what's wrong with a standard fuel pump?

[hueyhoolihan]

what is it that people find inadequate with original fuel pumps on 32-48 fords that they feel it needs augmenting or replacing, assuming the engine hasn't been modified for performance reasons?

[37 Coupe]

Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan

what is it that people find inadequate with original fuel pumps on 32-48 fords that they feel it needs augmenting or replacing, assuming the engine hasn't been modified for performance reasons?

Nothing except this 10% or more corn alcohol gasoline. I finally went to a backup electric fuel pump on my '37 Ford after a former Fordbarn pro fuel rebuilder pump failed after 30 miles,supposedly it was my fault for using or not telling him I wanted an ethanol proof diaphragm. Lost it on a busy state highway and if I had a backup then I could have gotten it home or at least off the road. This was 15 years ago and I went to NAPA for a mechanical pump which is still working and hardly ever use the backup .I don't think it hurts to crank engine a little and get oil flowing before it fires on long shutdowns.

[hueyhoolihan]

Originally Posted by 37 Coupe

Nothing except this 10% or more corn alcohol gasoline. I finally went to a backup electric fuel pump on my '37 Ford after a former Fordbarn pro fuel rebuilder pump failed after 30 miles,supposedly it was my fault for using or not telling him I wanted an ethanol proof diaphragm. Lost it on a busy state highway and if I had a backup then I could have gotten it home or at least off the road. This was 15 years ago and I went to NAPA for a mechanical pump which is still working and hardly ever use the backup .I don't think it hurts to crank engine a little and get oil flowing before it fires on long shutdowns.

interesting...i would never have thought to go to NAPA for a fuel pump. points? yes, condenser?, yes, starter solenoid? yes, but not a fuel pump. would seem like a bridge too far...

and BTW, did i detect a touch of sarcasm in the part that reads, "...supposedly it was my fault..." or am i projecting? ha

[hueyhoolihan]

...

[Flathead Fever]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with stock fuel pumps if you start the car every once in a while, to keep the carbs from drying out. That wasn't a problem when they were your daily drivers. On my collector cars that sit for months, maybe even years it is a problem. So, now I like to use an auxiliary electric fuel pump to just prime the systems to get them started and then I run them off of the original fuel pump once it does start, if they do start. It just a convenience thing, I don't like to crank and crank the engines to finally get the fuel to the carbs. I have so many collector cars that I tend to let them sit, then when I do try to start them it's a hassle to get the fuel up to the carbs. My fault for letting them sit so long. I was a professional phone company mechanic for 30-years so that last thing I wanted to do was work on cars all night and then work on them at home during the day. At that time it was just fun to buy this stuff for my retirement years. Most of these cars I have bought over the last 40-years to work on when I retired but then I had a stroke two years ago, not too bad of a stroke but it's slowed me up quite a bit.

I'm working on getting my Shelby '66 GT-350 started after letting it sit for 10-years. I pushed it out of the garage this weekend and I drained the old fuel out of it. The carb's needle and seat is stuck closed from sitting for so long or the fuel pump isn't pumping. That's today's project. There are some neat cars out there, the Shelby, '32 roadsters, '32 coupes, Model A Roadster, even a couple pre-1920 era Mack trucks, enough to keep me busy until I croak.

[mcgarrett]

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Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan

interesting...i would never have thought to go to NAPA for a fuel pump. points? yes, condenser?, yes, starter solenoid? yes, but not a fuel pump. would seem like a bridge too far...

and BTW, did i detect a touch of sarcasm in the part that reads, "...supposedly it was my fault..." or am i projecting? ha

Some NAPA stores still have real parts guys at the counter. Even though they often don't show parts for our old Fords on their website, some of the better parts men can find items like fuel pumps, carb kits, brake parts, starters, etc.

[IMoveMetal]

First post here. I’ve just started restoring a ’34 Fordor and like the idea of using an auxiliary electric pumps to prime the system.

I’m curious what type of electric pump people recommend and how it’s typically installed with the original mechanical pump. Any tips or setups that work well would be greatly appreciated.

[38 coupe]

Letting a car sit is much harder on it than occasional driving.
I don't run electric pumps on any of my cars. I expect to crank on the starter for a while if I let a car sit for too long. I don't see this as a problem, I like to see the oil pressure come up from zero before the engine fires up after letting a car sit for a while. You need a good battery to make this a common practice.
I don't let a car sit for more than four or five months. That is asking for big problems from today's gasoline. I run at least one tank of fuel through a car every six months.

[Tim Ayers]

If you know the car is going to sit for a long time, I would suggest tracking down non-ethanol fuel and fill the tank with that. If not, use a product like Star Brite or others that combat long term storage ethanol issues.

[John Gibson]

I use marine gas in both of mine, non-ethanol, but close to four bucks a gallon on coastal Georgia. Marine gas is readily available here.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by hueyhoolihan

what is it that people find inadequate with original fuel pumps on 32-48 fords that they feel it needs augmenting or replacing, assuming the engine hasn't been modified for performance reasons?

If the pump is properly rebuilt and the lines are in good condition, there is zero wrong with a stock pump.
Many of my cars sit for a month or more during starts. I have never had to prime any of them. In fact, a pump or two at the pedal, pull the choke, hit the button and no more than five seconds, each and every starts right up.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by John Gibson

I use marine gas in both of mine, non-ethanol, but close to four bucks a gallon on coastal Georgia. Marine gas is readily available here.

Yeah, it's not cheap in NJ/PA either, but worth it in my opinion for long term storage of cars, small engines/lawn equipment, chain saws, etc. Anything that is going to sit for months, I put it in.

[woodburnranch]

How does aviation gas compare to marine gas for long term storage?

[paul2748]

In my opinion, it was the rebuilders fault that your pump failed. Even 15 years ago 10 % ethanol gas was being used throughout the country and should have been rebuilt with ethanol proof parts. Failure to do so was a gross error on his part. I hope he made you good.

Originally Posted by 37 Coupe

Nothing except this 10% or more corn alcohol gasoline. I finally went to a backup electric fuel pump on my '37 Ford after a former Fordbarn pro fuel rebuilder pump failed after 30 miles,supposedly it was my fault for using or not telling him I wanted an ethanol proof diaphragm. Lost it on a busy state highway and if I had a backup then I could have gotten it home or at least off the road. This was 15 years ago and I went to NAPA for a mechanical pump which is still working and hardly ever use the backup .I don't think it hurts to crank engine a little and get oil flowing before it fires on long shutdowns.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by 37 Coupe

Nothing except this 10% or more corn alcohol gasoline. I finally went to a backup electric fuel pump on my '37 Ford after a former Fordbarn pro fuel rebuilder pump failed after 30 miles,supposedly it was my fault for using or not telling him I wanted an ethanol proof diaphragm. Lost it on a busy state highway and if I had a backup then I could have gotten it home or at least off the road. This was 15 years ago and I went to NAPA for a mechanical pump which is still working and hardly ever use the backup .I don't think it hurts to crank engine a little and get oil flowing before it fires on long shutdowns.

You'd mention a former fordbarn pro. KenCT by chance?

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Kube

You'd mention a former fordbarn pro. KenCT by chance?

Geeez, Kube...You just can't let it go, can you...The poor guy is dead!...

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by woodburnranch

How does aviation gas compare to marine gas for long term storage?

It's the same. Unlimited shelf life I believe. Just be careful because 100 LL is a bit much if running it straight for most flatheads.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by petehoovie

Geeez, Kube...You just can't let it go, can you...The poor guy is dead!...

Excuse me? I asked a question.

[38 coupe]

I use kits from Then and Now Automotive for my fuel pumps, and have had good results.
Link to their kit selection: https://www.then-now-auto.com/produc...uel-pump-kits/

[flatford8]

X2 on the NAPA pumps…..I purchased one from a big catalog source who I believe has stopped selling parts for our cars….it lasted a year…..I got one from my local NAPA and it’s been working great for about 15 years……on my stationary engine, I purchased kits for the fuel pump and carb from Michael at Thirdgen and they’ve been working great for a year or so……….Mark