Fuel pumps; mechanical vs electric

[AlanCasida]

Since this is for the 521(385 series) in my Galaxie I better post it here!  I am currently using a Clay Smith mechanical pump with a 1/2" line feeding a 1000cfm Holley carb. My question is: given the distance I have to pull the gas, will this be sufficient or should I just convert over to electric? I like the mechanical pump as it is quiet and reliable but I don't want to starve that monster either. As you may have guessed this is Dragweek oriented. 

[jayb]

I ran one of those Clay Smith pumps in my Mach 1 during Drag Week 2005.  Never had a problem; that is a robust pump.  I'd go with it.

[AlanCasida]

Thanks, Jay. I was thinking I read somewhere you had ran a Clay Smith pump.

[Garyford]

Just curious, is there an average ET at which point atmospheric pressure is not enough to move fuel forward and it starts to boil in the line?

[Qikbbstang]

Sometime a few years back I inquired about the Inside Diameter of the fuel line and the length of the fuel line creating a "given" mass that wants to remain at rest as the car accelerates and the harder it accelerates the greater the force exerted by the fuel. Jay gave some calculations that detailed it.....
     Interestingly this week I saw a video of some college guys sucking a beer up a 20+ foot tube/straw.   

[ToddK]

As an example of what a 3/8" fuel line and mechanical pump can achieve, my 63 Dodge has run 11.00sec in the 1/4 mile at 122mph with a 1.56sec 60' time. It has the standard fuel tank, 3/8" pick up in the standard sender, 3/8" fuel line up to the Carter HP street mechanical fuel pump and feeds the 2 Carter AFB's. It has no indications of fuel starvation, although I think having multiple carbs certainly helps. There is more fuel stored in the fuel bowls to start with than would be on a single 4 barrel carb.