I understand that FE fuel pumps are compatible with our Ford Y Blocks. My engine seems to be starving with the stock fuel pump. It actually starved and stalled once at Columbus on one run and my RPM's are limited. Are there different versions of FE fuel pumps? I would think that 406/427 and other high performance pumps might be different. Does anyone have any suggestions?, part numbers? I know I should be running an electric fuel pump too. What's a good electric pump to use?

Paul J. - '57 E Code

Go to summit racing, and you can search for them by engine application and flow and pressure. That will be the best way to find one that is sufficient.
I wouldn't expect you to need electric but... So far I've only used Holley and Carter electric pumps. The Holleys are junk. The carter has lasted almost 3 times as many miles as 2 Holleys combined and it is still going. I think I got about an average of 800 miles out of each Holley - not good at all for a daily driver. You also have more latitude for mounting the Carter. It's design is such that it can be something like 18" higher than the top of the tank and still work. I'm not sure if that is the correct figure but it will say in the instructions. The Holley has to be below the tank. The Carter is also made in the USA, if you care about that, or at least it was several years ago when I got it. Hopefully they still are.


Lawrenceville, GA

This chart is for one of the Holley 80 GPH mechanical pumps..... the FE pump for a 428 ought to be good enough like the Airtex 362. Note that the free flow in GPH is not anything like the real flow with back pressure. A 300 HP engine wants the GPH to stay over 30 when the engine is flat out. At a useful mixture, engines like to have about 1/2 pound of fuel per horsepower per hour.



The mechanical pumps have to have a big enough line to keep the required suction/vacuum down to a minimum. It is easier to handicap a fuel system on the suction side of the pump than on the pressure side.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

I'd agree with Charlie on the Electric pumps. Skip the Holley. Summit Racing carries a pump under their own brand name that does work (and last) pretty well. But a CJ mechanical pump should be all you need.

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

Paul J : Ofcourse you understand that F.E. pumps don't have the wiper vacuum feature? And for what it's worth, in the group of old car guys I have coffee with, I haven't heard anything that convinces me that electric pumps are any more reliable than original equipment pumps..

Paul

Your standard pump should not be leaving you short, is your motor heavily modified?

You guys running a return line for the electric pumps, the Holley mainly wont last if you don't.



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

I have a pump on my 292 from a 390. It's been working well for about 5 years now.

John F

Ballwin, MO

On my supercharged motor I'm using an Edlebrock Performer #1724 fuel pump (Ford Big Block FE) rated at 110 GPH. It uses 3/8" inlet and outlet. On my 56 Customline I have been running a Holley "Red Top" electric fuel pump for 5 years without any problem (so far)...guess I've ben lucky!!

Rono

  Ron Lane,  Meridian, ID

Your setup may be experiencing vapor lock. Or just inadequate fuel. Like Paul suggests if you ditch the pump entirely, No wipers.
I would suggest running an electric Carter style pump inline if you want to remain somewhat stock looking. Then you get to keep the original style. That's more or less what I've been doing for years. The carter is on a manual switch. It is also used prior to starting my car. I let it pressurize before I touch the key or throttle. Works well and again it's how stock or original you care to look..

       A  L  A  N   F  R  A  K  E  S   ~  Tulsa, OK    

Thanks for all the input and suggestions. My engine is a 312 E Code with rebuilt Holley 4000 quads, .060 over with Probe forged domed pistons, half of domes milled off to reduce compression so I can run pump gas, and Probe forged rods, balanced, decked block, Isky RPM300 cam and kit, new SS stock replacement valves, roller timing chain and Melling oil pump, and new improved oiling rocker arm shafts. I am running stock exhaust manifolds with glass packs. My engine doesn't want to rev past 5,000 RPM. I have a new 4.10 gearing with limited slip differential. This year at Columbus it ran a best of 16.29, on a 16.30 dial in My plan is to convert the car to a T85 OD. Since the car is a numbers matching E Code, I want to keep it stock appearing. I am converting the wipers to electric so I don't need the vacuum port. Summit has mechanical pumps by Carter, Edelbrock and Holley, all around $100.00 + -. An electric pump would be nice too, when my car has been sitting for a while, it takes a fair amount of turning over and pumping to start.

Paul J. - '57 E Code