I'm either the unluckiest person in the world or there is a disturbing trend happening. The day of a big road trip, the mechanical fuel pump on my 440 Challenger started to leak at the diaphragm. It was an expensive Mopar Performance unit but what can you do right? Bought a replacement and sucked it up. A few years along, I finished the restore on a 1967 Mustang 289. Installed a new mechanical fuel pump when I did the engine and took the car out to Mount Rushmore. The spring on the pump arm let go just outside Minneapolis, **** down immediately. I had actually kept the original pump when I took it off so I installed that one on the side of the highway and it was fine all the way home. Last weekend, I took the 1980 Trans Am on a trip to Own Sound. Got to Orangeville and smelled fuel. Sure enough, fuel was coming out of the vent hole. It only had 1000km on it. This time, the original which I had in the trunk had dried out and it crapped out as soon as I started the car. Had to limp the car home with a "strap on" electric pump. Seems like either the quality of the replacements (this was a Carter unit) is going to hell or they built these things years ago and they are aged stock. Anyone else having issues? I'm too old to keep doing this crap on the side of the road!
You are not alone. Just today a friend had the fuel pump on his 55 T Bird start leaking and so far no repair kits or pumps to be found. I carry an electric pump when ever I'm out on the road.
Sounds like a script from Roadkill. At least they have a road/camera crew to fix the problems with a corporate budget, run for parts. or simply leave it and jump on a plane back home.
But for us simple folk, either fix it or call a tow truck!
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Maybe time to convert to the old faithful holley rattler
We were at national trails in ohio at an amc event . fuel pressure regulator got a leak spraying a tiny mist of fuel from passenger hood hinge area right out over carb and engine . There was a vendor at event had a shiny new one . Put it on , turned on pump and literally filled engine with fuel . No spring inside new one as soon as turned pump on it flooded over the engine
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It might be the fuel. Today's fuels have at least 10% ethanol in them, even the premium in most cases. Lots of stations are now even getting 15%.
Old rubbers don't like the new fuel, it just destroys them.
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It might be the fuel. Today's fuels have at least 10% ethanol in them, even the premium in most cases. Lots of stations are now even getting 15%. Old rubbers don't like the new fuel, it just destroys them.
good point Mike and i have heard similar from other builders in the bike world.
It might be the fuel. Today's fuels have at least 10% ethanol in them, even the premium in most cases. Lots of stations are now even getting 15%. Old rubbers don't like the new fuel, it just destroys them.
I had the newer fuel eat the diaphragm up in a SBC fuel pump . Probably a fuel issue
So, i bought two replacements since they are hard to find. Opened up the old pump and the diaphram has definet damage, but there are witness marks where the metal part of diaphram has been hitting the valve and body. Hope it was just a dud? Date code suggests it was manufactered in 2018, so it was already over 4 years old when i opened the box? Charming!
-- Edited by Livetodrive on Sunday 15th of June 2025 08:05:48 AM
-- Edited by Livetodrive on Monday 16th of June 2025 08:04:20 PM
