an Aeromotive after my ebay cheapie never worked.

good luck!

[cricha5]

A guy on a forum was selling his aeromotive a1000-6 fi regulator for a real good price, so I went ahead and picked it up. Came with all the an-6 fittings plus some an-6 to barb fittings. I love it when you can get something better for cheaper. In regard to hoses and adapters, there is a little problem. If you look on ebay, all the used racing hoses these days are crimp on style, which means no reuse, which means much less resale. I could have got one of the "box o fittings" auctions that pop up, but they seem mainly to be fittings that no one would use. So I bit the bullet and got new stuff from earls, jegs, and russell, depending on price and quality. Jegs metric to an adapter seems to be made of plastic. I know it's not, but it seems real flimsy. I may have to buy that part again.

[devastator]

As I recall, JIC ,(hydraulic), fittings are the same geometry as -AN fittings. Look it up to be sure. This will open up a lot more "affordable" fitting options for you.

[Matt Cramer]

As I recall, JIC ,(hydraulic), fittings are the same geometry as -AN fittings. Look it up to be sure. This will open up a lot more "affordable" fitting options for you.

They are. Some of the "AN" fittings on Holley products are actually JIC.

[Pitman]

I believe one difference between JIC and AN is the flare angle of 37 deg. for JIC and 45 deg for AN, i.e. not a match if it won't seal.

[Matt Cramer]

I believe one difference between JIC and AN is the flare angle of 37 deg. for JIC and 45 deg for AN, i.e. not a match if it won't seal.

Both most AN fittings and JIC are 37 degree; it's SAE brake flares that are 45 degrees. You're correct that you can't mix 45 and 37 degree fittings.

[devastator]

Standard compression fittings at the hardware store are 45 degrees also, so will not seal to an AN fitting.

[loren]

Seems like an awful lot of trouble and modification to what is otherwise a bolt-on "get another one from salvage" if you need it part. Wouldn't it be easier to fit your fuel pressure regulator somewhere after the fuel filter and run a return line from there... and run the fuel rail "returnless" as-designed?

Seems like that would be an awful lot easier. The fuel rail won't know the difference.

[cricha5]

hmmmm... That's an interesting idea. I'll think on it. Thanks.

[dc]

FYI 45* SAE fittings will fit AN and JIC except -6 and -12, I had gotten the SAE buy mistake

[Mike_Robert]

FYI 45* SAE fittings will fit AN and JIC except -6 and -12, I had gotten the SAE buy mistake

I believe you will still have the mating surface mismatch - 37 vs 45 degrees. I'm not sure I would trust high pressure fuel to a mismated connection.

[cricha5]

I took the suggestion and and got a tee fitting and used the stock dead end fuel rail. It works! I got the engine fired up for the first time yesterday. It's running really rich, but from reading, other people with duratecs are running much lower fuel pressure than me, so I'll try that today.