Sunday, June 20, 2021
Happy Father’s Day to me!
Right now my work on the Plymouth is dead in the water while I await the arrival of the first of two fuel pumps I have on order. Two pumps?? Let me explain.
PUMP 1. The local mom-and-pop parts place I’ve done business with the past 40 years ordered a fuel pump for me, and yesterday I went in to get it. The pump would bolt up just fine, the arm length and angle was right. However,, the inlet on the pump had a nipple designed for a fuel hose to slide over and clamp — it did not have a threaded flare nut fitting like the original pump. I could cut off the end of the metal line, but frankly, I didn’t want to do that — I wanted a pump that would bolt on correctly.
The parts man found the proper pump in a list of photos of fuel pumps; when he cross referenced it to available pumps, it cross-referenced to the one that they received without the threaded input fitting. He then went on Amazon and found they had 3 of the “correct” pumps listed, though there’s a chance they might ship the “wrong” pump too.
PUMP 2. I remain skeptical of Pump 1 being correct, if they send the one pictured, I’ll be in business. Otherwise no. Which lead me to purchase Pump No. 2.
Pump No. 2 is an original-era pump that’s been rebuilt. It looks identical to the one I removed, so I know damn well its going to bolt up correctly. Of course, that pump was 4 times the cost of the Pump No. 1 (ouch!) — just shy of $200. If Pump No. 1 works, I’ll probably resell or return Pump No. 2.
And of course, I have yet to check the fuel line between the tank and the fuel pump. My plan is to use my air hose and inject some air into the line at the engine end and see if you can hear it in the tank. I think there’s a good possibility that the tank pickup is clogged, and I’m mostly counting on draining the tank and dropping it. I’m hoping like hell that won’t be necessary, but on a 65 year old fuel tank, I’m not going to hold my breath that there’s nothing gumming up the works.
I’m hoping the fuel pump — set to arrive late next week — fixed the problem. Our local car club cruise is next Saturday and I would love to be able to drive the Plymouth there.
UPDATE: SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021, 7:30 PM
With the assistance of my son, I used compressed air to check if the fuel line from the tank was blocked. Besides the fact it was open, my son got rather gassed by petrol fumes … he was bent over with his ear to the fuel filler tube listening for a gurgling sound or the sound of air in the tank. The air I injected in the tank flooded him with high-intensity petrol fumes, sending him into a coughing fit.
It was however some great news — the line back to the tank was completely open. The one thing I don’t really know for sure is if the pickup in the fuel tank is sucking up fuel. Given the ease with which air flowed, I would assume if the pickup was in fuel, it was sucking it up. Apparently, I’m going to have to install the new pump and see if it draws fuel. Until then I won’t really know for certain.
I’m really considering dropping the tank anyway, just to check the fuel pickup. I know damn well there’s more than half a tank of fuel in the tank. If I drop the tank I’ll have to drain it, which isn’t a hassle since the tank actually has a drain plug. I guess I’ll cross that bridge when I have to.
Until my fuel pump arrives,, I’m dead in the water … though frankly, I’m pleased that I’ve gotten this far along in my troubleshooting. Its nice that the tank has a drain plug — my 55 Chevy’s fuel tank did not, and I had to drop it with a partial load of fuel. Ugh!