I have an older vehicle that I like to keep original. It has a mechanical fuel pump and carb. Since I don't drive it often, I have to either crank it forever (causing excess bearing wear) or prime it by pouring a small amount of gas down the carb (washes out the rings and dillutes the oil) if it sits for a week or more.
I was thinking about installing an electric fuel pump with a momentary on off switch just to prime the fuel line and carb. My question is, will a mechanical fuel pump pull fuel through and electric fuel pump?
I guess the simplest way would be to run an electric pump permantently, but then, I'd probably have to upgrade my alternator, run a relay, and fuel pressure regulator as well. Anyone have a simpler (more original looking) ideas? Thanks.

 

On my 82 460 I pull fuel through two (one at a time) not running electric fuel pump with the mechanical fuel pump and carb. all the time.
I only turn on the electric fuel pumps to prime it before starting or on steep mountain roads at high elevations when its hot.

 

That's exactly what I was wondering. Are your electric pumps gear or piston type pumps? Thanks.

 

I have two tanks, the front one I replaced with a tank out of an 88 Ford van so it is stock Low pressure in-tank pump and the rear tanks pump is mounted on the frame and is a Borg Warner brand pump. They both feed the selector valve and then the fuel line goes to the engine-mounted pump.
I never gave any thought to if they were gear or piston type pumps. But I will see if I can find out and if I find out I get back with you.

 

They are vane pumps.

 

Thanks for the info everyone. I appreciate it.

 

ERROR ABOVE.

The pump on the frame was not a Borg Warner brand pump, it was a Federal-Mogul Carter Fuel Pump, Stock Number P74019.

Sorry about that.