potential electric fuel pump problem

J

JBD

Senior Member
about the only thing not stock in my 37 stake bed pickup is an electric fuel pump. the pickup has an electric fuel pump mounted on the frame about a foot from the tank. it also has the old manual pump on the engine. the electric pump went bad and i am installing a new one. the previous owner said he only used the electric pump for easier starting and only used it when starting. i have two questions. first, can the manual pump easily draw gas through the electric pump when the electric pump is not in use? second, if i happen to forget to turn the electric pump off( i am getting old) after starting, is there any possibility that the electric pump pressure (4-6 psi) could rupture the diaphram in the manual pump and let gas drain into the oil pan? thanks, jim
 
I did the same thing to our 40. The manual pulls through the electric with no problem. I solved the forgetting to turn off problem with a "momentary" toggle switch. No forgetting to turn it off now. Hope this helps. Joe
 
I hooked the electric pump thru an oil pressure swith so you have to have a small amount of oil pressure to activate the pump. Been a long time ago and I don't remember what I used but I got the parts from a racecar shop. Safety feature?
 
JBD said:
about the only thing not stock in my 37 stake bed pickup is an electric fuel pump. the pickup has an electric fuel pump mounted on the frame about a foot from the tank. it also has the old manual pump on the engine. the electric pump went bad and i am installing a new one. the previous owner said he only used the electric pump for easier starting and only used it when starting. i have two questions. first, can the manual pump easily draw gas through the electric pump when the electric pump is not in use? second, if i happen to forget to turn the electric pump off( i am getting old) after starting, is there any possibility that the electric pump pressure (4-6 psi) could rupture the diaphram in the manual pump and let gas drain into the oil pan? thanks, jim
Click to expand...
Sir stay with what you have in stad of causing your self any problems.
 
JBD said:
about the only thing not stock in my 37 stake bed pickup is an electric fuel pump. the pickup has an electric fuel pump mounted on the frame about a foot from the tank. it also has the old manual pump on the engine. the electric pump went bad and i am installing a new one. the previous owner said he only used the electric pump for easier starting and only used it when starting. i have two questions. first, can the manual pump easily draw gas through the electric pump when the electric pump is not in use? second, if i happen to forget to turn the electric pump off( i am getting old) after starting, is there any possibility that the electric pump pressure (4-6 psi) could rupture the diaphram in the manual pump and let gas drain into the oil pan? thanks, jim
Click to expand...

Hi Jim;

I have electric pumps on two of my flatheads. I have them on a "Momentary" (spring loaded) toggle switch and use them only for Priming after the car has been sitting for a few days. This system works GREAT and saves a lot of cranking when todays gas with all the alcohol in it evaporates in the float bowl.

HOWEVER, the mechanical pump will NOT pull thu all electric pumps. You need a "Clicker" or Solenoid Type Electric Pump. Airtex Makes a small inline "Clicker" Type pump that is available either thru your local Parts Store or I know Mac's has them.

Airtex Part Numbers are 6 Volt- E8011, 12 Volt - E8012S.

These WILL WORK with mechanical pumps.

Carter Pumps WILL NOT work with a mechanical pump.

Let us know how you make out.

Chris
 
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I had to have the wife blow in the gas tank after mine sat for a few days. I instaledl a new mechanical pump from speedway and things improved a little. I had another mechanical pump from Macks and I did not like the looks of the cap that goes over the push rod but i installed it. The car will sit for a winter now and it will start with no ******** or priming. When I first start the car after it has sat for a while I use the button on the bottom of the solenoid and watch the fuel bowl fill.

There were a lot of flatheads running around when I was in high school and none of them had electric fuel pumps and they all started. Maybe it is trendy to have an electric pump but I do not think they are needed.
 
STURGIS 39 - "There were a lot of flatheads running around when I was in high school and none of them had electric fuel pumps and they all started. Maybe it is trendy to have an electric pump but I do not think they are needed."

Refer to the Post above yours...
 
345 Desoto when you were in highschool we had real gasoline and all those flatheads were run everyday. Marv
 
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