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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Electric Fuel Pump

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Electric Fuel Pump -- page: 1 2     MDB 05-02-2011 @ 7:25 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 28 Joined: Nov 2010 In order to circumvent traditional vapor lock problem on my 39, I would like to add an electric fuel pump in line while retaining original (either functional or non-functional) for appearance of originality? Which brand/model and location is advisable? We're not aiming for Concourse but attempting to get close as possible. Thanks for any suggestions. MDB supereal 05-02-2011 @ 10:19 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 We use the Airtex pump sold by C&G (800/266-0470) as item 11A-9350-E6. Use the worm screw clamps in place of the spring clamps sold with the pump. Locate it as near the fuel tank as possible, and put an inline fuel filter between the pump and the tank. Connect the power to the pump thru the accessory side of the ignition switch so it is turned off when the engine is not running. We use a spring loaded toggle switch for control. "Vapor lock" is not a "traditional" Ford problem. It is a good idea to find why your car is doing that before you add the booster pump. We install the pumps to help refill the carb after long periods of nonuse, but not to replace the mechanical pump. The "new" gas destroys non-nitrile parts of mechanical pumps and carbs, which will imitate vapor lock. Other causes include a weak ignition coil, and a fuel line partially clogged with rust and dirt. Other places are a non-vented gas tank cap, and dirt/rust in the tank. I chased the problem in my '47. It would balk and buck, then smooth out when the electric pump pushed the gas. Finally, even that didn't work, so I checked the fuel line from the pump to the firewall, and found it almost closed. Twenty bucks and an hour under the car did the job. An unreliable car takes all the fun out of the hobby, as I'm sure you know. Billc 05-15-2011 @ 9:34 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 19 Joined: Jan 2010 Could I install the Airtex pump and leave the old pump in place and run the electric all of the time? I have tried several pumps and no gas. This on my '36 pickup with a new line and cleaned and coated tank. Bill 36 pickup 47 COE supereal 05-15-2011 @ 10:12 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Yes, you can leave the elctric in place, as the valves in the mechanical pump allow the gas to be pushed thru without a problem. I'm curious as to why, after trying several mechanical pumps, you still have no fuel. I would pull the mechanical pump and stand and observe the action of the push rod. If you have an aluminum intake, the rod should measure 7.87". If you have an iron manifold, it should be 8.87". The chances are, if you have an iron manifold, you may have the aluminum type rod. I've seen it more than once. The only other explanation I can think of is that the cam is flat. The Ford camshaft is very durable, and I haven't seen a genuine camshaft go flat. Be sure that your fuel line isn't obstructed by rust and dirt. We are seeing a lot of that now that alcohol is present in nearly all fuels. The higher oxygen content, coupled with the tendency to dissolve deposits, is creating problems that even an electric pump won't solve. Billc 05-15-2011 @ 1:21 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 19 Joined: Jan 2010 I will check the rod, I have an iron manifold so that could be it. The fuel line is new and the tank has been cleaned. I have no E fuel that I use here on the farm and that is what is in the PU. Thanks for the tip. Bill 36 pickup 47 COE supereal 05-16-2011 @ 6:35 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Let us know what you find out. As to alcohol in fuel, most, if not all, contains it. It is likely that it was added when the transport hauled different grades of gas, or if an unscrupulous dealer put it his tanks to make extra profit. It doesn't take much to cause problems in non resistant systems. This message was edited by supereal on 5-16-11 @ 6:36 PM Billc 05-19-2011 @ 9:02 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 19 Joined: Jan 2010 Well I checked the rod and it's the proper 8 7/8 inches. Now it's either an electric pump or drag it around and see if will move gas up. Bill 36 pickup 47 COE TomO 05-20-2011 @ 8:37 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7255 Joined: Oct 2009 Bill, I am confused with your posts. First you say that you want an electric fuel pump to eliminate "vapor lock" and then in your last post, you indicate that you are not able to run the 39. Vapor lock is sometimes blamed for other problems such as a weak spark. Check your spark at idle. It should be at least 1/2 inch long, blue in color and make a cracking sound when a plug wire is held close to a head nut, using a plastic handle screw driver or a fuse puller to hold the wire. Vapor lock is caused by a weak fuel pump or a plugged or leaking gas line. To check fuel delivery, you need a graduated 16 ounce or larger container to determine the amount of fuel delivered in a measured time. Disconnect the fuel pump line from the carburetor and direct it into a graduated container. Crank the engine long enough to get 2 ounces of gas in the container and then continue cranking for 15 more strokes of the pump. The pump should have delivered 6 more ounces of gas. Check the sediment bowl in your fuel pump for rust. If there is rust in the bowl, your gas line may be partially plugged. If there is no rust, you could still have a problem with the flex line leaking or plugged up. Tom supereal 05-20-2011 @ 9:50 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 Did you check to see that the pump push rod actually went up and down as the engine turned? If it doesn't, there is a strong possibility that someone installed the rear camshaft bearing improperly. The bearing has a hole in it that allows the rod to reach the cam. If the bearing was installed with the hole not facing up, or was turned enough to prevent access, the pump can't be actuated. Billc 05-21-2011 @ 5:08 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 19 Joined: Jan 2010 TomO, I posted my fuel pump question on MDB's thread and I should have started my own, sorry. I am trying to start an old truck that hasn't run for a long time and anything in the sediment bowl would be progress. My problem is no gas. supereal, Yes, it does move. The truck runs with a little gas in the carb but it takes too long maybe to get fuel all the way up to the engine on the battery and it drains back to the tank? Once the fuel gets to the pump is there a check valve to keep the line full? Bill 36 pickup 47 COE

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