Push or pull electric fuel pump?

Hi all,
I have a li'l dillema here. My 56 Cadillac has a 350 with an Edelbrock 600 cfm carb. on it. The problem is I went through two electric fuel pumps in less than one year. I drove to VLV last year, which killed one pump, the second later in the summer.The car has the original gas tank with the fuel line coming out from the bottom left front corner of the tank. It is totally separated from the float.
My question is: What is the best fuel pump suited for my set-up? I cannot put a pump below the tank as there is no place there except air. The car runs on 5-7 lb pressure.
My fuel filter is installed before the pump, which I change regularly.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

i have more luck with parts store pumps on my drivers than i do with hollies---they push ,have enough pressure to run a strong pump gas 383 and they are compact...

 

I've always read/heard that it is easier for an electric pump to push the fuel rather than pull it, so locate it as close to the tank as possible. I believe that is why the new cars come with them inside the tank. I have also read/heard that having a filter before the pump is a good thing for pump longevity. You will have to find a place to mount the newest pump on the frame, close to the tank. You didn't mention, but where is the current location of the pump?

 

Unless it's an "in tank" pump an electric fuel pump needs to be gravity fed or it will burn out.

What's wrong with using a stock mechanical pump?

 

^^^^^ Yeah really!

 

The pump is located above the front of the tank, behind the left side of the diff. I think it's a puller. Bought it at SoCal.

 

Because there is no room to put one. The way the frame is made, the pump side is way too close to have a pump, and cutting the frame is not an option.

 

Should I use a pusher? I heard the Holley 97 gph "red" was a good one...

http://www.holley.com/12-801-1.asp

 

Is your pump on a relay with correct size wire? On my coupe the fuel comes out of the tank from the top. I have the pump as low and as close as possible. Have only changed the pump once in ten years. It pumps close to a hundred PSI. This is a carter electric. First pump was an Airtex.

 

all electric pumps are pushers why not use a mech. pump

 

I'll look into it. I'm not sure, but I think the wire which joins the pump and the dash is 16ga. I think I should use 14?
The first pump that blew on me was a Carter.

 

All electric fuel pumps should be installed as pushers. Electric fuel pumps use the fuel to cool the pump motor, and using them as a puller causes the pump to cavitate and overheat, burning out.

 

No room. Engine pump opening is too close to the frame.

 

I've got Carter pumps on 3 or 4 of my cars and have never had a problem with them in hundreds of thousands of miles. Be sure to put a good filter ahead of the pump and mount everything as close to the tank as possible. They're a little noisy but it's all good 'cuz then you really notice it if they quit.

 

what brand and model pump?

Without a return line a continuously running type pump will dead head a lot of the time and overheat or otherwise be damaged.

My old Bendix fuel pump only ran when necessary so worked OK without a return line.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-...oI/AAAAAAAAJG0/npZp8CrpdXU/s1218/P8260987.JPG

 

This has always been my "old faithful" http://www.amazon.com/Carter-P4070-...F8&qid=1361782734&sr=8-5&keywords=Carter+elec but always run a relay with any electric pump or they will burn up http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Gasket-40H...361782995&sr=1-1&keywords=fuel+pump+relay+kit also do not run a paper filter ahead of the pump they can come apart and get sucked into the pump and burn it up.

 

Look for the facet gold flo pumps they push fuel, but also are designed to dry lift fuel, in other words they self prime with no damage, they also have a built in filter

 

Sounds like the problem is location you stated your pump was above your tank meaning every time it starts it starts dry, as stated above it needs to be gravity fed meaning it has to be lower than the tank. The one on my 48 is on the bottom of the inner fender well on the left front, not near the tank as suggested but still below the tank to get fuel to it all the time.

 

The facets are diaphram pumps, they work like a mechanical pump inside

 

This is why the one I suggested its designed to dry start

 

not all are pushers. morris minors had a pull pump where as minis had a push pump.

 

It has been preached for years to mount them as pushers. This is the best location but many of the old timers did not get the memo and they still worked.

 

You did good by putting a filter before the pump, but you may have used the wrong filter. Not all filters are compatable with electric fuel pumps and may cause it to suck too hard, overworking it. There are filters made with less restriction and those are sold by places like Summit.

I have used Holley pumps for years and had good luck, but they are noisy as hell. We have recently started using the low pressure Carter pumps and they are much quieter and sometimes don't even need a pressure regulator to work ok.

Don

 

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=726749&highlight=fuel+pump

Check this out ,^^^ OEM application
Links - part numbers, reviews, and available any place usually.
Comes with a nice HD "P" bracket, designed to pull fuel up from sender so it works just about anywhere.

 

This what I would use.

 

hey maybe make a braket out of aluminum angle or channel or ? might give you more options were to bolt up pump

 

Here's a photo of a bracket I made that mounts to my frame rail...........

 

is it possible to add a bracket in the area to mount it. so gravity works on your side for a quick prime. Had to construct a bracket and bolt it on to my frame and body for points of mounting. Made it so I could install a filter and pump together, easy maintenance. And a filter up front for the carb

 

Yeah thanks! I'm starting to think I may have to do this because there is absolutely NO place to put the pump below the tank. The tank is strapped under the trunk floor. The fuel outlet is on the bottom left front corner of the tank. And the diff is close by, and the exhaust system passes between the tank and the frame. Typical 1950s GM fuel system layout. I might try to bolt on a plate to the trunk floor above the tank, and make it go long enough to pass in front of the tank so I can bolt up the pump at the lower level of the tank.

 

You're probably right. I put one of those plastic transparent type filters with a paper element.