Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

While researching the Pollack valve, I found it has an AC Delco part number. This means it was a GM part on some vehicle and would probably still be available from GM. It is in use and still available - it is used to switch tanks on the mid-80's pickups with left and right tanks. And as luck would have it, my good friend has such pickup for a plow truck, and only one tank holds fuel. I know it works cause you can hear it work when the switch is flipped. So off I go to get my valve for free - my favourite price.

Some good info for anyone doing their conversion on the cheap, as these may still be available in scrap yards.

James

My friend has a 1991 Ford F150 with electrically switched front and rear tanks, I wonder if they would have a similar salvageable part?

docsavage wrote:While researching the Pollack valve, I found it has an AC Delco part number.

James, have you got that part number handy? And all mid 80's with duel tanks? I would love to find out exactly... i need 5 of them for my dads fleet of trucks.

Josh

Well, I've been looking into this more. I went to the parts store to see what they had for the GM part for fun, and he had a Standard Motor Products valve that is identical to the GM and Pollack. They also had a 3 port motor drive valve, much more compact than the Plantdrive ones. So here are the part numbers:

GM 6 Way Valve: AC DELCO 14029228

Standard Motor Products:

6 Way Valve: FV5
3 Way Valve: FV1

You can look at these in the catalog lookup with part number here:

http://www.smpcorp.com/web_app/catalog/smp_bgbulk.aspx

I was given prices, but they are a deal for me only. But expect to pay around $100 for the 6 way (same as other veg kits), but $50 each for the 3 way (vs $125 each at other distributors of valves)


I successfully liberated the valve from my friends truck along with the switches and wire harness. I should be able to run veggie by the end of Sunday. Still need to find something like the Vegtherm and Hotfox.


James

Way to go James, or should I say Sherlock? Conversion by Sunday hey? So then when is WVO fest and where will we go wheeling?

Josh

I just got my Hotfox today and when I saw it , I was a little disappointed. Definately not worth the money. There is no strainer of any kind on the bottom and the fittings at the top need a bunch of adapters to go from 1/2" pipe thread to make it fit a hose. I would build my own next time. Buy some aluminum or steel 3/8 hard line, wrap it around a tube of the same material (bigger diameter to allow it to wrap) poke all 3 tubes out the top of a round piece of metal, you are good to go. Easily could build the thing for $20 in material and 2 hours of time if I was being a perfectionist.
As for finding the 3 way and 6 way valves, pretty much every EFI engine with dual tanks will use the 6 way valve. If you want the 3 ways, any old truck with a carb and dual tanks will have one. I was lazy and in a hurry so didn't bother, just bought the kit.
Also, the Hot fox recommends a thermostat be installed so that when the ambient temperature is above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it bypasses the Hot fox. Seems like it is borderline useless for anything other than winter.