Author Topic: Pollack 42-159 fuel valve  (Read 1922 times)

Offline newbie17

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Pollack 42-159 fuel valve
« on: December 28, 2020, 02:02:32 PM »
As the OEM fuel tank selector valve is NLA and Pollack is the only source for a replacement valve, has any one out there
installed the 6-port 42-159 valve in a 1987 Chevy with TBI and dual tanks? The Pollack Tech rep
says you have to re-pin the vehicles 6 pin connector. If any one has done this re-pin please contact me with details of what pins
to swap such as a wiring diagram showing the trucks connector and the Pollack receptacle on the valve.
1987 R-30 Standard cab. Owned for 30yrs.

Offline MIKE S

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Re: Pollack 42-159 fuel valve
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2020, 10:18:21 PM »
From what I can see from the pollack wiring diagram and the 87 fuel tank diagram they are wired the same. Although pollack calls the “aux” tank wiring the left side wiring. The 87 factory tank is the left side. So if that is the case and you did not want to rewire, then your selector would be backwards. You can download the schematic from the pollack site and the GM one from this site and compare. Also I have used the pollard pigtail for this unit and spiced it to my truck and it was a exact replacement.

Offline VileZambonie

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Offline newbie17

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Re: Pollack 42-159 fuel valve
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2020, 02:19:16 PM »
Thanks for the fast reply's guys. I guess I complicated my question-sorry about that!
What I want to know is: Has anyone ever installed a Pollack 42-159 valve in a 1987 Chevy R30 with the K code (fuel injection) 5.7L engine without having to change the wiring/pins. If so, did the switching and fuel gauge work as required?
1987 R-30 Standard cab. Owned for 30yrs.

Offline Shifty

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Re: Pollack 42-159 fuel valve
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2020, 03:25:21 PM »
Not the Pollack per se, but a Standard Motor Products FV-5 I've done on a previous 87 R30 454 (same valve), and did no re-pinning.  The only issue I had after that is occasionally, ECM2 fuse would pop, but I can't say for certain that it was the cause of that valve, as I'd done quite a few other things at the same time.
87 V20 Standard Cab Longbed (current)

87 R30 3+3 Longbed (days of yore)

98 C2500 ext cab longbed

Offline newbie17

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Re: Pollack 42-159 fuel valve
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2020, 03:49:56 PM »
Shifty, thanks for the reply. I have a 6 port valve. I guess I'll have to experiment with the 42-159 valve.
Looks like no one has ever installed one on a '87 dual tank FI engine.
1987 R-30 Standard cab. Owned for 30yrs.

Offline newbie17

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Re: Pollack 42-159 fuel valve
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2020, 04:45:24 PM »
Shifty, I looked at the Standard FV-5 valve and it is a 6 port. Was this a "plug and play" valve as you stated  in your post? You did not have to change anything? Did the pump and gauge work and switch properly? I have talked to the Pollack tech rep and he is positive that you must re-pin the trucks connector for it(42-159) to work. I apologize for not "getting it"!!!! and I thank you for the help.
1987 R-30 Standard cab. Owned for 30yrs.

Offline Shifty

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Re: Pollack 42-159 fuel valve
« Reply #7 on: December 30, 2020, 08:33:25 AM »
Yep, 6-port, plug and play, no fuel pump issues (though I did change both of them at the time, because the bed was off).  I can't comment to the Pollack though. 

87 V20 Standard Cab Longbed (current)

87 R30 3+3 Longbed (days of yore)

98 C2500 ext cab longbed

Offline newbie17

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Re: Pollack 42-159 fuel valve
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2021, 04:07:01 PM »
O.K. here is the latest on the Pollack fuel valve fiasco!!!
I installed the Pollack 42-159 valve several years back and at that time, looking at the instructions, I got stupid and thought I had to move pins on the connector. Well, I didn't!!! So, this past weekend I pulled the bed to install new pumps and sending units in both tanks. I moved the pins on the selector valve connector back to the stock configuration. Put 5 gal. fuel in empty left tank and had 15 gal. in right tank. Checked both tanks for pump and quantity operation---works great!!!! I want to thank all forum members that responded to my original post--Thank you Shifty, VileZambonie, Mike S.  BTW-Lifting the bed up and back is the best way I have found for doing tank work. 
1987 R-30 Standard cab. Owned for 30yrs.

Offline Shifty

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Re: Pollack 42-159 fuel valve
« Reply #9 on: January 28, 2021, 08:55:43 AM »
Most welcome sir, I'm glad you've got the square back up and running!
87 V20 Standard Cab Longbed (current)

87 R30 3+3 Longbed (days of yore)

98 C2500 ext cab longbed