This might be the dumbest question of all times, but I only ask it because I don't know the Ford V8's as well as I do Chevy's ( ducks for flying tomatos )

I've asked before about intake combo's and such for this 5.0 HO I'm putting in my truck, and I noticed that a couple people had mentioned installing a fuel pressure regulator to take down the pressure at the carb. I started looking around at various setups, pumps, regulators etc., then I was wondering.

Instead of using the in tank pump, or an external pump like I had contemplated, why can't I just remove the blockoff plate and install a mechanical pump in it's place ? I wasn't sure if maybe with the FI and roller cam that maybe there wasn't a lobe on the cam to run a mechanical fuel pump or if there is a special pump rod that you have to use. I know converting a 350 with a roller cam, you have to use a brass tipped rod to run along the cam. I was curious if this was the same or if there is something different.

Again, thanks for all the insight and help, Everyone.

 

Let me put in 2 cents worth to get your question back to the top of the list. The fuel pump rod you mention is a peculiarity to chevy V-8's. (I can call it a peculiarity in these forums with little fear of flying tomatos.) Most engines have the lever on the pump ride directly on the fuel pump cam lobe. You are right to wonder about the presence of a lobe on your FI engine (assuming I understand what you are working with) and I do not know the answer. You can wait for a reply or pull the cover plate and look in with a light and perhaps a mirror. If your 5.0 is like earlier 302's I am familiar with the fuel pump cam bolts onto the front of the cam ahead forward of the cam sprocket. They may not bother to install one on later engines with pumps in the tank. If this is so, you could remove the timing chain cover and perhaps install one, but it is not worth the trouble.

If you already have a pump in the tank, a regulator will probably be cheaper and less trouble than a fuel pump. If not an in-line electric pump is still worth considering.

 

My '86 EFI 302 (speed density) had the fuel pump cam lobe to run a pump, but the timing chain cover had no hole. Strangely it DID have threaded bolt holes to attach a pump and it also had a hollow where the hole would have been, It just didn't go all the way through.

 

If the cover is as described, it would be little trouble to drill through a few holes out in the middle and then file out to the outline of the depression, checking with a fuel pump gasket to be careful. OF COURSE the cover would have to be removed from the engine to avoid getting filings in the crankcase and you could check for a cam and install one if necessary.

If you had the engine apart anyway this would make sense. I like manual fuel pumps and would do this myself because I am old fashioned. If you abandon using the tank pump, you will have to disconnect it AND provide some way to get the gasoline out. (You might be able to just pull it through the pump, but I have no experience in this system.) Using a regulator is still probably easiest.

 

Well for starters, what year truck is this going into. If it has a frame mounted fuel pump, then it has a dual stage system with a low pressure pump in the tank, and a high presure pump on the frame. You could just remove the frame mounted pump and use the intank pump to supply the carb.. I don't think it gives more than 15psi.