Primary fuel pump

47 flatbed

47 flatbed

Senior Member
I have an electric fuel pump set up on my 47 59ab. Have burned up 2 pumps in last 3 years. I searched for gallons per hour needed to run this 97 carb, seems like everything is pressure related not flow rate. I have pressure set at 2.5. But was curious how many gph was really needed the first two pumps were 30gph. I stepped up to a summit pump that is close to 90gph. Engine is basically stock mild cam. Darn pump is just too loud and wondering I could step down some. Since summit is 5 mnts from my house this is an easy swap. Thanks everyone :confused:
 
Maybe I'm oversimplifying this but if you were driving 60 mph and got 15 mpg wouldn't you only need 4 gph? But there is probably some complex formula that says I'm wrong.
 
Fibber Mcgee said:
Maybe I'm oversimplifying this but if you were driving 60 mph and got 15 mpg wouldn't you only need 4 gph? But there is probably some complex formula that says I'm wrong.
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You are right about that. GPH is not critical. And pressure can't be over 3.5 psi.
 
how about a stock mechanical pump, that is what I run on my pickup. I just replaced it about a month ago. the one that was on there was older then me
 
Ken CT can supply a good fuel pump. The stock pumps run real good when you buy a good one. When I see an electric pump on a flathead, I think a lazy parts man or bad parts supplier or a trendy buyer

Your electric pumps are probably burning up because they need flow for cooling. This is just my guess and I could be wrong. There was an old mechanic in town that use to test fuel pump flow. He had a pop bottle and would time the filling of the pop bottle. This was a long time ago and I do not remember what he told me.

Just a rough guess but you probably get 15 miles per gallon. If you drive at 50 miles per hour you would use 50/15= 3.33 gal/hr. Yep you better see if summit sells a 120 gph pump. Just kidding.
 
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I've had both good and bad rebuilt OEM fuel pumps from several rebuilders/suppliers and my luck runs about 50/50 :eek: however, I went through four "rebuilt" pumps in a month on our '51 F-1...:mad: I installed an electric fuel pump and a pressure regulator and I've not been stuck on the side of the road yet... ;) and that install was three years ago. :D Nothing lazy about not wanting (or having) to change manual fuel pumps on the side of the road... been there, done that, too many times...
 
Vic, changing a pump on a flat head on the road side is fun. Half hour of work and you meet a lot of people. I had a bad pump and had to have somebody blow into the tank to get it primed. Mrs Sturgis refused to blow in the tank and made some kind of sexual comment. I ended up changing the pump when it would not start in the parking lot of a strip bar. Did not have the nerve to call for help. I have never had a bad breakdown but I am never in a rush. I look at driving an old Ford as relaxing and if it stops for some reason it is not the end of the world.

Vic, An original equipment pump is probably not going to last long with ethanol fuel, This is just another guess on my part.
 
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sturgis39 said:
Vic, changing a pump on a flat head on the road side is fun. Half hour of work and you meet a lot of people. I had a bad pump and had to have somebody blow into the tank to get it primed. Mrs Sturgis refused to blow in the tank and made some kind of sexual comment. I ended up changing the pump when it would not start in the parking lot of a strip bar. Did not have the nerve to call for help. I have never had a bad breakdown but I am never in a rush. I look at driving an old Ford as relaxing and if it stops for some reason it is not the end of the world.

Vic, An original equipment pump is probably not going to last long with ethanol fuel, This is just another guess on my part.
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I've been driving Flatheads for almost 50 years:eek:, and I've changed my share of fuel pumps:( and, while I never considered it "the end of the world" I never considered it "fun" either,;) especially when it takes place on the narrow shoulder of a busy highway in the middle of the night... I should mention that I use our Flatheads for more than just “Sunday drivers”, I routinely take them on extended road trips. :):cool:

Several of the rebuilt OEM pumps I mentioned were allegedly rebuilt with the "new and improved" rubber that is said to be impervious the ethanol...:confused: That said, I’m still running manual fuel pumps on several of our Flatheads, only the ’47 Convertible and the ’51 F-1 are running electric. You can bet that I’ve got at least two extra manual fuel pumps in the trunk whenever I take one of the (cars/trucks that run manual pumps) out for a drive.:cool:
 
Vic Piano said:
I've been driving Flatheads for almost 50 years:eek:, and I've changed my share of fuel pumps:( and, while I never considered it "the end of the world" I never considered it "fun" either,;) especially when it takes place on the narrow shoulder of a busy highway in the middle of the night... I should mention that I use our Flatheads for more than just “Sunday drivers”, I routinely take them on extended road trips. :):cool:

Several of the rebuilt OEM pumps I mentioned were allegedly rebuilt with the "new and improved" rubber that is said to be impervious the ethanol...:confused: That said, I’m still running manual fuel pumps on several of our Flatheads, only the ’47 Convertible and the ’51 F-1 are running electric. You can bet that I’ve got at least two extra manual fuel pumps in the trunk whenever I take one of the (cars/trucks that run manual pumps) out for a drive.:cool:
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Vic

How old are you? Just kidding. The main thing is we both love flatheads. Some days I fell like I am 50 and other days I feel like I am 75.
 
How old are you? Just kidding. The main thing is we both love flatheads. Some days I fell like I am 50 and other days I feel like I am 75.

I'm 63, going on 17 :eek::D Got my first Flathead (a '48 Ford TuDor Sedan) in 1965, when I was 16. :cool:
 
Blue..... don't buy one from Mr Gasket. I went through two of them. Leaked like hell after a month. Bought a Holly from Summit with pressure gauge and its been running over a year now at 1.5 psi. Send me you're email and I'll send pics of my set up.

Mike
 
I think that the Airtex electric pumps are the best for the flatheads as they can be used in conjunction with the manual pump. Just my 2 cents. Available in both 6 & 12 volt.
Gary.
 
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