Paxton question.

[BGlover67]

So I have a '67 that a previous owner installed an early Paxton on.  I called Paradise Wheels and asked Craig Connely, who has always a big help to me, what the fuel line leading to the Carb box should be.  I currently have a rubber hose leading from the fuel pump to the carb box.  Mr Connely said that was correct, but online I see cars that have metal gas lines.  What is technically correct for judging, not that I ever plan to ever go that route.  I'm just curious.  I've included how the hose is connected inside the box.

https://imageshack.com/i/pohAvkuVj

[Rickmustang]

I have a pdf of the Paxton installation manual I can email that may show it

[Bob Gaines]

So I have a '67 that a previous owner installed an early Paxton on.  I called Paradise Wheels and asked Craig Connely, who has always a big help to me, what the fuel line leading to the Carb box should be.  I currently have a rubber hose leading from the fuel pump to the carb box.  Mr Connely said that was correct, but online I see cars that have metal gas lines.  What is technically correct for judging, not that I ever plan to ever go that route.  I'm just curious.  I've included how the hose is connected inside the box.

https://imageshack.com/i/pohAvkuVj

The rubber line would be the more typical fuel line . The engineering drawing of the Paxton installation indicates a rubber fuel line . I am not aware of a Ford or Shelby made steel line for the Paxton  . I wouldn't say a metal line was never used from the factory but at the very least the rubber line would be extremely more common. If I saw a rubber fuel line on a factory Paxton car in concours judging I wouldn't give it a second thought. By contrast if I saw a metal line metal fuel line I would expect the entrant to provide reasonable proof (factory or vintage era photos, documents etc.) to justify the metal line. FYI past owner here say , friend of a friend testimony or internet restored cars doesn't typically carry any weight for a out of the ordinary thing like a metal fuel line in this Paxton context.   

[Bob Gaines]

I wanted to add that a metal line from the fuel pump to the carb will conduct heat and cook the fuel a lot faster then the better insulating value of a rubber hose.

[Harris Speedster]

I sold both of my early paxton set ups to guys on SAAC.
One had correct numbers for a 65 Shelby, the other had numbers for a 66 Shelby.
Both of these went on REAL S/C Shelby's
I discarded the pictures, these were both very complete. Should have kept the pictures.
""" I think both had a brass fitting that bolted through/onto the chamber box, then rubber lines hooked the bowls together inside the box.
Rubber rubbing against the alum bonnet hole is a real bad idea IMO !
Outside had a slide on fitting that hooked onto the brass fitting going inside the chamber.
I think it was rubber from the fuel pump to that fitting on the bonnet.

BGlpverver, >> are the paxton units black or blue case, I have found that later units were white

[shelbydoug]

The original "Shelby blue prints" do not show the fuel pump or how the fuel line comes from the pump, but they do show what appears to be a rubber hose connection at the air box and carb connection.

[BGlover67]

I sold both of my early paxton set ups to guys on SAAC.
One had correct numbers for a 65 Shelby, the other had numbers for a 66 Shelby.
Both of these went on REAL S/C Shelby's
I discarded the pictures, these were both very complete. Should have kept the pictures.
""" I think both had a brass fitting that bolted through/onto the chamber box, then rubber lines hooked the bowls together inside the box.
Rubber rubbing against the alum bonnet hole is a real bad idea IMO !
Outside had a slide on fitting that hooked onto the brass fitting going inside the chamber.
I think it was rubber from the fuel pump to that fitting on the bonnet.

BGlpverver, >> are the paxton units black or blue case, I have found that later units were white

The unit is blue, and the carb box says Cobra, not Shelby.  I was reading on Pete disher's website that the Shelby version is much rarer.

[roddster]

A couple of observations:

  The words "Shelby Supercharger" appear to be pressed in from the backside of the Paxton label.

 And seems odd to me that the fuel pump is on the left Side front of the engine and yet the fuel line is run into the carb box on the right side center. That's a lot of hose to route last a lot of stuff.



  Now,this is going to make me look up the Shelby Supercharger installation sheets I bought through our club Snakebite so many years ago. back.

[BGlover67]

A couple of observations:

  The words "Shelby Supercharger" appear to be pressed in from the backside of the Paxton label.

 And seems odd to me that the fuel pump is on the left Side front of the engine and yet the fuel line is run into the carb box on the right side center. That's a lot of hose to route last a lot of stuff.



  Now,this is going to make me look up the Shelby Supercharger installation sheets I bought through our club Snakebite so many years ago. back.

I'd appreciate that. 

[J_Speegle]

Consider that much of what is available as resources and original documents is not from 67 production so there may have been some changes, a possibility, between when SA was installing them in 66 and then in 67. They would most likely use one of the kits but the worker or workers typically assigned to installation on these few cars may have made some choies to make installation easier.

- The blue prints appear to be labeled GT350 (302) 1968 or at least the copies I have of a blue print show that, so a later version that as Doug mentioned  shows a flex hose coming up to and entering the box. Print is also labeled as Supercharger with Thermactor 

- Pictures of a Paxton installation kit for a Mustang/Shelby, unknown version or year, show a dark colored long hose and two other shorter dark hoses attached to a T for the fuel line as shown in the blue print

- Installation instructions mentions  (Step 26) smog device but this is likely the PCV IMO. The copy I have includes stuff for many different car models, some drawings - not all specific to our cars. Its interesting that in one drawing which could be for a SB ford it shows an autolite carb and not the flex T'd off hoses for the Holley carb application. The "packet" included with the instructions I have also had pages from as far back as 1958 along with what we have believed were more recent sections and pages

- Fair number of earlier than 67 magazines with articles showing the Paxton installed on Mustangs and Ted's 6S392 but as mentioned practice could have changed

- To be fair there are very very few unrestored or played with original Paxton cars especially 67's so photo evidence is very thin. Will offer (not saying it is a smoking gun but must be at least noted) that I've found pictures of two unrestored 67 GT350's that both appear to have modified steel standard fuel line from pump to carb area of the intake.

- Since you specifically asked about judging rather than what was original that can be a different answer. What is allowed verses what was original sometimes becomes a factor when you narrow it to judging.

As far as left (drivers side) verses right (passenger side) orientation it makes perfect sense to me if they were planning on using a Holley then the dual inlets on the passenger side (one for each bowl) would be used. Put a plug in the drivers side inlet of the front fuel bowl, pull off the balance tube and connect a flexible T'd off hose and you have two connections for the fuel needs.

Of course if someone had included the use of an Autolite during the planning and design the passenger side forward edge would line up pretty close to the inlet for that one 

[Rickmustang]

See attached Paxton Installation Manual

[1175]

I've never seen the fuel line come in from the rear like yours.  Always thought a rubber line coming in from front on passenger side inline with a cut Holley 715 fuel line was correct. Recently have seen coming in perpendicular the the air box on passenger side but that seems to be a more recent development when using a Holley double pumper.

Jon

[BGlover67]

I've never seen the fuel line come in from the rear like yours.  Always thought a rubber line coming in from front on passenger side inline with a cut Holley 715 fuel line was correct. Recently have seen coming in perpendicular the the air box on passenger side but that seems to be a more recent development when using a Holley double pumper.

Jon

Jon, I'm not quite sure what you mean.  It doesn't come in from the rear, it enters the box from the passengers side.

[1175]

My mistake.  Must have been looking at power brake booster line. 

Jon

[roddster]

Another thing to confirm: I recall that an Autolite carb was to be installed and not the Holley 715.