Any recommendations on where/which to buy a fuel pump for my '79 400 where I have the best chance of not just getting junk new in the box? I haven't been impressed with the quality of lots of replacement parts in current times. That being said, I also, probably don't have money for fancy billet hot rod parts either. Is it possible to just buy a reasonable quality, reliable middle of the road part?

 

Short answer is no
No good American made parts around much anymore
Cheap Chinese is the norm
Your 400 not real common so you might be able to find an new old stock Airtex or Carter if you check ebay
I usually just do the lifetime junk from checkerpepzone and just hope for the best

 

So I bought one from the a local parts store.I was expecting it to be pretty simple, two bolts, two hoses/lines. I just went and tried to start working on it and immediately have a problem. This may be a dumb question, but is the fitting for the hose to the left in my picture supposed to spin? It doesn't want to spin without a lot of force. The one on my new fuel pump won't spin at all and is tacked or has a blob of zinc coating holding it in place.

So I guess my question is, what is the process for unhooking the left side fitting in my picture? Put a wrench on it and make that sucker move? Or, disconnect the other end, take the pump out of the engine bay and unscrew it by spinning the whole pump off the fuel line.

 

You need to hold the fitting on the fuel pump, under that cloth should be the fitting on the fuel line unscrew that.

 

Thanks for being polite while telling me I'm missing the obvious. I was able to get it replaced with your help. I had to pull it out with the fuel line attached because that nut is rounded and slips in my wrench, but I got it out. Separated, them, installed the new pump and screwed the line back in. Now I'll see if my rig runs any better or if the work was for nothing.

 

Well, any better?

I've never had poor running due to a bad mechanical fuel pump. My experience has been they are fine or if bad, they just don't pump enough to run the needs of the engine. Fuel filter clogged by trash will sure screw up running though.

 

Runs pretty much the same as before. Maybe starts in a crank or two less after sitting for a few days. I was suspicious that something was letting fuel lose pressure when sitting for a while. But now that I think about that it should have enough fuel in carb for that anyway, so maybe it's all in my mind. So, yeah, like expected runs the same as with the other pump, though I guess I haven't done any long high throttle opening runs like going over the pass since changing it.

Next thing to test I guess is see if my cat is toast and restricting things. I'll have to decide if I'm going to just unhook it my exhaust at the y pipe and run down the road or take it to a shop and pay them to swap parts.One way is cheaper but has more risk of a ticket, the other is more cash, but I need things replaced at least from the muffler back anyway since the last couple feet of exhaust is falling off.