Getting frustrated.... Broke again

[Subfixer]

For those who read my posts last week, I had to do a quick fuel pump replacement last Wednesday so I could make the run to Carlisle on Thursday. The car ran great and made it 700 miles round trip without a hiccup. When I got home this past Monday evening, I put the car back into the garage and it sat there until this morning.

It was a nice day today, so I figured I'd take the Vette to work.... I got 200yds from my driveway and it died again. Pulled the air cleaner and again, no gas. Left it at the end of my street and took the truck to work. Came home for lunch and tried to start it. Started right up, but within 30 seconds, it ran out of gas in the carb again.

I haven't done any troubleshooting yet as I am back at work, but Da*n! I can't believe I cooked another fuel pump. The pivot pin is still there this time, so that isn't it. Last Wednesday, I had a full 7lbs fuel pressure with this pump. I even checked the rod travel and straightness when I did the swap since those problems were posted last week also.

Other than putting in an electric pump which I know I'll get suggestions for, where the heck can I get a fuel pump that will last more than a few days? Both failed pumps are AC's.

 

[Gerry]

I have always used Holleys but the engine builder (Shafiroff) told me to use the Edlebrock fuel system which included pump $95.31, regulator kit $119.58, spcl tip pushrod $11.50 etc. They believed it to be the best on the market. For what its worth so far so good. Good luck.

Best regards,
Gerry

 

[BarryK]

damn, that sucks Paul. At least it waited until you returned from Carlisle before she gave out on you. would NOT have been fun to have been stranded on the side of the road halfway home.

Sorry I can't help you with any suggestions, but than did you really think that of all people I'D be able to?
I have confidence that you will figure it out though and get it fixed for good.

 

[JL66REDCPE]

Paul - I left comments at the other place

 

[IH2LOSE]

Sorry for your troubles.But if you look at things as I do your lucky it happned at the end of your block and not on your way home from Carlilse.
PS a pleasure meeting you and think your an excellent mecanic if I allready did not say it for the work you did in rebuilding your car.

Now onto your problem. Your first pump had to be a fluke the pin coming out. and I would just chalk it up as a bad pump. I will be interested in knowing if your secound pump actually is bad.

Check all of the other stuff as in do you have gas? do you have good soft lines on the suction side of the pump,do you have gas at the inlet side of the pump. If your secound pump is bad I would certainly say your luck is as good as mine.


If you lost a pump again related to the pin or the plunger I would look into the lenght of the rod or the excentric thing on the cam.

Best of luck

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Dam Paul....

WTF.???? Something ain't right their...!! Souns like a John Z Thing to me. That pump should run a long time.... There's gotta be something that's causing the fuel starvation.

Is your Fuel line New....What about the fuel Filter..??? Do you have a pre filter at the tank end and is it a non restrivtive filter..??? Maybe you have a restriction somewhere in the fuel system...Bummer ...

Keep us posted..

 

[Subfixer]

During the rebuild this past spring, I replaced the tank, fuel pickup screen, all rubber lines and new stainless fuel line. In the last week, I've replaced the fuel filter and finally the fuel pump. 700 mile round trip over the weekend, no problems... today, dead.

When I got home today, I filled the carb bowl with gas and got the car back into the garage. (a full fuel bowl will go exactly 200 yds). Put the fuel pressure gauge on the pump outlet and got zero, nada, nothing......

I did check that I still have 1/2 tank of gas... (that would have been embarrassing) and the tank screen is not clogged. Will have to wait a while before I check any more. I'm moving temporarily as my house remodel starts this weekend (no electric or water).

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

During the rebuild this past spring, I replaced the tank, fuel pickup screen, all rubber lines and new stainless fuel line. In the last week, I've replaced the fuel filter and finally the fuel pump. 700 mile round trip over the weekend, no problems... today, dead.

When I got home today, I filled the carb bowl with gas and got the car back into the garage. (a full fuel bowl will go exactly 200 yds). Put the fuel pressure gauge on the pump outlet and got zero, nada, nothing......

I did check that I still have 1/2 tank of gas... (that would have been embarrassing) and the tank screen is not clogged. Will have to wait a while before I check any more. I'm moving temporarily as my house remodel starts this weekend (no electric or water).

Dammm..... WTF.....Well..that eliminates the fuel system as the problem..Now..WTF is causing the pump to fail.. Can you take it apart and see what failed...Of Course after the frame off on your house....

 

[Fuelie]

Sorry to hear that you are havingmore fuel pump problems. I have had two AC pumps fail in my car but it was over a 15 year period and with varied use (sometimes very hard) for 38,000 miles.

In the first failure, the spring for the pump lever broke in two and I was unable to purchase just the spring.

In the second failure, the pin holding the pump lever backed out allowing the arm to fall and the spring to become damaged beyond use. This time the engine sounded like I had one rocker arm that was backing off and needed adjusting leading up to the failure.

These failures were encountered with two different camshafts and two different engine blocks during thistime period. The last failure being two years ago.

Since I was in a rush and could not locate an original style pump, I opted for a Holley high performance mechanical replacement and it hasbeen serving me very well.

Take care,
Brian

 

[Subfixer]

The missing pin was the first problem I ran into last week. Subsequent disassembly revealed that the spring had broken in half also. That's why I had to replace the pump in the first place. This time I'm leaning towards a broken or dislodged spring, since the pin is still in there. Haven't had a chance to remove the pump yet. Maybe Monday. I'll keep y'all posted.

 

[Subfixer]

Update

Well, I think I found the problem with the new fuel pump. I used all the suggestions posted above just to make sure I hadn't missed anything... Thanks everyone....

Checked the pump rod for straightness.. Perfect.

Checked the pup rod travel.. 3/8"

Checked the pump lever travel necessary to move the diaphram to full travel... 3/8"

Took apart my older pump and new pump and discovered that the inlet check valve on the new pump failed..

Swapped out the check valve housing between the older and newer pumps and put everything back together... Started right up with 7lbs fuel pressure. Will drive the car around this afternoon and see what happens.

Hope this is the last of my fuel pump problems.

 

[BarryK]

i had full confidence you would find the problem Paul.
Glad it's working for you now

 

[SMR 67]

Glad you got that straightened out - I've been following this thread. Was this another AC Delco pump that went on you? By the way - looked for you at Carlisle when I met Barry - hopefully see you next year.

 

[Subfixer]

Both pumps were AC Delco's. If it fails again, I'll rebuild it myself. At least I'll have my own quality control. I'll also replace that pressed-in pin with a clevis pin and clip as the originals were built.

Sorry I missed you at Carlisle too. I was about 7-8 cars down from Barry's. White convertable with the hardtop on.

 

[magoo]

Hi Paul,
Glad you got it straightened out. I was about to suggest rubber hose sucking shut when you said all was new and ok.
So the reason I jumped in here was to tell you, Barry K, VNV and everyone I talked to at Carlisle what a pleasure it was to meet you. Talking to CAC members was the high point of my day. I didn't get to see everyone I hoped to so I'm already looking forward to the next opportunity. However I have seen heaven and it is beautiful. (did not find Bob however) All the members I met have excellent cars.
Enough ramblin,

Mike

 

[Viet Nam Vett]

Hi Paul,
Glad you got it straightened out. I was about to suggest rubber hose sucking shut when you said all was new and ok.
So the reason I jumped in here was to tell you, Barry K, VNV and everyone I talked to at Carlisle what a pleasure it was to meet you. Talking to CAC members was the high point of my day. I didn't get to see everyone I hoped to so I'm already looking forward to the next opportunity. However I have seen heaven and it is beautiful. (did not find Bob however) All the members I met have excellent cars.
Enough ramblin,

Mike

Mike.... Very nice meeting you....Hope to see you again next year...

 

[BarryK]

Hi Paul,
Glad you got it straightened out. I was about to suggest rubber hose sucking shut when you said all was new and ok.
So the reason I jumped in here was to tell you, Barry K, VNV and everyone I talked to at Carlisle what a pleasure it was to meet you. Talking to CAC members was the high point of my day. I didn't get to see everyone I hoped to so I'm already looking forward to the next opportunity. However I have seen heaven and it is beautiful. (did not find Bob however) All the members I met have excellent cars.
Enough ramblin,

Mike

Mike
I agree, the best part of the show was gettinng to meet everyone! Maybe in a bunch of years I can be like Mark (VNV) and pretty much already know everyone that drops by or drives by!