Electric or Mech Fuel Pump? For a carb...

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Shainesboostin

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Whats everyones thoughts on pumps? Im new to this, from my understanding, if you keep the magnum front case/timing components on, you would obviously run a electric pump? Or, get the la style case and run a mechanical pump?

And with a electric pump, you would also use a regulator. Just wondering why people go to the trouble of swapping the case to run a Mechanical pump? Something to do with the cam?
 
You can swap the cover and still not use a mechanical (I don't)
I like that the carb has fuel the second I turn the key for on, and if you ever inadvertently run out of gas you don't have to crank the crap out of it to get fuel back up there.
The main reason to use or not use the Magnum front cover and water pump is to keep the serpentine belt system.
If you put the LA style covers and water pump on the Magnum you run a regular V belt system.
There are other cam and mechanical pump details such as needing the eccentric on the cam for the fuel pump, and those can be gotten and added (Mag cams don't have them originally)

Recirculating (or return) fuel systems are a function of EFI normally, but we can add the same type system in our cars with carburetors to keep cooler fuel available to the carb and to solve vapor lock problems from that hot fuel.
 
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Electric pumps are the way to go. Especially if you run any level of ethanol. Why anyone still runs a mechanical pump baffles me.
 
sorry, I guess I could run out and blow $300 or $400 Canadian, or more if I go with that fancy AN stuff, to solve at least one of your babbles, lol.I mean baffles lol.
I'll tell you why, I run a mechanical pump. Cuz it works. And it keeps on working for years and years and years. Mechanical pumps hardly ever just flat fail. They usually give lots of warning time. But hey, if it pukes,I can bolt another one on, 500 miles from home, with nothing more than cheap hand tools.
But that fancy electric pump is a ticking time bomb.And when it gives up, you are walking. I hate walking. I am too old to be limping along the highway. And if I can find one, 500 miles from home, I am gonna need to jack up the car high enough to get my skinnyazz under there, and prepare for a gasoline shower. I am also gonna need a safety stand and a roadside safety kit. Plus afterwards I am gonna have to rent a Motel room and take a shower. Well that leads to a couple of beers and supper, and I am already a day late for work. Lord help me if my wife came along:(
OK so I'm rambling a bit now, but you get the picture.....
My pump is 16 years old, and has over 100,000 miles on it, and remind me again how much I paid for it.I think I'm down to about $2 bucks a year.
And don't get me started on the racket some of those pumps make.
 
Electric pumps are small enough to carry a spare.
 
RustyRatRod said:
Electric pumps are the way to go. Especially if you run any level of ethanol. Why anyone still runs a mechanical pump baffles me.
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No doubt..... Add a return line to the tank and the term Vapor Lock will never enter your life....

JW
 
AJ/FormS said:
sorry, I guess I could run out and blow $300 or $400 Canadian, or more if I go with that fancy AN stuff, to solve at least one of your babbles, lol.I mean baffles lol.
I'll tell you why, I run a mechanical pump. Cuz it works. And it keeps on working for years and years and years. Mechanical pumps hardly ever just flat fail. They usually give lots of warning time. But hey, if it pukes,I can bolt another one on, 500 miles from home, with nothing more than cheap hand tools.
But that fancy electric pump is a ticking time bomb.And when it gives up, you are walking. I hate walking. I am too old to be limping along the highway. And if I can find one, 500 miles from home, I am gonna need to jack up the car high enough to get my skinnyazz under there, and prepare for a gasoline shower. I am also gonna need a safety stand and a roadside safety kit. Plus afterwards I am gonna have to rent a Motel room and take a shower. Well that leads to a couple of beers and supper, and I am already a day late for work. Lord help me if my wife came along:(
OK so I'm rambling a bit now, but you get the picture.....
My pump is 16 years old, and has over 100,000 miles on it, and remind me again how much I paid for it.I think I'm down to about $2 bucks a year.
And don't get me started on the racket some of those pumps make.
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This..Did a couple of electrical pumps,on occasion....I just don't see a need,until nitrous ,or another power is added.A good Carter street /strip pump,with a good diameter fuel line (3/8"the is nice,I have a 1/2" line,because I ran an electric pump..It do the job,wasn't worth the tradeoffs...),makes life simple. Personal experience..TO ,THE O.P...:????(Does anyone ,other than you the gear head,(know how to diagnose,a dead fuel pump?....)drive the car?
 
An in-tank OEM-type pump works best with alcohol-gas we are stuck with now. With a return system and regulator. Walbro is one brand the OEMs use a lot. How often to OEM fuel pumps fail? Almost never. Also: No vapor lock, no empty fuel bowls after sitting.
 
69_340_GTS said:
An in-tank OEM-type pump works best with alcohol-gas we are stuck with now. With a return system and regulator. Walbro is one brand the OEMs use a lot. How often to OEM fuel pumps fail? Almost never. Also: No vapor lock, no empty fuel bowls after sitting.
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Best advise so far, electric in the tank where it should be, quiet, dont fail and works just like factory. BTW all the mechanical pumps sold now are chinese and last about 2 weeks with corn fuel. The Walbro pumps we have are made in the USA!
 
magnummopar said:
Best advise so far, electric in the tank where it should be, quiet, dont fail and works just like factory. BTW all the mechanical pumps sold now are chinese and last about 2 weeks with corn fuel. The Walbro pumps we have are made in the USA!
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I have had Carter mechanical pumps fail within a few miles of installation. One just didn't pump, the other one blew oil all over a once antiseptically clean engine compartment. These were the "good" Carter "race" pumps that go for around $90. That was when the blockoff plate went on the engine and I went electric. Car runs great all the time, in any weather.
 
69_340_GTS said:
I have had Carter mechanical pumps fail within a few miles of installation. One just didn't pump, the other one blew oil all over a once antiseptically clean engine compartment. These were the "good" Carter "race" pumps that go for around $90. That was when the blockoff plate went on the engine and I went electric. Car runs great all the time, in any weather.
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if your mechanical fuel pump blows oil all over your engine, I'm thinking it wasn't hooked up to the right line

:poke:
 
diymirage said:
if your mechanical fuel pump blows oil all over your engine, I'm thinking it wasn't hooked up to the right line

:poke:
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No. Ruptured diaphram. Ran great for maybe a week. Then it cracked or tore for no obvious reason. When that happens the damn pump fills with oil and squirts it out of a bleed hole on the housing. I'm sure some oil gets mixed with the gas too, and vice-versa.
 
Our fabulous excuse for fuel now days contains corn alcohol which eats rubber and butyl which are what the diaphragms are made of. The same reason they tell you dont run it in your mower or chain saw because it will eat the rubber parts and kill it. "offroad" premium would be expensive to run in a V8 all the time. Time for injection which is impervious to corn fuel. :soapbox:
 
I would run a mechanical pump as they are simple and last a very long time, but I put an electric one on mine as i didn't want to do a cam swap or do the bolt on snout thing. But my magnum swap is just so I can drive the car while I build the 340
 
With all the ethanol, I prefer electric with a good return system.
 
you can run an electric Facet style check valve pump before a mechanical pump. Neither one will care of the other is working. Blip the electric before you crank her over, then turn off. Could run the electric solo if the mechanical one fails. My Mazda had an OEM Facet style "jiggler" that I just replaced...after 240,000 miles. I think the thing just got some crud in it as the volume was about half what it should have been.
 
The OP has a Magnum which has neither a mechanical pump "hole" nor an eccentric on the cam to run it. You can buy an adapter for mechanical FP but its a waste when electric pump works better. Best bet is get the pump in the tank where it belongs, unless you like the constant buzzing of a diaphragm type "jiggler" electric pump which will not be alcohol fuel compatible either and made in china.
 
Decided to get a holleys blue and regulator. I wanna run 3/8 aluminum line. But my sending unit is 5/16. Where can I get a 3/8 sender?
 
I modified mine to accept a pick-up tube that I fabricated.After removing the 5/16 line, I peened the hole to accept the 3/8 and soldered it in. 3/8 socks were still available at the time from the local dealer, although I bought the last two he said were available. The hardest part was reinstalling the electrical device.
 
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