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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 10:50 AM
  #1  
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Fuel pump

OK I have a ford 73 rebuilt 390 with everything rebuilt on it, and I am wondering, does anyone have problems with the mechanical fuel pumps? I have a new one with about 1000 miles on it and a while back I was going along, my truck started cutting out and died. Didnt think anything of it took about 10 minutes to start it and it was fine for a week. Yesterday the same thing happened looked in the carb and there was no gas. Took the canister off the pump and there was gas in that and poured it in the carb and made it all the way back to town about 5 miles. it happened again and there was no gas in the canister. New filters, and if i blow through the fuel line i hear bubbles. it has like half a tank. Seat in pin is good, carb is rebuilt.

My question is has anyone else had a problem with a new fuel pump? It works perfect when it does, but if it is not the fuel pump i dont know what els to check.
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 11:10 AM
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Originally Posted by Boodrow379
OK I have a ford 73 rebuilt 390 with everything rebuilt on it, and I am wondering, does anyone have problems with the mechanical fuel pumps? I have a new one with about 1000 miles on it and a while back I was going along, my truck started cutting out and died. Didnt think anything of it took about 10 minutes to start it and it was fine for a week. Yesterday the same thing happened looked in the carb and there was no gas. Took the canister off the pump and there was gas in that and poured it in the carb and made it all the way back to town about 5 miles. it happened again and there was no gas in the canister. New filters, and if i blow through the fuel line i hear bubbles. it has like half a tank. Seat in pin is good, carb is rebuilt.

My question is has anyone else had a problem with a new fuel pump? It works perfect when it does, but if it is not the fuel pump i dont know what els to check.
By chance do you have dual tanks? I had what I thought were fuel pump issues that turned out to be the selector valve. The gage would switch but the fuel source stayed on the main tank.
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 11:16 AM
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just replaced the "NEW" fuel pump I bought at an un-named chain parts store for my 79 460....after a month it started drawing airbubbles from somewhere and starving the bowls....replaced ALL fuel lines and connections from the tank to motor but still had air bubbles in my see thru fuel filter. When I shut off the truck, fuel ran back into and THRU the pump into the clear filter filling it back up...under pump draw, it would only trickle in after a month of use. Worked fine initially. Replaced it with a electric and a pressure regulator and haven't had an issue since (althought that was only a week ago)

especially check the line right where it goes in the tank...mine crumbled apart in my hand when I first grabbed it
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 11:56 AM
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I haven't heard of issues with a mechanical pump.
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by 9thPony
By chance do you have dual tanks? I had what I thought were fuel pump issues that turned out to be the selector valve. The gage would switch but the fuel source stayed on the main tank.
Yes I have a dual tanks, but it is not the selector, I checked it. Thank you for the reply
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 12:09 PM
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Originally Posted by KentuckyRifle
just replaced the "NEW" fuel pump I bought at an un-named chain parts store for my 79 460....after a month it started drawing airbubbles from somewhere and starving the bowls....replaced ALL fuel lines and connections from the tank to motor but still had air bubbles in my see thru fuel filter. When I shut off the truck, fuel ran back into and THRU the pump into the clear filter filling it back up...under pump draw, it would only trickle in after a month of use. Worked fine initially. Replaced it with a electric and a pressure regulator and haven't had an issue since (althought that was only a week ago)

especially check the line right where it goes in the tank...mine crumbled apart in my hand when I first grabbed it
Must be the pump.. I have all new fuel lines
 
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Old Aug 7, 2013 | 12:15 PM
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vapor lock will also cause fuel problems especially on fuel pumps where the metal lines are so close to the block like a Ford....newer fuels have lower octanes and I have been told the new formulation also lowers the boiling point for fuel making vapor lock more prevelant. We don't notice it much anymore because fuel injection systems just about eliminate possibility of vapor lock due to high fuel pressures

first thing I would check though is the lines and all connections to make sure you aren't drawing air from a loose clamp or a cracked rubber hose. even steel lines can vibrate and wear a pinhole in them over time...if the connections are sound up to the pump, then I would guess its the pump considering parts these days sourced from China are almost worthless IMO and a lot of auto part stores carry Chinese parts

edit: to say nvmnd about checking the lines....saw yer above post so that's not the issue
 
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Old Aug 11, 2013 | 03:20 PM
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Thank you for the replys everyone, but it was the fuel pump after all, put in a new one and it started right up and has been fine since
 
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Old Aug 11, 2013 | 03:43 PM
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Did you get a different brand ? You may have been buying new China junk all along . I haven't had any problems with the last two i bought about a year ago. The same pump works on the old 292 Y-block in my 56 and it's working good. They came from NAPA.
 
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Old Aug 11, 2013 | 05:11 PM
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Edelbrock mechanical fuel pumps aren't cheap. I have been running one for two years with no issues. You have to pay now for components that aren't rebuilt in china bull s?$t they sell at parts stores now. If at all possible buy made in America new parts.

It's a good idea to insulate the metal fuel pump to carb line as well. I used a thermo tech insualtion sleeve. No issues with vapor lock in triple digit heat.
 
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