If I put a electric fuel pump on my 52 F1 with a 239 flathead 8 will I have to take the mechancal fuel pump off the engine? If I do have to take it off is there a plate that goes over the hole on the intake and where can I find one? What about the rod that is connected to the fuel pump does it just pull out and that is all I have to do or is there other things I need to do like put a fuel reducer on before the carb? Will the electric fuel pump mess up the mechancal one if I keep it hooked up and have the gas go through it too. I have trouble with the fuel running back into the tank from the fuel line and have to crank and crank till fuel gets back up to carb before she will start.
Thanks for the replys,
Larry Brauer

 

If I were to put in an electric fuel pump I would remove the old mechanical fuel pump (& rod). There are cover plates to replace the pump. (Granted I don't have flathead experience. This is talking in general based off of a standard small block Ford.) When you put on the electric fuel pump you need to make sure to also install a pressure regulator.

I'm sure more people will chime in with more info. in regards to the flatty...

 

Lots of guys put electric pumps on there flatheads along with the stock pump using a toggle switch to turn it off and on. They use the electric one to "prime" the carb, then turn it off and let the stock pump run the engine. Or you could bypass the old pump and just leave it on there. If you remove the stock pump and pushrod, you have to plug the hole the rod rides in or oil will spray all over in the valve chamber.
As said, you need to run a pressure regulator either way if you have a stock carb.

I run an electric pump only...seems to work fine. So far.

 

build a plate !!! Take the pump off and trace the shape on a plate drill two holes and use some form a gasket.

 

That isn't necessary on 8BA/8RT engines, that was only needed on earlier 59-series engines.

 

Thanks for all the information guys I will get a switch to cut it off and on that sounds to be the easy way out for the fix. Can anyone explain why the gas leaves the filter and goes back into the tank? Could it be that my gas cap is letting air into the tank.
Thanks,
Larrry

 

Larry, if the fuel is truly running back into the tank, then your fuel pump has bad check valves, or you have a leak in the fuel line somewhere ahead of the pump inlet. The glass bowl gasket would be a prime suspect. Much easier to fix that than to add an electric pump. Check all the rubber hose from the firewall to the fuel pump for cracks and tight clamps. Make sure the connection to the tank valve isn't leaking.

 

I have checked the lines and they are all good without any leaks I also thought it might be the bowl on the pump but it to is not leaking. I went ahead and put an electric fuel pump and a switch that operates it. I only have to turn it on for about 3 seconds and there is fuel up to the carb and truck starts good now. I guess it might be the mechancal fuel pump as you said bad check valves but I just replaced it oh about a year and a half ago with a new one. Just can't see where the gas is going to. No leaks and no drips on the concrete floor. Anyhow It is fixed now.
Thanks for all of ya'lls replies you guys are great,
Larry Brauer

 

I run an electrical fuel pump with an on/off switch and the original mechanical pump still in place. The e-pump is used to prime when needed.

 

If the check valves in a mechancal pump are bad will it let gas go into the engine oil? I have never taken a pump a part so I was just wondering. I thought that I read that somewhere but can't remember where. May be my mistake but I don't want that to happen if it is a possibilty.
Thanks.
Larry

 

No, only if the diaphragm is split.