R & R Fuel Pump?

Anteek29

Anteek29

Well-known member
On my Vic the little accessory fuel pump inline from the tank to the main fuel pump has failed and I want to replace it with a new one. Will I have a problem with significant gas flow once I cut the rubber hoses and open the line? Siphon gas from tank? Don't know what to expect. :confused:
 
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Yes it will try to go everywhere. Depends in the size of the line you're cutting, how much lower the open fuel line is than the fuel tank and how full the tank is. A good sized drain pan may be helpful.... along with a bolt or similar of an appropriate size to stuff into the open end of the hose.

If you can easily siphon the tank into gas cans that will help. If the rubber fuel line is fairly new you can crimp it shut with vice-grips. But that may tend to split the rubber and you'll be back in the same boat, needing to replace the rubber hose while fuel runs out.
Unless the '55 Vic has an outside-air fuel tank vent, removing the gas cap and covering the filler neck opening with a layer of tape may slow down the flow of fuel coming out. (Don't leave the tape in place more than 30 minutes or it can make a sticky mess.)

Adequate ventilation and an easy to reach fire extinguisher are important too.
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If I were doing this, I would open the drain plug in the bottom of the fuel tank into a super clean oil-change basin. Use two basins and switch to the empty basin when one is full enough to empty into a gas can. Repeat until gas tank is empty.
Keep an empty basin under the car for when you disconnect the metal fuel line tubing, as you are likely to spill some out of the line.
 
The saftest this is to siphon the tank or if it has a drain plug drain the fuel out.

My neighbor was under his '40 Ford convertible and pulled that hose. The fuel hit the hot incandescent drop light and it burst into flames. It sent him to the hospital with bad burns. The fuel just kept coming out and spreading the fire

Do it outside where you can get away from it if you have an accident. Throw those old-style droplights in the trash. I was a mechanic and we had special plyers made for crimping off hoses for situations like this. You probably want to replace the hose anyway so it would be best to just drain the tank and replace the hose too. Buy a hose rated for fuel injection, it is superior hose that will last years longer than the old rubber hoses for carburetors.

If you are replacing an auxiliary electric fuel pump that is only there to prime the engine you need to be aware there are two kinds of pumps; one which shuts off in the closed position to hold fuel in the line between the pump and engine. Then there are pumps that remain open in the off position. You want the one that remains open so the mechanical fuel pump will still be able to pull fuel through the pump when it is off.
 
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