07-09-2023, 01:11 PM | #1 |
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electic pump
My 53 is still 6 volt. I'd like to put an electric fuel pump just to fill the bowl. If I use a toggle switch, what would be the best way to wire it up? Thanks
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07-09-2023, 01:37 PM | #2 |
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Re: electic pump
A momentary push button switch would be best. Provide 6V from your ignition wiring.
A toggle switch to turn on may be forgotten and run all the time. For constant on, best way is to have and an oil pressure safety switch. Glenn |
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07-09-2023, 02:02 PM | #3 |
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Re: electic pump
You need a pump that is "open" in the off position so the mechanical pump can still pull fuel through it. They make pumps both ways, open or shut in the off position. Mount it close to the tank and install a filter between the tank and the pump.
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07-10-2023, 11:14 AM | #4 |
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Re: electic pump
I dont start mine very often and when it has sat for a while I need to crank it a bit to get the gas going again. A friend suggested I get a one way valve to keep the fuel bowl full but I havent tried it yet. I dont know about a '53 but a '38 needs a very low pressure pump or a regulator. I put an electric on it once and blew gas all over the place (duh).
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07-10-2023, 02:35 PM | #5 |
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Re: electic pump
One problem is the fuel evaporates out of the float bowl through the vents if it sits for a long time, no matter what kind of check valves are in the fuel pump. The carb gaskets, dry out and shrink and thenthe carb needs a rebuild. The evaporated fuel leaves a a varnish that plugs up fuel passages. It best to just go out there and start it once a week. Stomp on the brakes too to reset the residual brake pressure to keep the wheel cylinders from seeping. You can't let a carb set like you can a modern fuel injected car, you should use them at least once a week I'm guilty of it too, too many projects.
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07-10-2023, 06:58 PM | #6 |
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Re: electic pump
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07-10-2023, 08:53 PM | #7 |
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Re: electic pump
Mechanical fuel pumps often have a hard time drawing fuel THROUGH an electric pump that is turned off.
This is a way you can use a check valve (one way valve) to plumb in an electric pump. When the pump is turned on, it feeds the engine fuel. When it is off, the mechanical pump is able to freely draw fuel without issue. No fancy plumbing or wiring required.
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07-11-2023, 09:49 AM | #8 |
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Re: electic pump
Mike: If possible, please repost your sketch a little smaller. For some reason, I can't enlarge the viewing area of my computer screen so I can read the entire post. Also, please post info. as to the part # for your check valve. Thanks, Jim
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07-11-2023, 11:50 AM | #9 | |
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Re: electic pump
Here you go Jim.
Quote:
A check valve as shown would not seal against backflow to the tank after the engine has been shut off for a short time. If you got a check valve that did work, I.e., very tight and sealed against the valve seat; you would have to overcome this resistance with just the mechanical pump. It will not work for this situation. I did this stuff for a living. Glenn |
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07-11-2023, 01:13 PM | #10 |
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Re: electic pump
More parts more potential problems. Keep it simple! The original system worked okay if driven often. There is a design problem with the fuel pump being mounted high on the intake; it is harder for the pump to suck the extra air out of the line and lift the weght of the fuel up hill to prime the pump when it dries out. They do not make very good air compressors; they are designed to pump liquid. Then if you come along and alter the original engineering by installing a larger 5/16" line back to the tank for a go-fast flathead, it is even harder for the pump to purge that extra volumn air out of the line. You will notice that all later V8 engines have the fuel pump mounted very low on the side of the block. The fuel tank is in the trunk floor or along the frame rail, it is almost level with the fuel pump, this helps prime the pump. The best solution for an old car that is hard to prime after it sits awhile is an electric priming pump. Unless you want to burn up your starter cranking-and cranking. That is really hard on the starter; it overheats it. Even if the electric priming pump were to eventually fail it will fail in the open position so there is no downside to having one. After the electric pump primes the system and you switch it off you're running on the original pump that puts out the correct pressure the carburetors were designed for. Plus, I like the look of that old-timey glass bowl full of clean fuel.
I have a swimming pool sixed fishpond with a large pool pump to run a waterfall. The pump is above the ponds' water level by probably 2'. It will not prime the pump unless I close a valve on the intake side, fill the pumps' filter reservoir to the top with water. Turn it on and then slowly open the valve on the intake side. So, I tried a check valve on the intake side at the water level to prevent it from draining back when the pump was off. It just caused more problems with the pumps vacuum trying to pull the check valve open. The neighbor has a larger pond. He was cold storage refrigeration engineer (before he moved out of CA) that designed all of the refrigeration plants' plumbing. He mounted his pump lower than the water level. It self-primes, being lower than the water level, gravity feeds it like a Model A gas tank. If we lose electricity, when it comes back on his pump will prime and mine might not. That's another project I should be working on. |
07-11-2023, 02:25 PM | #11 |
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Re: electic pump
Good info on the check valve idea, maybe I wont go there after all!
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07-11-2023, 02:54 PM | #12 | |
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Re: electic pump
Quote:
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07-11-2023, 03:41 PM | #13 | |
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Re: electic pump
Quote:
The bold parts in the pic are Tee's. Fuel can go in either direction. With the pump turned on, the fuel takes the top path. The check valve keeps it from simply returning to the tank. When the pump is turned off, the engine draws fuel through the check valve. Very simple to set up, and pretty much foolproof. I wish dad would have done this years ago... Would have saved a lot of time along side the highway changing out fuel pumps! LOL
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Mike Jr. here. I get on here every few months to check messages, and look through his almost 500 saved messages for information on the '29 and '34 I still have. A lot of very nice people on here. He truly enjoyed Ford Barn. Last edited by FL&WVMIKE; 07-11-2023 at 03:47 PM. |
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07-11-2023, 03:55 PM | #14 |
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Re: electic pump
Before I found a flow through pump, this is what I used. Gas flows from right to left. Check valve is on top (white). Pump is not a flow through pump, so when it is off, the mechanical pump will not pull gas through it, but will pull it through the bypass line on top. (picture 1)
When I installed the flow through Airtex E8902, I wired mine to the map lite switch. When the switch is on the light is on and so is the fuel pump. When the ignition is off the switch is dead. I use the mechanical pump 99% of the time. Only use it to fill the float bowl after the car has sat for a lengthy period of time, or to clear vapor lock bubbles. (picture 2) Last edited by Merc Cruzer; 07-11-2023 at 04:11 PM. |
07-11-2023, 04:45 PM | #15 |
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Re: electic pump
THANKS Glenn for resizing the diagram. Now I can see it.
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07-11-2023, 05:36 PM | #16 |
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Re: electic pump
Yes. I put a small toggle switch in an existing hole under the dash on the right of the steering column ( RH drive). It is momentary in that it is sprung and has to be held to activate the pump and is only used for priming.
GB
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07-11-2023, 09:03 PM | #17 | |
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Re: electic pump
Quote:
Rube would be proud !
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07-11-2023, 11:37 PM | #18 |
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Re: electic pump
If you are member of the Early Ford V8 Club
there's a nice article in the May/June V8 Times magazine that addresses this. |
07-12-2023, 07:55 AM | #19 |
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Re: electic pump
A momentary switch works good to fill the fuel bowl, but won't do you much good if you live in Vapor lock country.
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07-12-2023, 01:32 PM | #20 |
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Re: electic pump
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