Markeb01 Build Thread

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by markeb01

If driven daily the truck will spark to life almost instantly. After several days of inactivity the process becomes challenging since modern gasoline evaporates from the fuel bowl leaving the carb empty.

Rather than installing an electric fuel pump (which I don’t want) to help resolve the problem, I decided on an easier approach that was free.

Why are you against an electric fuel pump?
I mount one to the frame right next to the fuel tank and have it switched under the dash.
It is turned on to prime the fuel system and that's it.
After the thing is primed the mechanical pump can handle it from there on and if the mechanical pump fails, I have a backup and it doest need to be expensive.

I do this on anything I don't drive often. (with a carb)

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Why are you against an electric fuel pump?
I mount one to the frame right next to the fuel tank and have it switched under the dash.
It is turned on to prime the fuel system and that's it.
After the thing is primed the mechanical pump can handle it from there on and if the mechanical pump fails, I have a backup and it doest need to be expensive.

I do this on anything I don't drive often. (with a carb)

So once the engine is up and running, you can turn off the electric fuel pump and the mechanical pump will pull fuel through the electric pump even though it's turned off?
Posted via Mobile Device

[66-PMD-GMC]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

So once the engine is up and running, you can turn off the electric fuel pump and the mechanical pump will pull fuel through the electric pump even though it's turned off?
Posted via Mobile Device

I don't even run the motor with the electric fuel pump. If my truck sits for many weeks without being started, I turn on the pump until I hear it reach pressure, turn off the pump and the motor pops right off like I shut it off 5 minutes ago.
I use the electric fuel pump to prime the system only. I don't use it in normal operation.

[markeb01]

Originally Posted by 66-PMD-GMC

Why are you against an electric fuel pump?
I mount one to the frame right next to the fuel tank and have it switched under the dash.
It is turned on to prime the fuel system and that's it.
After the thing is primed the mechanical pump can handle it from there on and if the mechanical pump fails, I have a backup and it doest need to be expensive.

I do this on anything I don't drive often. (with a carb)

Please advise what electric pump you're running (brand, model, or type). I'm ready to start shopping tomorrow! It never occurred to me that a mechanical pump would pull gas through an electric pump that wasn’t running, but if you’re doing it – it obviously works. I just always presumed the impellers or whatever would block the flow of fuel if it wasn’t energized.

My loathing for electric fuel pumps goes back to my first one in the mid 1970’s when I mounted one in my 283 powered 54 Chevy sedan. It lasted a couple of years before it failed and left me stranded. I bought a name brand performance model (twice as expensive) and it also lasted a few years before it also failed, leaving me on foot again. They were always mounted right next to the tank pushing the gas, and the tanks were clean with new fuel lines. The same saga was repeated on a couple of other cars, the last being the 46 Ford that preceded the GMC. I had installed an electric pump because at the time the clearance kit for a mechanical pump had not been developed yet. After about 5 years the first pump failed and was replaced with something that cost a small fortune.

Just a couple of months on the new pump and I got an urgent call from my fiancé – she was stuck in the hubcap lane on the freeway with a dead fuel pump. ARRRGGGHHHH!!!

After about 30 minutes of inspecting and testing, it was obvious there was absolutely nothing wrong except the pump wouldn’t work. So I did what any rational sane person would do. I took out a 10 inch Crescent wrench and beat the snot out of that miserable piece of crap until my arm got tired. Turns out all it needed was an attitude adjustment. It fired right up and was working just fine when the car was sold a short while later.

When my truck is being used daily, it will fire up almost on the first revolution. I’m running a Powermaster gear reduction starter and it really flings the engine over. After 2-3 days of inactivity it takes a few minutes and a lot of fiddling with the electric fast idle, the choke, and how many times to pump the accelerator. After 2-3 weeks of not being used, it’s like trying to start an uncooperative radial aircraft engine. Last time it took so long the battery died before the engine lit.

Thanks for pointing out the solution. I’d love to not have to deal with this issue ever again.