MarcDeSoto Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 (edited) I have a 48 DeSoto and i'm getting ready to put in the fuel pump. I don't know whether it would be better to rebuild the pump with a kit, or buy a new one from Rock Auto. The fuel pump kit on Ebay cost $40, which seems very high to me. The entire rebuilt fuel pump on Rock Auto costs $80. Any ideas? Edited May 6, 2020 by MarcDeSoto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 I guess the question in my mind is how old is that rebuild kit and is it compatible with today's gasoline. I'd prefer to rebuild it myself if the kit isn't old, rubber goes bad just sitting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug&Deb Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 Either way make sure the diaphragm is compatible with ethanol. Most suppliers call that out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merle Coggins Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 I would purchase a kit from Then and Now Automotive, to get a known good kit, and rebuild it myself. I've heard too many horror stories about fulcrum pins coming out on "new" pumps. I've even experienced it myself. The pump I rebuilt with a Then and Now kit has been running strong for many years. http://www.then-now-auto.com/fuel-pumps/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertKB Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 11 hours ago, MarcDeSoto said: The fuel pump kit on Ebay cost $40, which seems very high to me. The entire rebuilt fuel pump on Rock Auto costs $80. Any ideas? I think you answered your own question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Buchanan Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 I bought a new pump. ? ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Los_Control Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 Guess I am just cheap, both prices seem high to me. I do not know the difference between a mopar 25" 6 and a Desoto engine .... was under the impression they were the same? I see now rockauto wants $80 for a Chrysler 251 also My dodge 218 24" engine, I bought a new fuel pump from napa for ~$35 .... might be worth a call? I kept the old one for future rebuild for a spare. Rockauto wants $40 or $50 depending which you choose, napa was still cheaper and got it the next day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plymouthy Adams Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 I believe there is a difference in the 23 and 25 inch block as pertaining to the crank throws... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted May 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 Los Control, Thanks for the NAPA idea. I'll give them a try. By the way, DeSoto also had a 25" block like the Chrysler, but with 236" cid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted May 6, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 I tried NAPa and they had nothing to help me. all they had was an electric fuel pump for a 12 volt car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desoto1939 Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 Mark, Rich Hartung go back and ask them for a FP number 588. Also take a picture of your FP with you. Here isa picture of a 588 fuel pump for your car this is also used in my 39 desoto. Rich Hartung desoto1939@aol.com 588 was used from 38 52 for all 6 cylinder desoto and also Chrysler. The new guys at NAPA have no knowledge of what pumps fits what car you need to tell them now all they know is how to search the current inventory via the computer and if it is not in the computer they have no idea.l 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithb7 Posted May 6, 2020 Report Share Posted May 6, 2020 (edited) Richard is spot on here. The majority of parts people seem to be only good at looking up part numbers on a computer. The Rock Auto site is one of their tools. They hide behind their monitors and look there often when they are lost. I chose to rebuild my recent fuel pump as up here in Canada, the new $80 pump is about $160 by the time I have it in hand. I put JB weld on the fulcrum pin at both ends the pump is now reliable again. The pin cannot walk out. Personally I prefer the glass bowl type fuel pump. You can see sediment building. You can see the fuel present and its colour. All good clues to what might be going on in your fuel system. The original pumps have Made in Canada, or Made In USA on them. Beats the modern offshore built pumps any day in my opinion. Edited May 6, 2020 by keithb7 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 do you think NAPA would also have the rebuild kit for this fuel pump? I asked them when I called but they said no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 I searched NAPA for part number 73201 and it came back as a brake part and a power steering part. Rock Auto did have an entire fuel pump for $80 as does Ebay. https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=6775784&jsn=3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithb7 Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 (edited) I see one here for $49. Quality? Rollin' the dice I guess. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fuel-Pump-Single-Action-1946-1953-DeSoto-6cyl-NEW-46-47-48-49-50-51-52-53/142987275025?fits=Year%3A1948|Make%3ADeSoto&hash=item214ab4ab11:g:A7kAAOSwdGFYrx7C Edited May 7, 2020 by keithb7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desoto1939 Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 (edited) Ask NAPA for an Airtex fuel pump tell them it is the same as the AC588 Also the Chrysler dodge and Plymouth all used the same 588 fuel pump from approx. 39-50's rich hartung Edited May 7, 2020 by desoto1939 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom'sB2B Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 I had my fuel pump fail recently. The pin worked itself out and the arm fell off. The crank ground the arm into the pan, almost punching a hole. I recently put in an electric pump as a backup. The machinal pump was only a year old. I will rely on my electric fuel pump from now on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Thank you Keith, Rich, and Tom and all the others for your advice. I was warned in his book Standard Guide to Automotive Restoration by Matt Joseph, Krause, 1992, that buying an old NOS fuel pump is a mistake unless you replace the diaphragm, which hardens over time and fails quickly. He says the best diaphragm material is nylon reinforced Nitrile. He says you can buy this material at most gasket and supply houses, and make your own diaphragm. Never heard of those places though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 I asked NAPA about the Airtex AC 588 fuel pump and they said that NAPA stopped carrying Airtex fuel pumps about a year ago. and they dont sell rebuild kits. So it's down to Ebay for fuel pumps at $50 and $80. the question is, is the $80 fuel pump built better that the $50 fuel pump? The $80 pump is sold by Rock Auto and they they their Spectrum pumps are built better than the cheaper ones. So has anyone here bought either of these pumps recently? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sniper Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 (edited) The Airtex number is 73201 now. Edited May 7, 2020 by Sniper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 Does anyone still sell Airtex? NAPA says they don't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted May 7, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 I called Airtex and they are a wholesaler only, but they sell through Amazon, Rock Auto, etc. So the fuel pumps being sold on various sites, some with the name Spectra are Airtex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keithb7 Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 (edited) Just for kicks I asked E-bay to calculate the shipping cost to ship the $49 pump to Canada. The result could push a sane, normally friendly Canadian into a rage of frustration. Beyond ridiculous. I mail parcels to and from the USA a lot. Actual freight costs for this pump? I'd estimate $15-$20 US funds....So I must find ways to adapt. I spend hours of time researching alternatives....Sorry. I'll move on now. Quantity: Change country: -Select- Afghanistan Albania American Samoa Andorra Anguilla Armenia Australia Austria Belarus Belgium Bhutan Brazil Bulgaria Cambodia Canada Central African Republic China Comoros Croatia, Republic of Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominica Eritrea Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) Finland France French Guiana Gabon Republic Georgia Germany Gibraltar Greece Greenland Guadeloupe Guam Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Hong Kong Hungary Iceland Indonesia Ireland Italy Japan Jersey Jordan Korea, South Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Macau Macedonia Malaysia Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Monaco Nauru Netherlands Netherlands Antilles New Zealand Niger Niue Norway Palau Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Romania Russian Federation Saint Helena Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines San Marino Serbia Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Togo Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Ukraine United Kingdom United States Uzbekistan Vatican City State Vietnam Virgin Islands (U.S.) Postal Code: Shipping and handling To Service Delivery* US $52.20 Canada USPS Priority Mail InternationalTM Estimated delivery within 7-23 business days Seller ships within 1 day after receiving cleared payment- opens in a new window or tab. US $71.05 Canada USPS Priority Mail Express InternationalTM Estimated delivery within 4-6 business days Seller ships within 1 day after receiving cleared payment- opens in a new window or tab. Edited May 7, 2020 by keithb7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soth122003 Posted May 7, 2020 Report Share Posted May 7, 2020 (edited) 17 hours ago, MarcDeSoto said: Thank you Keith, Rich, and Tom and all the others for your advice. I was warned in his book Standard Guide to Automotive Restoration by Matt Joseph, Krause, 1992, that buying an old NOS fuel pump is a mistake unless you replace the diaphragm, which hardens over time and fails quickly. He says the best diaphragm material is nylon reinforced Nitrile. He says you can buy this material at most gasket and supply houses, and make your own diaphragm. Never heard of those places though. Hey Mark , If it is just the diaphragm that failed you might try this. It comes in 1/16 and 1/8 inch thickness. https://www.amazon.com/Buna-N-Sheet-Gasket-Black-Thick/dp/B0075DXMAK/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=fuel%2Bgasket%2Bmaterial&qid=1588884073&sr=8-1&th=1 The spectrum pump is also available. https://www.amazon.com/Spectra-Premium-SP1296MP-Mechanical-Fuel/dp/B00Q0DFTLG/ref=au_as_r?_encoding=UTF8&Make=Dodge|40&Model=Meadowbrook|2052&Year=1950|1950&ie=UTF8&n=15684181&s=automotive&vehicleId=3&vehicleType=automotive Joe Lee Edited May 7, 2020 by soth122003 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcDeSoto Posted May 8, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 I'm not sure if it was just the diaphragm that failed. I'm not even sure if the pump failed, but my engine hasn't actually run in over 38 years. It's just that don't hear that sucking sound that it used to have when I cocked the arm back and forth. I think the diaphragm just got too hard to flex anymore. I ordered the $50 one on Ebay from New Jersey. I assume they are made by Airtex, at least I hope so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.