V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

I was talking with an old racer over the weekend. He mentioned when he started racing flatheads he would use a hand pressure pump to initially prime his fuel system to get to the carb. Then from that point on, he had the stock fuel pump working as an air pump to pressurize the gas tank (sealed).

I was wondering if anyone had ever done this.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Zach

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

Never heard of it but sounds reasonable. Seems 5# of air ought to pump some fuel. Walt

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

Zack,
A while back in stash of fp's I found a ,shall we say one sided pump,....just
the outlet....I wondered what it could be.....now I know. I'll bring it to Hershey. We'll
stop at your place and drop it off on our way. I'll never use it .
Charlie ny

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

Charlie, that sounds great!

Anxious to meet you anyways!

thanks!
Zach

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

There's a guy over here in the UK that ran a flathead dragster back in the day. Ken Cooper. I witnessed him prime the tank and then allow it to continue to run with the mech pump pressurising the tank. We have those neat units with the mechanical primer. That's what he used. This would have been in the mid 80's but the car was built a long time before that.

Mart.

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

This use of the pump as a pressure source is mentioned in some of the earlier manuals... I think the two circa 1952 Speed books, Roger Huntington's and California Bill's flathead speed manuals, mention this, and there is also a bit in the circa 1959 Spotlite booklets on fuel systems on this practice. It would make a lot of sense in a circle track car. I have heard plenty of yarns about people losing races because they got carried away driving and forgot to keep after the hand pump!
I like those British pumps with the hand levers...wish I had one!

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

It was a common thing down here in speedway .

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

About 25 years ago I got a 1900 steam car running for an Austrian friend. It hadn't been running for 30 or 40 years. It had a round brass gas tank about 14 inches in diameter 24 inches long with about 1-1/4" real fine threaded cap with about 1 1/4 inches of threads. Gas was put in the tank and it had an air valve for air and a hand pump. I didn't like. It was a pain to get fired up and dangerous. It had another tank the same size for water. I converted it to propane and he was happy. He took it to Austria and sold it to someone in Germany a few years later. G.M.

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

Bruce is right as always.

It shows this very set-up in the Bill Fisher Speed Manual.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Dlx85lMCL._.jpg

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

How's my old friend Lunkenheimer doing over there?

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

Same kind of sources: "old racers" have told me the same thing. It makes sense since the pump isn't working under the same handicap that Ford designed; namely having to pull/lift the fuel via suction. Hand pump enough pressure into the tank to get you going and let the fuel pump maintain. After all it doesn't take too much pressure to satisfy a pair of 94s.

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

You'd find out quickly if your tank had any pinholes!

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

Probably the fitted a heavier spring under the diaphragm, to up the delivery pressure.

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

Zach,
A friend of mine did just that on a banger powered vintage sprint car that was actually raced.
The hand pump was non-functioning. PM me if you would like his name and phone number.

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

When I was growing up, a neighbor's older brother ran sprint cars using the hand pump and the stock fuel pump as an air pump. It seemed to work very well. I don't recall fuel delivery ever being an issue.

Re: V8 fuel pump as an air pump? - Racecar
 

And here she is, in all her glory!
Thank you Charlie!!!

Any guesses as to the original use?
Seems it'll be perfect for my racecar project!

http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/v...ps6ba9312b.jpg
http://i673.photobucket.com/albums/v...ps64890605.jpg