ClassicCar

matthud

Right now my car has an electric fuel pump installed. The mechanical pump is still in the car but is totally disconnected from the fuel supply. I want to reconnect the mechanical inline with the electric. Will there be any problems with the electric pumping through the mechanical and vice-versa? I want to get away from using the electric 100% of the time. I've had 2 bellows style electric pumps die in a short period of time, so I dont want to be totally dependant on the electrical pump anymore.

Can I safely pump through the mechianical on startup with the electric?

And can I safely pump through the electrical while driving?

hudsonguy

matthud wrote:

Right now my car has an electric fuel pump installed. The mechanical pump is still in the car but is totally disconnected from the fuel supply. I want to reconnect the mechanical inline with the electric. Will there be any problems with the electric pumping through the mechanical and vice-versa? I want to get away from using the electric 100% of the time. I've had 2 bellows style electric pumps die in a short period of time, so I dont want to be totally dependant on the electrical pump anymore.

Can I safely pump through the mechianical on startup with the electric?

And can I safely pump through the electrical while driving?

Yes to both of your questions matthud. I've got a small electric pump mounted back near the fuel tank that I use to 'fill the lines' after it's been sitting for a while, and then switch it off once the engine starts and the mechanical pump takes over.

matthud

hudsonguy wrote:

Yes to both of your questions matthud. I've got a small electric pump mounted back near the fuel tank that I use to 'fill the lines' after it's been sitting for a while, and then switch it off once the engine starts and the mechanical pump takes over.

Do you know if this causes extra wear on either of the pumps when they aren't running?

Geoff C., N.Z.

No it doesn't have any effect, other than lifting the one-way valves.

Park_W

By the way, there's a company in Toledo, OH, that sells rebuild kits for the widely found Walbro pulse-type pumps (also sold under the AC brand, maybe others). V.W. Petersen Co., 1-800-537-6212. In every one of these critters I've opened up, the bellows material had deteriorated to a gooey mess. A complete kit includes new bellows, spring, and valves, and costs a little over $10. You can buy just a bellows replacement kit for less than that. I've brought quite a few of these pumps back to life with these kits.

hornet53

Where would you find one of these pumps and what's the part number?

Uncle Josh

JC Whitney sells both 6 and 12 V pumps

mars55

JC Whitney doesn't sell the Walbro pump anymore. Here is a supplier.

http://www.autoperformanceengineering.com/html/bel_pump.html

Another electric fuel pump that allows the mechanical pump to pull through is the Airtex E8011. It's available from your local auto parts store or from Rock Auto. Enter E8011 in to the "Look for a part" box.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/catalog.php

matthud

mars55 wrote:

JC Whitney doesn't sell the Walbro pump anymore. Here is a supplier.

http://www.autoperformanceengineering.com/html/bel_pump.html

Another electric fuel pump that allows the mechanical pump to pull through is the Airtex E8011. It's available from your local auto parts store or from Rock Auto. Enter E8011 in to the "Look for a part" box.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/catalog.php

What kind of pump is that Airtex? It does not look like a bellows style.

Park_W

And if you prefer "huuummmmm" to "clickie, clickie, clickie," NAPA sells a Carter rotary vane pump in both 6v and 12v versions. There IS a minor downside ... it costs about $95! I have one on my '47, used just to fill the carb bowl when it's been sitting for a while. Works fine, and the mechanical pump pulls through it OK.

53jetman

I use the carter 6v as the exclusive (only) fuel pump on my '53 SuperJet, and it performs flaulessly. Holds the preasure in the line so the car can set all day at a meet or a show, and it starts immediately when I turn the key. As for the sound of it, you almost have to really listen in order to hear it running.

Jerry

53jetman

davidh

i went thru 2 jc whitney walbro lookalikes within a month. im on the third one now and of course the car won;t be on the road until fall if im lucky. i intend to reinstall a mechanical pump to go with the electric. i was told or read somewhere the diaphrams went to h$#= because of the "new" fuel we have been using for a few years. real gas will not affect the diaphram. i will also order a kit or two as someone just suggested. cheap enuf. . .

davidh

mars55

matthud wrote:

What kind of pump is that Airtex? It does not look like a bellows style.

It is described as a "solenoid-type" pump which I assume means that it uses a piston to pump the gas.

happychris

I also have had several diaphram type 6V electric fuel pumps fail ( the Walbro brand ). I found a 6V Rotary Vane Electric Fuel Pump at Summitt and it is very reliable. The rotary vane type fuel pump does not have the diaphram to fail. If you want to just buy one pump and have it last, I highly receommend switching to a rotary vane type pump.

BST RGDS

GARY ( happychris )

Park_W

One caution, whatever type pump you're using. When you know your car is going to be out of service for several months, be sure to put Sta-Bil or other good gas stabilizer in the gas tank, and run the engine a little to get it up into the pump and lines. I didn't think about doing that a while back when I started the cosmetic rehab on our Hornet. Three years later, ready for the road again, I burned up the motor in the 12v Carter rotary vane pump when it tried (in vane?) to run, but was locked up by the varnish and gum from the old gas that had been in it. Didn't pull enough current to pop the fuse, just got hot enough to ruin the pump moter. $95 down the tubes! Ouch.

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