My electric fuel pump is slowly dying...

Y-Blockhead

Y-Blockhead

Well-known member
My electric fuel pump is slowly dying (Unipulse I think) and so I got a new Airtex E8016S Electric Fuel Pump and I was thinking about wiring in a relay to the pump so full amperage doesn’t go through the ignition switch and fuse block. Currently it is wired without a relay.

I don’t think the fuel pump pulls too many amps (~5a) but since it is running almost constantly I got to thinking it my not be so good for the ignition switch along with all the other accessories.

I am also wiring in an Inertia Switch so the pump will shut off in case something bad happens.

Sounds like I have my mind made up but just wanted some opinions.

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ALWAYS run a relay with an electric pump,you may have gotten lucky the first time around.This is a good unit: http://www.amazon.com/Painless-Wiring-50102-Fuel-Relay/dp/B00062Z5G6/?tag=atomicindus08-20 You might want to print it and go to your local Autozone and order it get a price match and they can get it from their warehouse and you also save on shipping.Don't forget Autozone and O'Reilly's honor Vets and Military with a 10% discount.This is a good article on relays http://www.watsons-streetworks.com/current_topic.html ,I used the 70 amp unit on my Ford's ignition switch since I added A/C,stereo and electric fan and also relays for the lighting upgrades,big improvement on the headlights!
 
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You may want to check out the fuel pressure output of the E8016S. I just put an Airtex on my '54 and it was the low pressure one (2.5 P.S.I) but i forget the model number. I don't think any of the 50's carbs like much over that. Good luck : Bruce
 
Bruce, Thanks. Yes that's why I selected this one 2.5-4 psi output. I'm running Strombergs, don't like too much pressure. I have a regulator set a ~3 psi now.
 
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Jeff, Yeah I was leaning in that direction, just getting lazy, but really shouldn't be that much more work.
Here's a circuit I drew up to put in my "Manual" for the car that I keep for mods I make so WHEN (notice I didn't say IF) I forget something I can look it up and refresh the brain cells. Also to keep ideas from others I may want to do.

Drawing incomplete, still have to add circuit protection.
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I thought about a low oil pressure cutout switch but opted for an inertia switch instead. No guarantees the engine will shut off in an accident. Maybe I should go for overkill and install both :eek:

And as I wrote in the last post "Drawing incomplete, still have to add circuit protection." I have since included a fuse from the ignition switch to the relay and a circuit breaker from the relay to the fuel pump.

Thanks for the suggestions.
 
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