1957 T bird new fuel pump problems!!

D

dan ia

Junior Member
Good morning,

We have a 1957 thunderbird with 312 and holley 4 barrel in our shop. The fuel pump was leaking through the 2 holes on the side (I'm guessing its a bypass of sorts?), we got a new fuel pump from NAPA and sent the old one in for a core (Mistake)... put the new fuel pump on and it won't get gas up to the carb, it just starves the motor. We tried priming the pump and running the car for 2 minutes and it still will not get gas up to the carb.

We figured maybe its just a bad aftermarket pump, so got another fuel pump from carquest. Same results! Both pumps are installed correctly on the cam lobe. When we put them on the bench, they both have good vacuum and push out, but the arm has to have full travel in order to push air out... Is it possible that the arms are incorrect and not getting the travel needed to work properly?? We are kind of stumped right now, so hoping someone else has run into this and can shed some light on the situation. I really don't want to have to put a electric pump on just to get around this problem!

Thanks!!
 
My first guess would be that they are giving you pumps for the wrong application. It sounds like it works on the bench and the original you removed worked well. it just leaked (sign of a bad diaphragm). Might want to check the oil for gas contamination too, depending on how long it was leaking.


Sal
 
I definitely would get back with NAPA and get the core back. If an early style, it can be rebuilt. At the least be able to compare the actuating arms.
 
The pumps show it should be for the correct application. We are going to try one last time ordering a new one. We did call NAPA, they already sent the core in... so it's long gone.
 
Order a pump from the TBird parts suppliers. Are you sure you are getting the arm on the correct side of the eccentric (underneath)
 
I can't remember the particulars, because it was about 50 years ago. My oldest brother gave me a 58 Mercury with a 383 in it, and it didn't run well. IIRC, the fuel pump was in front, on top. The push rod had gotten worn down, and the guy at the gas station brazed a lump on the end of the arm on the pump to get it to work.
 
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