Mechanical fuel pump

fftoddster

fftoddster

Senior Member
Are the different style pumps interchangeable?

I am not going for 100 % original here so that does not matter.
I have the pump with the glass bowl. Napa sells the other style but they are currently not available from what they tell me.

Also are all the new ones from the various old Ford parts venders compatible with todays fuels?
Am I better off with a new pump or kit to rebuild mine? Or get a new one and rebuild mine for a spare?

I cannot get any locally at the moment but did get the Airtex 6 volt elect. to mount by tank (was planning on doing this anyway for when vehicle sits, to prime the carb)
 
They will interchange but the clocking of the line connections might be different.The top can be rotated.You can get good kits from the vendors and rebuild yours.If you buy an old stock pump you should replace the diaphragm anyway. I prefer the ones with glass bowls so you can quickly tell if pump is working.
 
Send it to CharlieNY for a rebuild. The best in the business and quick turnaround.
John
 
Last edited:
If you are planning to install the electric fuel pump, you can make it the primary pump, gut the OEM pump (turn it into a pass through)and retain the original look under the hood. I have done this on a number of our Flatheads. The benefits of using the electric fuel pump as the primary are multiple, including delivering constant fuel pressure to the carburetor, virtual elimination of the dreaded Vapor Lock, and in some cases, added fuel economy. When I do this conversion I also install a fuel pressure regulator (set to 2.5 lbs) and a remote "kill Switch" located in an easily accessible spot under the dashboard. I also leave the manual fuel pump push rod in the block. I posted the OEM fuel pump conversion to a "pass through" on my thread (What I did on my Lunch Hour) if you are interested.
 
upon looking further it looks like the ones with the glass bowls are from the latter 47-48
Fords?
Airtex 571 That one I can get in a day.

Hope this is correct and will work with the '37 (appears to be what is currently in car)
 
Yes that Airtex will work just fine.Make sure its output is 2.5 lbs or less or you will need a regulator.
 
Last edited:
If you want to keep you mech pump this (Vic's response) is the way to go. Very few drive their cars more than Vic.

If you don't care, you can block off the mech with a plate and just use the airtex. Still highly advise cutoff switch.
 
A resource for rebuilt mechanical pumps is Charlie NY here. He rebuilds with proper components and set me up with a spare to keep in my trunk.

In my '47 I use my stock mechanical as primary and an Airtex as a carb primer and back up. I've never had a problem with vapor lock but I also don't live in a hot climate (yet).
 
I prefer to use the '47-'48 glass bowl fuel pumps on my '35 driver because you can put a filter in the glass bowl rather than having a seperate one externally visable somewhere in the engine compartment gas line. Also, as someone else mentioned, if you buy one of the new replacement pumps, make sure the fuel pressure going to the carburator is not too high.
The only thing I dislike about using the later glass bowl FP's on my car is the fact that the glass bowl is very close to the heat of the intake manifold, and the engine itself, which can and has contributed to vapor lock issues on my car at times.
 
I have a glass bowl FP style on mine. Are you saying you can put a filter in the bowl? Is it a special type of filter or just find something that fits? I would like to do this on mine because at present I have no filter, (except the screen in the pump). Thanks, Doug.
 
My '50 flathead had a ceramic filter in the bowl, all I see now is paper replacements, not sure if anyone makes the stone type filters anymore.
 
I've seen cross reference for a wix and Napa equivalents to the Mac's type filter also.
Napa gold 3039
Wix 33038
 
1934 said:
Thanks, found it in the Mac's catalog. This is a great idea!
Doug.
Click to expand...
The one you found in MAC's is a 80s four cylinder ford filter. I had a few left over from my sons EXP and have been using them on a number of carbs.. I have one on my 53 Merc. fuel pump now. It has a 1/8 " NPT male thread on the out end and the 1/4 fuel line female end. It may be cheaper and easier to get at your local Parts supplier. JMHO
 
Guys:
The Airtec 571 is a mechanical glass-bowl replacement type pump. Autozone has.
( Not sure how alcohol resistant the diaphragm may be)

Some seem to refer to "Airtec" as only electric.

fftoddster;
Good advice here--especially check for too high pressure --others have used
an old lower pressure pump spring.
Choices! All fun! Where are you located?

Gene Tulsa
 
Last edited:
Dont' use a mechanical pump for an 8BA V8 though. They have a different mounting flange that will not fit the pre 49 fuel pump stands. I found out the hard way when I ordered a Carter pump from Summit.. an expensive exercise when ordering from overseas. I was lucky to be able to swap it with someone who wanted an 8BA type for brand new Airtex pump that was the correct one for my 48.


GB
 
G32 said:
Guys:
The Airtec 571 is a mechanical glass-bowl replacement type pump. Autozone has.
( Not sure how alcohol resistant the diaphragm may be)

Some seem to refer to "Airtec" as only electric.

fftoddster;
Good advice here--especially check for too high pressure --others have used
an old lower pressure pump spring.
Choices! All fun! Where are you located?

Gene Tulsa
Click to expand...

I am in Huntington Beach CA

Surprising not a lot of quality auto parts stores left and much fewer knowledgeable countermen/persons.

The Airtex 571 mechanical pump is for the 47-48 fords so I would think that they are still designed for the lower pressures?

Any way I got it and put it on and seems to work like a champ.
 
These are the filters I used in the original type '47-'48 glass bowl fuel pumps that I rebuilt for my cars about 6 to 8 years ago. Since then, other filters have been identified that work as well and some apparently better than these. Doing a search here may turn up some posts that give the manufacturer's names and their part numbers for these other possibilities
 

Attachments

  • attachment-6 (2).jpeg
    attachment-6 (2).jpeg
    43.7 KB · Views: 79
  • attachment-4 (1).jpeg
    attachment-4 (1).jpeg
    50.3 KB · Views: 67
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top