Electric fuel pumps

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Jun 11, 05 8:18 am

I was out in the car last night and the fuel pump refused to come on, leaving me on the side of a busy road with loads of people coming up and saying "nice car mate, can you start it up so we can hear the engine?" duh!

I could hear the relay clicking in (its in the boot) and found that i had power going in and out of the switched side, knew it must be the pump.

In an act of desperation i got my breaker bar out of the toolbox and with the soft end gave the pump a couple of clouts and it sprung back into life. A god home ok

So im going to take the pump out, all i know is that its a holley fuel pump, not sure what type etc (will do once i pulled it out). Do these things have serviceable parts inside or are they drop-kick jobbies and buy a new one?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Jun 11, 05 8:36 am

you can buy rebuild kits for them,usually its the points sticking that mucks them up. try the advertisers in Connected first (they support us) if not Real steel sell them 01895 422047

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sat Jun 11, 05 9:00 am

Cheers fella. when you say "points" you mean the DC brushes? I'll check the traders section for parts

Kev · Post by **Kev** » Sat Jun 11, 05 9:38 am

I was asking Blue what the service limit on Holley Pumps was and he sez his one has lastest a good 8 years. (Mind you, his car has been off the road for 5 of those

) With a fuel pump going bad I'd be more inclined to spring for a new one. No Pump=No Go! Great to hear you out (sort of!

) in the Blue Whale, Markie.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Jun 20, 05 1:01 pm

well just 4 the record i stripped down the pump and it all came apart suprisingly easy. The aramature of the motor comes out nice and easy and just drives direct into the pump body. I didnt touch the pump body part but gave the armature a good clean (which was filthy). The brushes had plenty on them but the commutator was pretty badly fouled up so cleaned that up and scraped the mica sections between the copper segments. Put it all back together and fired it up, bingo!

Although the pump ran ok before it would sometimes cut out. Yesterday took the old girl out for a little run with a few stops here and there and all was ok. Id like to get an overhaul kit for it anyway but generally it all went swimmingly. I was wondering what the big screw was in the pump bosy that doesnt seem to contain much more than a screw and spring, is it a pressure regulator?

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Mon Jun 20, 05 3:35 pm

Yes, that's the pump relief valve, works in the same way as the engine oil pump.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon Aug 08, 05 1:15 pm

D'oh! It conked out on me again the other night, can you believe it?

The old boat went all the way up to Santa pod, a couple of goes up the strip and all they way home again! Well its not worth overhauling again. I think a new pump is in order here.

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Tue Aug 09, 05 12:15 am

With a fairly stock motor I see little benefit in a lecky pump.
A new mechanical pump is pretty cheap and usually goes on for years..

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Aug 09, 05 10:26 am

Not sure wht pump you have at the mo, but try and replace with electronic (ie solid state) pump.
Ive got trusty mechanical type, just a matter of waiting for the diaghram to cease!

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Tue Aug 09, 05 10:30 am

I don't like electric pumps. I use a Carter mechanical pump on my 500+HP 440 so I think a 318 should be alright with one.

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Tue Aug 09, 05 10:41 am

I've got a holley electric pump on mine and I'm pretty unimpressed with the thing, I've had the same problems. I dont think they're much good for continuous street use

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 18, 05 9:33 pm

Well in my defence the pump was on there when i bought the old girl. Still im so busy with home DIY at the mo I havent time to sort out my parking brake which has stopped working so have had to SORN the car for now as the tax just run out and i cant MOT it. Will I miss the hot rod drags? When are they?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Thu Aug 18, 05 10:38 pm

hot rod drags 16-17-18 september

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Aug 19, 05 1:23 pm

Can you get electronic ones? Surely you still need a motor to drive it unless they have an inverter inside to change DC to AC and then use a brushless AC motor??

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Fri Aug 19, 05 5:03 pm

They dont use a motor, the old ones use a points system to operate a diaphragm or valves, not sure how the new electronic types do it though.