Has anyone found this problem with 289 v8
 

Quick question for anyone who can help. I'm restoring a 67 bronco with a 289 v8 engine and recently needed to replace the fuel pump. Went to every auto parts store you can imagine and cannot find a fuel pump that will fit. Ended up having to send the original fuel pump to manufacture to rebuild. The question is where the fuel pumps at on the side of the block...my engine has a rod sticking out the side of it right beside the fuel pump. The new version of the mechanical fuel pump will not fit because of the rod sticking out. Actually if you look at the old fuel pump the diaphram on the top is bigger than the diaphram on the bottom and that's why it fits because the bottom diaphram is not hitting the rod. The new pump the diaphram on the top is smaller than the diaphram on the bottom...that's why the new fuel pumps won't fit because the larger bottom diaphram is hitting this rod. People are now starting to tell me that maybe the engine in the bronco is not a 289 and maybe it's a later engine. Does anyone here have a 289 engine with that rod sticking out and if they do...what is the rod that's sticking out. This has been a real pain in the poodle butt so any help would be appreciated.

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The only rod that I know of that is next to the fuel pump is for the oil pressure sending unit. The original one is hex shaped and aluminum.
Can you post any pictures?
If I remember right, the early models did use a different fuel pump with a provision for the vacuum wipers. As far as I know, the early pump should interchange with a later pump with no clearance issues. The pump assembly mounts below the pump mounting flange on the correct later pump.
Try to interchange these Carter/ Napa numbers:
'67 289 uses a M4251
'69 on 302 uses the more standard M6588.

Jason

RCrawler...thanks for the reply. Yeap your exactly right the rod is a hex shaped and I believe it is aluminum. I'll try to get some pics. Carter is the actual updated pump version and doesn't fit. Matter of fact NAPA is who I went through and it wouldn't work plus we tried autozone, advance auto, carquest...basically all their competitors plus we contracted a bronco wholesale company and they were the same. Carter revised this version in 1985 and would you believe only 5 pumps have been purchased since then. Carter now thinks they made an error and the revised pump only fits 68 and up. I'll see if I can get some pics though...man I appreciate it...none of my books specifiy what that rod is for and other 289 engines in mustangs and pickups doesn't have that rod on them.

If you still have problems i've alway's just installed an electric pump. For several reasons. Theft if you hide the turn on switch. Easy to eval if it goes out. I haven't done it yet to my wifes cause hers is still working. But i'm hiding in the bushes if she goes out.}>

Any early 289/ 302 that uses a oil pressure gauge should have that aluminum extension on it because the sending unit body will not clear the fuel pump.

There should be no difference between a 289 and 302 as far as the fuel pump is concerned. The only major block change for a standard 289 was going from a 5 bolt to a 6 bolt bellhousing pattern. I have a couple of early model 302's if you would like any measurements.

Jason

Jason...That's what we can't understand...it's the rod that's preventing the fuel pump from going on. Basically we can't get the holes to line up on the pump because the bottom diaphram keeps hitting that rod not the oil sending unit at the end of the rod. You've been a wealth of information so if possible let me ask you another question. Over the weekend a couple of buddies of mine were working on the bronco and we all have kinda come to the same agreement that this is not the orginal engine just because of certain things that wasn't hooked up or bolted on. The question is though we're not sure what size the engine is...we know it's either a 289 or 302 because of the firing order on the block but cannot find anywhere on the block as to what the size of engine is...do you know where we can look on the block to find the engine identification numbers? I appreciate it.

The engine casting #'s are at the rear of the RH cylinder bank. The engine displacement should be cast in the block between the lifter bores.

Jason

I appreciate it...yeah I actually found it lastnight under the starter. Thanks for all your help.