Installing a Holley Sniper on a 3.5 v8

Francois1

Well-known member
For those who want an easier alternative and much cheaper fuel pump option, use Bosch fuel pump 68006 and its fuel strainer 69225 for about $60 to replace your OEM in-tank pump. It provides plenty of pressure for the sniper EFI (about 64psi), and you keep your original hardware, plumbing and wiring. Works great.
 

GynormousMellon

Well-known member
For those who want an easier alternative and much cheaper fuel pump option, use Bosch fuel pump 68006 and its fuel strainer 69225 for about $60 to replace your OEM in-tank pump. It provides plenty of pressure for the sniper EFI (about 64psi), and you keep your original hardware, plumbing and wiring. Works great.

Great information! Where were you two months ago when I was planning this? 😊
 

RDavisinVA

Technical Excellence Contributor
A few words from having installed over a dozen of the Snipers.
Run all new 3/8" high pressure fuel lines.
Remove the temp gauge and Install an in-dash fuel pressure gauge. The sniper handheld has an accurate temp readout as part of the display.
Remove the internal pressure regulator from the sniper and install an external adjustable fuel pressure regulator - use the opening for the fuel pressure gauge sender.
Do not use an in-tank fuel pump - use an external pump.
If you let the fuel level drop below 1/4, it can cause the pickup to suck air.
Since the gasoline is the only coolant the pump has, the fuel pump will overheat.
Even short periods of overheating will damage the fuel pump.
If noise from an external fuel pump bothers you, then you're driving the wrong marque and you should go buy a new jeep or similar.
With an external pump, you don't have to drop the tank to trouble shoot a fuel delivery issue and can make "field repairs" on the side of the roadway with an external pump.
If your old engine was a diesel, remove the fuel tank and replace it with a new tank that has a return line bung.
Gasoline will act as a cleaning agent and dislodge all the diesel sludge that will then travel down the fuel line and constipate everything fuel related.
 

GynormousMellon

Well-known member
A few words from having installed over a dozen of the Snipers.
Run all new 3/8" high pressure fuel lines.
Remove the temp gauge and Install an in-dash fuel pressure gauge. The sniper handheld has an accurate temp readout as part of the display.
Remove the internal pressure regulator from the sniper and install an external adjustable fuel pressure regulator - use the opening for the fuel pressure gauge sender.
Do not use an in-tank fuel pump - use an external pump.
If you let the fuel level drop below 1/4, it can cause the pickup to suck air.
Since the gasoline is the only coolant the pump has, the fuel pump will overheat.
Even short periods of overheating will damage the fuel pump.
If noise from an external fuel pump bothers you, then you're driving the wrong marque and you should go buy a new jeep or similar.
With an external pump, you don't have to drop the tank to trouble shoot a fuel delivery issue and can make "field repairs" on the side of the roadway with an external pump.
If your old engine was a diesel, remove the fuel tank and replace it with a new tank that has a return line bung.
Gasoline will act as a cleaning agent and dislodge all the diesel sludge that will then travel down the fuel line and constipate everything fuel related.
What are you using for a bracket to attach the factory throttle cable to the Holley Sniper?
 

Francois1

Well-known member

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JimC

Super Moderator
Staff member
This project continues to just be a drag for me. The truck is great, it’s not rusty at all, but it’s been out of commission fir so long that it fights me at each turn. Last week I put in a new fuel sender to provide a new fuel pickup only to have the disturbance be enough fir the tank to start leaking. Someone silly-coned the cradle to the fuel tank and made a rust sandwich. New tank on order…

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JimC

Super Moderator
Staff member
Finally got the new fuel tank in. This tank had no top hole at all, so I used the version of the sender with a pickup tube. While waiting for stuff to arrive I cleaned, treated, and painted the part of the chassis that’s inaccessible behind the fuel tank.

I also removed, the monster trailer hitch…
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JimC

Super Moderator
Staff member
Another very belated update, but I finally got this thing running. It took me a good while to route all the wires etc in a manner than I liked. I also played around with the positioning and routing of the fuel lines. Ultimately I kept the return, tying into it with 5/16 fuel line right near the bulkhead. I ran entirely new hose for the supply.

Once I checked everything twice, I verified that the fuel pump powered up and cycled it 2-3 times - at this stage I was very happy with my choice to use the transparent pre-filter to verify fuel was being sucked. I installed an external fuel pressure regulator at Rob Davis’ suggestion - this provided a convenient place to mount a fuel pressure gauge. During initial checks I was able to to verify that fuel pressure was bang-on the required 60psi.

I didn’t use the “clamp-on” O2 sensor bung included with the kit, so I pulled the down pipe, broke all the studs, had the bung welded on and reassembled it all several weeks later.

After all was said and done I went through the initial start up procedures for the sniper system, which was very easy. However in typical Rover V8 fashion, the engine would not start until I swapped out the distributor cap and installed a red rotor. After refilling the coolant and checking for leaks i ran the temperature up and adjusted the idle screw To a nice 750 rpm idle.

This thing runs and drives great now. My buddy just needs to register and insure it.

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