It’s dust off time after a long winter here. We had a couple warm sunny days 10 days ago and the salt had been washed off the roads so I took a short ride around the neighborhood. It was good for the 54 and me. Last fall I saw that the fuel pump looked a bit wet. It was oil not gasoline. I assumed the gasket between the block and pump was the cause. Yesterday I changed the motor oil in the 223 six. While under the truck I checked out the fuel pump and the leak doesn’t seem to be from the gasket area. After doing some research online apparently these cam driven pumps have a history of this. There are many reports of short lived failures. This was already the second new pump purchased. The first pump was installed during the engine rebuild early on in the restoration. It failed (leaked gas), before the restoration was done. I just ordered pump number three, a carter this time.

 

I had a similar experience with napa fuel pumps on a 390, 2 different pumps both failed after a few hundred miles by squirting engine oil out the vent hole.
after the second failure I switched to a edelbrock pump which was pricey but it has worked great for 2 years.

I think it is just that the quality of parts is not what it was.

 

If one has the original OEM pump, do not shiat can or core.

They can be rebuilt and upgraded.

New pumps are junk, plain and simple.

 

I had exactly the same thing happen on my 223! I went through 3 pumps including a stock pump. I have a thread on it somewhere but it just seemed so implausible that I would have multiple failures and I kept looking for other issues. Mine couldnt make it up a hill and would bog out as I approached 55 mph. Once I got a working pump on everything is good.

 

I have been through 3-4 fuel pumps in the last year, my last one leaked so much oil I had to apologize to anyone I visited. I recently switched to an electric pump but it has it's own teething issues as well--but no oil leaks.

I turned my failed mechanical pump in for a free warranty replacement and stashed it under the seat just in case.

 

IMO
Having to use methanol laced gasoline and the dismal quailty of replacement parts nowadays, it would be best to convert to an electric pump setup.

 

I don’t know if the first pump was the original but it’s long gone. Fortunately I’m able to get non ethanol gas in nearby New York state. It’s all this truck has used under my ownership. If this trend continues, I will switch to an electric pump.

 

Get your old pump rebuilt by someone like Cowboy John. I had an original style pump with glass bowl I sent to him. He sent it back looking great with ethanol proof rubber. Google his name and you'll find his contact info.

 

I have never had good luck with electric pumps mounted outside the fuel tank.
If i were going to use a electric I would use a regulator with a return line because with a deadhead regulator the pump is going to be working under full load all the time and get hot and I would carry a spare.

 

Thanks Ishort. If it comes to that I will do the research to try getting it right the first time. My tank has a bung for a return line. Unused right now.