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.

55Birdman  Hickory NC

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

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

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.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

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!


Lawrenceville, GA

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.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

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.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I think he would run into clearance issues with a bottom filter style pump in a Thunderbird, wouldn't he? /Duck

BOO- YA!!!

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.

   God Bless.   Tim                           http://yblockguy.com/

350ci Y-Block FED "Elwood", 301ci Y-Block Unibody LSR "Jake", 312ci Y-Block '58 F-100, 338ci Y-Block powered Model A Tudor

tim@yblockguy.com  Visalia, California    Just west of the Sequoias

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.

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

BOO- YA!!!