James,
Here is what I did. I went to car quest and picked up a fuel pump that was 3-7psi since that was the closest I could find to the original. I mounted it about 2 feet behind the battery on the inside of the frame rail with an inline fuel filter (actually 2 of them). One was connected to the pump and the other was a normal inline filter. This kept the pump within the 18 inches of the tank (ensure you have a clean tank or it really sucks!). I actually tried 2 different options
1. First attempt was to run the negative side through a switch on the backside of the oil guage. This allowed the fuel pump to run whenever the engine was cranking. PRO: if engine died, fuel pump stopped pumping. CON: Since I had a 216 (low pressure), once the engine warmed up the oil pressure dropped below the switch I had in place. This took 3 month of breakdowns and being towed home to figure it out!
2. Second attempt was to run the positive through the ignition switch so that the pump only ran when the switch was in the "ON" position. PRO: very simple and worked well. CON: if you forget to turn the key off or the engine stalls, you keep pumping fuel until you turn physically turn it off. I know that other guys have ran it this way also.
My final plan was that since I blew my engine up and replaced it with another 216, I went back to the stock fuel pump and simplified the system. This eliminated all the issues that I had with both of the 2 options above. My opinion is that if it ain't broke don't fix it! Or as HOTRODLINCOLN would say (paraphrasing), GM invested millions of dollars to design it, why change something that has been working for years.
All in all, I went back to stock and I plan on keeping it that way as long as the lobe on the cam allows me to do so. I learned the hard way with a few things, listen to the other guys or more experienced guys on here, they are smarter than me.
Just my 2 cents, good luck!
Chris
Last edited by ndkid275; 01/05/2018 6:25 PM.
