Fuel pump with return port

[MikeB]

My Gen I 350's fuel pump has a slight oil leak. Since I have to replace the gaskets, I might as well replace the 20-year old pump. My current pump has just the two ports -- input and output. But if I buy one with a return port, like the one below, can I simply connect that to my 71-72 sending unit with an extra hose barb.

I've read that a return line can keep the fuel cooler by recirculating excess fuel back into the tank, instead of dead-heading at the carb. Is that correct?

Also, how do I reduce the size of the linked photo?

[72c20customcamper]

Does your fuel sender have a port for the return? If it does the the pump you linked is the correct one if not you would need to get one with it don’t think I would be drilling a port into the sending unit

[dmjlambert]

I recommend stay with the one-line-in and one-line-out fuel pump and keep the system simple. with the 3-port pump your fuel will still dead-head at the carburetor and the only fuel kept cooler and recirculated is before the pump. And I recommend never replace anything you have that is 20 years old or older and still working. You may end up needing to replace it every couple years from here on out. There is almost nothing made better today. Just like a clothes washing machine, all my friends and family that don't have an old Kenmore or Maytag replace their washing machine no less often than every 5 years. To reduce the size of a linked photo download the photo onto your computer, reduce it with photo editing software to less than 2000 pixels wide, then attach it while posting like any other photo.

[Steeveedee]

^ So much truth!

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I recommend stay with the one-line-in and one-line-out fuel pump and keep the system simple. with the 3-port pump your fuel will still dead-head at the carburetor and the only fuel kept cooler and recirculated is before the pump. And I recommend never replace anything you have that is 20 years old or older and still working. You may end up needing to replace it every couple years from here on out. There is almost nothing made better today.

Thanks for the explanation of how the re-circulation works. Sounds like a regulator with two output ports is what's needed to keep the fuel cool between pump and carb.

Funny but I was thinking the same thing as you about keeping the old pump. Pretty sad state of affairs, huh? We're outsourcing our manufacturing to communist and third world countries to save a few bucks. And we get what we pay for.

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

To reduce the size of a linked photo download the photo onto your computer, reduce it with photo editing software to less than 2000 pixels wide, then attach it while posting like any other photo.

That I know how to do. The real problem is I can't just copy an image from another website and paste it into this post. What I did here was copy the image's address and use the "insert image" icon. However, I can't just drop in an image like I can on other forums, like hotrodders.com. CNTRL+C, CNTRL+V, resize, and you're done!