Dual 450 Walbros: Ultimate Setup?

TEC

Specialist
Jun 15, 2017
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Share time!

So my goal was to install two Walbro 450 pumps so that I could run e85 and push boost above 17 psi on the stock turbos and in the future possibly run a PI setup. I looked at a few companies offerings but I decided that I could build something that rivaled and even bettered what is currently on the market for a cheaper cost. This is not a knock on any company or their pricing for dual intank pumps but rather my Colt/DSM mentality to do it yourself and learn more about your car in the process.

In the end what was created is basically a bucketless dual walbro 450 setup. While parts of the stock bucket remain, the venturi system is removed which should produce higher flow numbers for the system.

I’m not sure how this forum feels about posting pricing so I will intentionally leave this information out. You can PM me if you want to know where I picked up my parts.

For this build I bought:
Used stock fuel bucket – junk yard
2 Walbro 450 Pumps with electrical connectors (no fuel socks needed)
2 Holley Hydramats (model 16-111) - 15”x3” for Walbro pumps

I contacted 07Tundra (Jose) for his help with this project…none of this would not have been possible without his help.

He took the used bucket and with some modifications came up with this:
20170528_120620.jpg

20170528_120633.jpg


What you see are two Walbro fuel pumps in a modified stock fuel bucket with an adapter to hold the pumps in place. Here is a look at the adapter as it was being laid out for use:

4617.jpeg

The two pumps feed into PTE tubing and a PTE Y adapter. When I decide to go PI I will probably go back and feed only one pump into the stock fuel line and use the other pump to feed the PI. I cut a hole in the top of the fuel pump bucket top and fed through the wiring for the secondary pump.

20170528_121433.jpg


The main pump uses the stock wiring and is controlled by the DME as is the stock pump. The second pump is controlled by a Hobbs Switch mounted in the trunk.

Layout.jpg

I am using the “prototype” adapter. I’ve been told that a newer version exists that looks more like this:

4625.jpeg

My total cost for this project (all in is about $600) is less than what I would have paid another company for their version of the same thing, with the added bonus of being bucketless (higher flow rates) and able to utilize the newest technology being the hydramats which no company currently offers.

I’ve been driving the car with this setup installed and so far it has worked perfectly…no added pump noise and no LPFP fall off from E85 use.
 
Last edited:

doublespaces

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Oct 18, 2016
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Interesting project, feel free to post pricing. I guess the next question after we see the price after some margin is added in; does that warrant going with this setup over an existing fuel-it, precision racing or now, PFS or boostaddictions(sp?)
 

Danksies

Corporal
Nov 2, 2016
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If this is about equal to the stage 3 offerings from competitors and it cost him about $600 to source the parts, I'd argue that if it was up for commercial sale it would be close to what it's priced at with other manufacturers. But if it isn't LET ME KNOW! lol
 

TEC

Specialist
Jun 15, 2017
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As far as pricing went:
Used Fuel Pump Assembly - $50 (car-part.com)
Walbro pumps (w/elec. connectors) - $95/piece (ebay)
Holley Hydramat 16-111 - $160/piece (summit racing)
Hobbs Switch w/harness - $50 (FB group buy)
Lockring removal tool - $12 (amazon.com)
07Tundra mods and assembly ~ $150

So all in, I ended up putting in about $775 total into this project. When I was shopping around, the best deal I could find for something similar, but without the dual Hydramats, would have cost me ~$790.

He is now offering the same mods, lines, clamps, tees and assembly to the public for $75, half of what I paid.

So if you asked for his assistance you would be looking at:
Stage3 Walbro-95x2 hdydramat-160x2 = stage3 $580
Stage2 assembly -50, walbro x1-95, hydramat x1-160 = stage2 $306

Also, I was asked this elsewhere but its probably a good idea to mention it here...in order for this to work the bottom of the bucket assembly has to be removed and modified to accept the pumps and the Hydramats. The bucket no longer performs as it did in the stock setup as the venturi is removed. Fuel is still returned inside of the parameters of the bucket but it is free to fall into the bottom of the tank and onto the hydramats. The modified unit is more of a bucket and bucketless hybrid.
 
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TEC

Specialist
Jun 15, 2017
81
47
0
Ride
335i
Interesting project, feel free to post pricing. I guess the next question after we see the price after some margin is added in; does that warrant going with this setup over an existing fuel-it, precision racing or now, PFS or boostaddictions(sp?)

There is no margin really. If there is, its so small that its not worth talking about. This was undertaken to advance the community. That is the reason I sought him out to do this and was willing to pay the extra for him to figure it out.

There will always be those that want a name brand product. The commercial option is for those people. If you are like me and like wrenching and building your own mods, then you can't pass this up.

If this is about equal to the stage 3 offerings from competitors and it cost him about $600 to source the parts, I'd argue that if it was up for commercial sale it would be close to what it's priced at with other manufacturers. But if it isn't LET ME KNOW! lol

No manufacturer will come close to being able to price their product to compete with this.
 

Danksies

Corporal
Nov 2, 2016
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thanks for the info TEC. interested to see if there are any problems down the road but for now i might look into doing this. i think this is technically the only "bucketless" stage 3 lpfp out there lol
 

doublespaces

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Oct 18, 2016
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Have you seen how far down you can run the fuel? I have a stage 2+ bucketless and when it says 0 miles you better get to a pump. I've had fuel starvation moments from getting on it while low as well. Not good for procrastinator a like me.

I know you said $75 for his service, would he source the parts as well and could we just order it all from him?
 

Dave@Fuel-It!

Corporal
Nov 3, 2016
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thanks for the info TEC. interested to see if there are any problems down the road but for now i might look into doing this. i think this is technically the only "bucketless" stage 3 lpfp out there lol
We offer a bucketless 2-3 & 4.

The 3&4 aren't on our website (we need to get on that), but they are out in the wild.
 

TEC

Specialist
Jun 15, 2017
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335i
Have you seen how far down you can run the fuel? I have a stage 2+ bucketless and when it says 0 miles you better get to a pump. I've had fuel starvation moments from getting on it while low as well. Not good for procrastinator a like me.

I know you said $75 for his service, would he source the parts as well and could we just order it all from him?

I had to see how far I could take it so I ran it down to the point that the warning light came on the instrument cluster and the idrive. I chickened out after that and went to the gas station. I put almost 16 gallons according to the pump, back into the car so I know it should have been on fumes. I didn't have fuel starvation issues even with it being that low.

He can assemble the entire thing for you if you ask so its pretty much plug and play with the exception of modifying the fuel feed line.
 

Bmwfixerguy1

Lieutenant
Jun 5, 2017
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So

580 dual assembled

306 single assembled

Is that out the door? Is it 75 less per assembly if I do it myself? That's great prices.. See I like this because now vendors have to get competitive.. They can't keep charging us out the wazoo as a BMW tax to the aftermarket world
 

JuniorB

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May 9, 2017
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I would assume you would run a -6an fuel line with running duals? Can and if your running stock line, would it be feasible? Nice set up tho!
 

Bmwfixerguy1

Lieutenant
Jun 5, 2017
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I would assume you would run a -6an fuel line with running duals? Can and if your running stock line, would it be feasible? Nice set up tho!
Good point, I think a lot of people over look that you can have all the pump you want but if you have a tiny little line it just ain't gonna do what you want!
 

JuniorB

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May 9, 2017
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Would make sense if your pushing volume to run larger hose,even tho this will add to a kit, it's definitely a must. Now if your adapting it to the stock hardline, that may be your bottleneck, unless your plumping it directly to your pi. Does anyone offer a larger diameter hard line to the hpfp for this kind of set up?, or do these kits all use to the stock line?
 

Bmwfixerguy1

Lieutenant
Jun 5, 2017
875
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Would make sense if your pushing volume to run larger hose,even tho this will add to a kit, it's definitely a must. Now if your adapting it to the stock hardline, that may be your bottleneck, unless your plumping it directly to your pi. Does anyone offer a larger diameter hard line to the hpfp for this kind of set up?, or do these kits all use to the stock line?
I want to say that there ultra premium kit comes with a larger line.. I think you can upgrade other kits they sell as well
 

TEC

Specialist
Jun 15, 2017
81
47
0
Ride
335i
So

580 dual assembled

306 single assembled

Is that out the door? Is it 75 less per assembly if I do it myself? That's great prices.. See I like this because now vendors have to get competitive.. They can't keep charging us out the wazoo as a BMW tax to the aftermarket world

You would have to contact him...but would you really want to haggle over $75 when anything similar would cost you more than double from some of these companies?

I would assume you would run a -6an fuel line with running duals? Can and if your running stock line, would it be feasible? Nice set up tho!

Right now I have both pumps tied into the stock line which works okay but is not ideal.
My plan for later on is to run the stock line to one pump and connect the secondary pump to PI. One pump is enough for 550hp through the stock line. Once you go PI you will need a fpr, lines, etc to make it work so, to me, it doesnt make sense to go to upgraded lines if your not going PI.