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By 55Birdman - 16 Years Ago
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My bird needs a new fuel pump . I would like to know if any advantage to replacing it with an electric pump. I have never used and elec pump before and many people here say to use one . I am rewirirng my car now and it would be a good time to replace the pump but just need some more info on good and bad points of and electric one. Which one to use ,where to mount etc. My car is a daily driver most of the year. It stays inside during the winter. Is it a good idea? Thanks for the help.
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By MoonShadow - 16 Years Ago
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For a reasonably stock application the FE high performance pumps should be plenty. I had to add an electric to help the gas "keep up" with the blower at high rpm. I used a standard inline pump that is really quite simple to rig. You only need to split the fuel hose and install it. One short wire to ground and one wire to a switch and done. I only turn it on for power runs though. Having the two pumps does add a little peace of mind too. Chuck in NH
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By GREENBIRD56 - 16 Years Ago
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Birdman - When I was trying to get a handle on this the last time, Al Frakes offered up a dyno sheet that detailed the fuel requirements when his single four barrel motor is making 300 HP. It shows something on the order of .544 pounds per horsepower per hour - which works out to about 30 gallons per hour - at whatever pressure you have your fuel pressure regulator set at. I finally found a delivery versus pressure curve for such a thing on the Holley web site. They have a nice chrome 80 GPH (no-load) pump that (according to their performance curve) will deliver 30+ GPH (at the kind of pressure a performance style carb would demand). This Holley pump is pretty much identical to the common makes of pump that are intended for service on a 427/428 FE high performance or police car engine. You will need an electric pump that will do the same sort of volume/pressure as above in order to make ends meet. Just don't believe the "no-load" volume - get one that keeps the pressure up even when you are at full throttle.
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By charliemccraney - 16 Years Ago
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I've heard that electric pumps are unreliable. Having just replaced my Holley electric pump a few weeks ago, after less than 3000 miles, I'm beginning to wonder. If this second one dies just as quick, I'll be going back to mechanical. Glad I put the fuel pump eccentric back when the engine was built!
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By pegleg - 16 Years Ago
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Charlie, Had two Holleys on my pro street Ranger. Both died. Replaced it with a Summit unit with regulator...........about 5 years ago. Still working, costs less more filling.
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By paul2748 - 16 Years Ago
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While a lot of people may have good long term results with electric pumps, I have found them some what lacking in long tern use. I prefer the mechanical pump as these usually last longer. Unless you are running a high performance, get the pump from a 360 CI truck - the right one has a cannister type filter on the bottom.
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By Duck - 16 Years Ago
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I think he would run into clearance issues with a bottom filter style pump in a Thunderbird, wouldn't he? /Duck
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By mctim64 - 16 Years Ago
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I have a mech. pump on my truck and it works fine, don't see the need for an electric one. On the other hand my MG has no place for a mech. pump so I have to run electric. Originally it had a diaphragm type (Lucas  ) but it would fail on a regular basis. Now I have a modern aftermarket centrifugal type, been working for at least 10 years.Remember; Electric pumps push better than they pull.
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By crab - 16 Years Ago
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I want to add to this, just replaced the pump on our 57 bird with one from Concourse parts and found the inlet and outlet to be reversed and farther apart than the one that was on it. It was stamped Fordmoco, now the inlet is at the front and had to make a new fuel line to the glass bowl filter. Just wondered if anyone else has run into this and which one is really correct, it has vacuum wipers on top as well.
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By Duck - 16 Years Ago
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You can "clock" them- Take out all the screws around the perimeter, spin the "top" (the piece with the inlet/ outlet) to where you need it, and then put all the screws back in and tighten... /Duck
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By crab - 16 Years Ago
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I figured, but the one that came off was at like 5 and 6 oclock, the replacement at 5 and 8 oclock and reversed inlet/outlett. Not sure which is right, but like to know.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 16 Years Ago
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The replacement pumps for Birds are actually pumps designed for '61-'63 Fords with vacuum wipers, and as noted, have different locations for the fittings. The deep canister pumps would indeed have clearance problems in Birds, even the old glass bowl pumps for passenger cars would not work on a Bird. The '61 pumps are still available at local parts stores, somewhere around $60, I think. On the electric pump issue, the guys in the Studebaker club highly recommend installing a crash sensitive switch in the pump circuit so that if something terrible happens, the pump will stop running and not keep dumping fuel. Not a bad idea. Modern cars use such switches since they have no mechanical pumps. If the switch becomes disabled, it can be manually reset.
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By 55Birdman - 16 Years Ago
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Thanks for input. I think I will stick with a mechanical pump. I just dont have a lot of faith in the electrical ones.
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By GREENBIRD56 - 16 Years Ago
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This is the Airtex 362 pump for a 428 FE motor - installed in my bird. No vacuum wipers. Base unit had to be "clocked" to the position shown. I used a short rubber "jumper" from the factory fuel line. 
I believe Gary (Speedpro56) had one of these go away on him at an in-opportune moment - so brand advice may be needed. Perhaps the Holley version of this pump is the way to go if you want the higher volume.
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By 55Birdman - 16 Years Ago
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I think I will get one of those . I have converted to elec wipers and dont need the vacuum port. Thanks
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