The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Electric vs mechanical fuel pump

1961 Chevy Apache C10
235 w/ Langdon's twin Carter-Weber set up.

Have replaced my mechanical fuel pump 3 times in last 4 years. Considering going to an electric fuel pump. What say the experts? If yay, what pump would you recommend? Believe the pressure requirement is 3.5 psi for the carbs.

Thanks

If you have the original mechanical pump, call Then & Now for a USA-made repair kit and rebuild it.

If you do not the original mechanical pump, call THen & Now for a USA-rebuilt original.

There should be no reason to replace an original mechanical pump 3 times in 4 years. Generally, I get about 30 years out of one.

As to electric pumps, to each their own opinion, but here is some added information to chew on:

http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Electric_fuel_pumps_and_old_cars.htm

Jon.

Thanks Jon. Yeah, think I have been replacing junk with junk manufactured outside of USA purchased from local parts stores. Article you posted has changed my mind about going electric. Will give Then and Now a call.
Thanks again.

Mike - there are probably other good fuel pump vendors.

In the case of Then and Now (and their parent company The Antique Auto Parts Cellar), I have been dealing with them since about 1980. They are an established company, and I trust them.

Jon.

With a correctly rebuilt stock type mechanical pump, you will not generally need a regulator as a stock pump should put out like 4-5, and the pressure that actually gets to the needle and seats is usually less. I ran a pair of Holley-Webers for years without a regulator on a stock mechanical fuel pump. If you do decide to go electric, consider the Carter 4070. Low pressure, reliable design (originally designed for the military). Been on the market for decades. You need to use a fuel filter before the pump as the pump is cooled internally by the fuel so if no filter, gas tank junk jams them up and turns them into junk. Because they are cooled by the fuel, they are not known for over heating. Generally pretty quiet but use the carter quiet kit just to make sure. You might need a regulator but check the pressure. Also, and as above, use a carter pressure switch and a fuel pump relay set up. the business of wiring the pump directly through a switch under the dash board like we did as teenagers in the old days, should definitely stay in the old days.

Its a rotary vane design so if you wanted to install one for priming the mechanical pump, you can do that too, just use a relay. Just don't run both. The reason I say that is if you have a diaphragm failure in the mechanical pump, the electric will keep pushing and the fuel will just head into the oil pan via the ruptured diaphragm and be dangerous. So priming only with a relay, full time with a relay and pressure switch.

Thanks Jon.

Think I'm gonna stay mechanical. Thanks for your info.

I had my Dual AC Fuel/Vaccum pump rebuilt by "Then & Now."
He will dial it in to what you need (psi) and use Today gas tolerate parts / gaskets.
Highly-recommend....
Mine is over 3 years old and I tested it about two months ago. It was still perfect on flow.
Good luck.
Do it Right, Do it Once. You'll be Happy!
Todd

Thanks.