electric fuel pump mounting

Leroy · #1 (**permalink**) 04-01-2002, 01:41 PM

would like some input on the mounting of a electric fuel pump and filter. have them mounted on the outside on the back side of the trunk towards the rear end housing. only problem is if I have a failure of the pump on the road without a good jack and jackstands,I'am dead in the water. Thinking about mounting inside the trunk, so as easy to fix, change whatever. using braided lines.

gomersdad · #2 (**permalink**) 04-01-2002, 05:45 PM

Leroy... just my thoughts but i don't think i would want pump in trunk just for safety reasons. if your pump fails on the road are you carrying a spare? depending on type of pump it could be mounted in engine bay

Ken

Dwight · #3 (**permalink**) 04-01-2002, 08:29 PM

HOW MANY FUEL PUMPS HAVE FAILED YOU ON THE ROAD? DID YOU BUY A QUALITY FUEL PUMP? TOW TRUCK $65? DON'T WORRY! JUST DRIVE!!!

aumoore · #4 (**permalink**) 04-01-2002, 11:12 PM

Leroy
Read the instructions on your electric fuel pump closely. Most electric fuel pumps need to be mounted near the fuel tank and as close to the bottom of the fuel tank as you can get it. These electric pumps are baisically pusher pumps and do not create very much suction so the fuel shoud gravity feed to the pump and then let the pump preasurise it to the front of the car.

I have a Holley Blue pump and it was mounted lower that the tank but I had a problem becase the fuel line from the tank looped up about 7 to 8" before is went down to the fuel pump. The Pump could not create enough vaccume to pull the fuel up and over and maintain pressure. I shortened the fuel line and cleared this up but it took me a while to figure this out.

If you use a mechanical pump they make great pullers hence they are mounted up on the engine and are engine driven.

Just my $0.02

cobrajeff · #5 (**permalink**) 04-03-2002, 05:14 AM

I prefer mine mounted somwhere outside the trunk. I figured that it would be pretty noisy in the trunk cavity, and if you had any leaks, whatever is in your trunk (clothes, luggage, top, tonneau) is ruined. Also, if you had a minor leak, it would be difficult to trace - with it outside, any minor leak will leave a spot on the garage floor - helping to pinpoint the problem connection.

I mounted mine on the left hand frame rail, outside the trunk, behind the left rear tire. It is very accessable, I could lay on my back and change it on the road without jacking the car up.

I actually did that once, with my old '66 Shelby GT350. I had an electric fuel pump on it mounted the same way - on the frame rail behind the left rear tire. The pump was an auxilliary for the NOS system I had on the car. On the way back from a dinner cruise, a Sunbeam Tiger in our group suffered an electric pump failure (his car had ONLY an electric pump). I stopped to help him, and in a matter of minutes we had my pump swapped to his car (and a piece of rubber hose connecting the fittings on my car), and we were both on our way home.

regards,

Jeff

Clois Harlan · #6 (**permalink**) 04-05-2002, 07:03 AM

Leroy,

I have had my Holley mounted in almost the same location as you want to put yours in for over two years now, no failure and no problems.

wilf leek · #7 (**permalink**) 04-05-2002, 09:05 AM

Having had suction side fuel filter blockages in the past, on my new car I fitted the pump and suction filter inside the "trunk" (surely you mean the boot chaps?), pretty much in the same position as the original S/C's ('cept they had two pumps). The pump lifts OK about 10" from the tank, I took great care to make the connections as leakproof as possible, and fitted a wire cage guard around the pump/hoses/filter to stop any luggage bouncing around and into the assembly. Apart from the noise magnifying properties, this seems OK to me, and I can get at it so easily.

Campy · #8 (**permalink**) 04-05-2002, 01:39 PM

Ditto on putting the pump on the outside and on the frame rail.
I have a Holley Red pump. Works great, a tad on the noisy side, that's until the engine starts, of course!!!

My pump is about 2 feet from the tank and I also have a large fuel filter between the tank and pump. I have no problems with pulling fuel at all. I recommend keeping the pump on the exterior of the vehicle, by all means.

I also agree with Dwight, buy a good pump and enjoy the ride. Good practical advice.

Here's a thought:
Do you think the boys in "Detroit" are concerned with accessibility of components in the event of failure, yea right!

Here's an interesting note:
I recently installed a liquid filled fuel pressure gauge on my fuel line in the engine compartment. No problem, it works great, about 6 lbs pressure. One day I was showing it to a friend after the car had been running for a while with the hood closed of course. Low and behold, the gauge was reading a big fat zero!!
However, the engine was running fine. I immediately consulted with Holley tech support and the advised to make sure there was nothing blocking the internal pressure regulator. I took it apart and it looked as clean and new as the day I bought it.

I thought this was ridiculous, when the car sits for a while, the gauge reads the appropriate pressure, the car runs and the gauge will not read above zero

I had a brain fart. Just out of curiosity I decided to conduct a test. While the car was in the garage and cooled down I powered-up the fuel pump and the gauge was reading a steady 6lbs. I borrowed my wifes hair dryer and proceeded to just warm up the gauge. Ah Ha...low and behold, there goes the pressure slowly dropping to zero the warmer the gauge was heated. I purchased a non-liquid filled gauge and all is well. I don't know about you all out there, but no one has ever told me, nor have I read anywhere that a liquid filled gauge is temperature sensitive. Go figure.

Let's ride

Leroy · #9 (**permalink**) 04-05-2002, 03:57 PM

fellows, thanks for all your input. I am also running a holly red pump, but it sort of scares me will they sell on the parts to repair them in the catalogs along side the pumps. Also my location for the filter and pump are really hard to get to, need a good jack and jack stand. But I guess I'll leave it outside the truck and maybe install a mechanical pump also in case the electrical one takes a dump.

Toivo · #10 (**permalink**) 04-05-2002, 04:54 PM

it may be overkill, but you can install two pumps in series.
one pump basically acts as a primer for the second pump and eases the strain on it.

The most important thing to do if you're worried about your pump is make sure it gets pure, clean fuel. Crud is what destroys these pumps faster than anything else. Make sure your filters are the best, AND installed correctly...no gaps or seating problems.

You could also plumb up a dual-pump system to kick in when you hit the NOS button, assuming you have NOS, or even if you don't. With the proper fittings under the hood, in a pinch you could reroute the second pump's output.

Do you pack a spare for every part on your car, or just things like fuel pumps, alternators, U-Joints, clutches, the odd belt, assorted nuts and bolts...

Holley sells parts to fix its pumps because they do break, heat also kills pumps. Have you considered an OEM-type pump, maybe mounted in the tank, cooled by the fuel, easy to get to, easy to find a replacement for? By the time you go through multiple Holley pumps, you might be money ahead.