TodFitch Posted January 26, 2013 Report Posted January 26, 2013 (edited) I'm like you, my fuel pumps last a loong time! I just don't get why so many pump issues. Only one failure for me on all my cars over all the years... Only rebuilt the one on the '33 because it was apart and I was rebuilding everything. Edit: I was going to link to a photo on my web site but got a "You are not allowed to use that image extension on this community." message. It was only a JPG and not all that big (748x486). Edited January 26, 2013 by TodFitch Quote
Don Coatney Posted January 26, 2013 Report Posted January 26, 2013 I had a series of pump issues with I first got my car many, many years ago. Then I finally figured out that I was setting the belt tension too tight. Loosened that up and I haven't had a failure since. I'm guessing that people used to newer iron are getting the belts too tight. You only need it tight enough that it doesn't slip when running at speed. Belt driven fuel pump? Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted January 26, 2013 Report Posted January 26, 2013 (edited) "Belt driven fuel pump?" Race cars use them-maybe thats what he's got!. Edited January 26, 2013 by Dodgeb4ya Quote
pflaming Posted January 26, 2013 Author Report Posted January 26, 2013 Don was referring to the water pump issue earlier, and it's good to know that also. This has been a very helpful thread. For those who are new, this is why so many of us need, used, and defend its makeup and it's somewhat limited focus. We stray accasonally but by and large we are true to the limitations of this forum. Quote
sandest46 Posted January 26, 2013 Report Posted January 26, 2013 Bought a NAPA fuel pump for 52 Dodge truck. I had looked at Rock and few other places and all the pictures looked the same as the one from NAPA, but the original on the truck has a couple of tubes going into it. So I guess my next step is to get a kit and rebuid it. Were different fuel pumps used on the flatheads in 52? Quote
TodFitch Posted January 27, 2013 Report Posted January 27, 2013 Belt driven fuel pump? Screwed up and was thinking water pump... Thought I'd edited that before others noticed. Quote
pflaming Posted January 28, 2013 Author Report Posted January 28, 2013 This forum is a godsend. I thought I would spend tomorrow looking for a fuel pump, when Mark Haymond of freso pm's me that he has one for me. He came down last Thursday when mine went out, to see a couple 15" rims I have and to see my truck and vert. I sent him home with the wheels, I figured out that they would make good rims for his spares so all's good and in reponse I got a fuel pump. Tonight I am stoked! Thanks Mark. Once I'm good again, I'm going to repair the three cores I have, give one back to Mark for a spare and keep the other two as spares. Quote
Don Coatney Posted January 28, 2013 Report Posted January 28, 2013 Several years ago when I was in need of a brake master cylinder Mark Haymond had a spare and sent it to me. He is a stand up guy... Quote
Frank Elder Posted January 28, 2013 Report Posted January 28, 2013 (edited) This forum is a godsend. I thought I would spend tomorrow looking for a fuel pump, when Mark Haymond of freso pm's me that he has one for me. He came down last Thursday when mine went out, to see a couple 15" rims I have and to see my truck and vert. I sent him home with the wheels, I figured out that they would make good rims for his spares so all's good and in reponse I got a fuel pump. Tonight I am stoked! Thanks Mark. Once I'm good again, I'm going to repair the three cores I have, give one back to Mark for a spare and keep the other two as spares. Remember when you first started rebuilding your truck Paul........I remember a post where you didn't think you were need all those spare parts........you've come a long way baby! Edited January 28, 2013 by Frank Elder Quote
pflaming Posted January 28, 2013 Author Report Posted January 28, 2013 Frank, you are right on. Tim Adams LECTURED me to get a manual for my vert which I did and which I now use all the time. Greybeard advised me the same on the truck, but the practical advice, sometimes multiple ways of doing things, and the answers to unwritten questions, that I received from the forum kept me going. Greybeard very patiently led me through the overhaul, to whom I remain indebted. I value this forum with its rules against profanity, politics, religion, nasty jokes yet is often quite amusing. The poet said, "If winter comes, then spring is not far behind" and then a lot of car activity renews. My thanks to all. 1 Quote
48Dodger Posted January 30, 2013 Report Posted January 30, 2013 One of my favorite things to do is grab old repair manuals for anything American, any year, at the swap meets. nothing beats thumbing through an old manual. lol Paul and I chatted online here awhile back about his fuel pump deal. My guess was dirt/debri in the fuel lines. My question is: Are you gonna flush out your lines and clean out the tank before exposing your new pump to it? Or do you have another paln to supply fuel to the pump so as to get registered. 48D Quote
pflaming Posted January 30, 2013 Author Report Posted January 30, 2013 Yes, will flush out the lines, even though they are new. I am running off an aux tank and new line. I thought I had the tank clean, may not have. I am also going to put a filter BEFORE the new pump, may remove it later. I'm not going to chance ruining a newly rebuilt pump. I ordered two kits from Antique Celler. Got to solve a faulty starter problem first. Strange they went out a the same time. Quote
John-T-53 Posted October 15, 2013 Report Posted October 15, 2013 Has anybody ever broke down in a tunnel?? Last Sunday on the way to the folks' house with my gal riding with me, the truck sputtered out one third the way through the Caldecott Tunnel (Between Oakland and Orinda, CA). Had to put out flares and wait 30 min for CHP to push me out to the other side. Got some dirty looks and a few honks (but no birds). Not fun!!! Turns out it was the fuel pump (if ya haven't already guessed). Had to get towed home. When I could take it out, I found it was the pin that had walked out one side. Only 3k miles on it - just replaced it last January (mentioned earlier on this thread). Same Carter pump purchased at NAPA. This time I got an AIRTEX pump at the same NAPA and they refunded my money from the old pump. The old pump's casting wasn't staked around the pin, and neither is the new Airtex. So before installation, I staked the casting in hopes this will prevent any future break downs...so heads up on this issue! Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted October 15, 2013 Report Posted October 15, 2013 Some great after market parts out there! I'm still running on my 35 year old pump I put in my PU back in the middle 70's. I'mafraid of the new replacement parts-especially fuel pumps for the Mopar flatheads. Quote
TodFitch Posted October 15, 2013 Report Posted October 15, 2013 Still running the fuel pump I rebuilt back in the early 90s. If I need to get it fixed the photos Don C. posted of the fuel pump rebuilt with a kit from Antique Auto Parts Cellar (a.k.a. Then and Now Automotive) has a pin that is longer and uses circlips to hold it in place. So I'd go that way. Quote
Dodgeb4ya Posted October 15, 2013 Report Posted October 15, 2013 Then and Now is a reputable company and will do you right. I need to have then do a couple of straight eight chrysler pumps for me. Quote
MBF Posted October 15, 2013 Report Posted October 15, 2013 I had another one purchased from NAPA in my Plymouth where the pin walked out. They replaced it, but I think the fix for this is to install a longer pin with the pinch clips on the ends so that you can keep an eye on these "rebuilt" units. Mike Quote
pflaming Posted October 15, 2013 Author Report Posted October 15, 2013 If one would put some "seize all" or such product on that pin would that work? Quote
Merle Coggins Posted October 15, 2013 Report Posted October 15, 2013 Yup... I had the same failure with a new fuel pump at a very busy Milwaukee Metro intersection in the heart of afternoon rush hour. Luckily a guy a few vehicles back offered to tow me out of the way. I had rebuilt my original pump with a kit from Antique Auto Cellar and had it stashed under the seat. I dig it out and was back up and running 20 minutes later. Now the "failed" pump has been rebuilt and lives under the seat, but I don't expect to need it anymore. Quote
ggdad1951 Posted October 15, 2013 Report Posted October 15, 2013 still running the original in FEF with a rebuild on it....I figure that pump has 50K under it's cam. Quote
HanksB3B Posted October 15, 2013 Report Posted October 15, 2013 (edited) I chose not to replace the pin as no play was evident. I just replaced the Diaphragm, Valves, Gaskets and seals. Then and Now were real helpful and walked me through what I found to be the only difficult part, removing and replacing the Diaphragm from the Rocker Arm Link (it's a b*tch) I highly recommend Then & Now, Hank Edited October 15, 2013 by HanksB3B Quote
Don Coatney Posted October 15, 2013 Report Posted October 15, 2013 I am sure there are several folks here who would like to have the pin you did not use. Quote
De Soto Frank Posted October 15, 2013 Report Posted October 15, 2013 As for avereage fuel-pump lifespan, I put an Airtex 588 ( from Western Auto) on my '41 De Soto 15 years and 40-some thousand miles ago. Still working fine. haven't even had to dump the sediment bowl yet... Quote
52b3b Joe Posted October 15, 2013 Report Posted October 15, 2013 In July, about 2 weeks before the NDC/WPC convention, I was driving the 41 Desoto and it just stopped while doing 55mph or so. Everytime I pressed the gas, it was fire and shut off, so I knew it was not getting fuel. My dad towed me home and we pulled the glass bowl off the pump and you could see the pin had walked out and was barely hanging in the cam arm. So, we pulled the pump, put it back together and staked the pin. I think that pump had maybe 5,000 miles on it when it did that. Its back in the car and has another 2,500 miles on it going strong. That don't make them like they used to. Quote
HanksB3B Posted October 16, 2013 Report Posted October 16, 2013 I am sure there are several folks here who would like to have the pin you did not use. I wonder if Now and Then sells them separately? Now and Then they probably do but maybe not. Will be hanging onto mine though. Hank Quote
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