I have an electric fuel pump on my '29 Speedster but obviously this is not period-correct. My fuel system is able to be sealed so I was thinking of switching to a hand pump pressurized system for the added cool factor, but haven't been able to find a source for the pump. Are these reproduced or do I have to prowl eBay and hope one comes up?
Something like this maybe? http://www.mooneyesusa.com/shop/product.php?cPath=188_128&products_id=1428
I would imagine the originals would go for that, maybe more, and need rebuilt? Whatever you decide, good luck!
I would think a race-car inspired speedster built considerably before WWII would have used an early pressure pump, used on lots of big circa WWI cars...the Moon type is really a later piece, maybe early fifties, probably brought out because the circle track types had all the old ones in use and nobody was scrapping 1912 Cadillacs anymore...so you probably haven't reached "expensive" yet! Why not locate an old tire pump and a pipe cutter...look for a check valve fitting in industrial supply...
go to you're local beer distributer, talk to there draft beer guy and explain what you are looking for they have brass pumps that look the part, if no luck pm me. wayne
Hey great idea. New keg pumps can be had for less than $50. And used ones are all over eBay! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Score! Found on ebay, part of an old keg pump. Nice heavy chrome-plated brass with some patina. I like it because it doesn't resemble more modern pumps that have a ball handle.
True that!! I worked on a 1928 Essex that had an electric fuel pump Stock!! And it still worked!! (Car had sat from 1965 until 1980 or so, when my friend bought it). Cosmo
Once you've got it on the car you'll probably be less infatuated with having to constantly pump the pressure up to keep running!
Ha ha, you may be right! Fortunately I only need a pump when the tank gets below 1/4 full, anything higher it flow by gravity. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I believe Speedway has a reproduction of the early hand pumps. Check and it might be a little cheaper than Ebay. Frank
A 1928 Essex did not come from factory with an electric fuel pump. They had vacuum pumps mounted to the firewall.
I guess I didn't make it clear, I already bought the one in the picture. It even came with a keg tap!
If that is true, then the electric pump that This Essex had, Was older than 1965 anyway. And 6 volts. Cosmo
I took advantage of the unusual 60 degree weather here in New England and assembled the pump system. I decided to mount the pump outside the driver's seat (saw a picture of one mounted like that on a Stutz Bearcat!) I used 5/16" copper tubing to plumb it. The small silver device in the line behind the seat is a check valve. It seems to work like it should, but won't be able to road test it until spring. Now I need to find a pressure gauge for the dashboard.
You do realize that that setup will create a vacuum on your tank negating the "gravity" feed off the top 3/4 of the tank? You will end up having to pump your hand pump a lot more often than you think you are going to have to with that setup. That will be especially so when the tank is full and you don't have much room for air in the tank.
You're right, but I don't think it will be that bad. The tank holds about 20 gallons, but I usually only fill it half full, so that leaves 10 gallons of air space. Now if this space was pressurized to, say, 2 psi, even when the tank is almost empty there will still be 1 psi of air pressure remaining. So theoretically I won't need to re-pressurize assuming zero leakage. I only use the car for short trips anyway, so if I give it a few pumps before starting off it should be OK. So now the question is: how many pumps will it take to pressurize a 10-gallon air volume to 2 psi? I estimate the pump volume is 12 cubic inches, or .006 cubic feet. 10 gallons is 1.33 cubic feet. The equation to use is: Pa x Va = Pc x Vc Vc is the compressed volume = 1.33 cubic feet Pc is the pressure at the compressed volume = 16.7 psia Pa is atmospheric pressure = 14.7 psia So the free volume, Va, = (Pc x Vc)/Pa = 1.51 cubic feet. (1.51-1.33)/.006 = approx. 30 pumps.