Electric fuel pump location on 1965 coupe

[AUTOHOLIC]

As it turned out, the second pump DID NOT fail but t was rather the ignition condenser which in turn took out the ORIGINAL 59 year old coil

I know these pumps are designed to push not pull. My mechanic says there is no space under the car at the tank to locate it safely and mounted it at the right rear of the engine compartment on the frame rail. He said this is lower than the fuel tank outlet so it is gravity feed to the pump. However I have had 2 new pumps fail in the last two weeks. The second one was a Carter and don’t recall the maker of the 1st one.
Any suggestions from members that have had a similar problem?

SEE EDIT IN BOLD ABOVE

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by AUTOHOLIC

I know these pumps are designed to push not pull. My mechanic says there is no space under the car at the tank to locate it safely and mounted it at the right rear of the engine compartment on the frame rail. He said this is lower than the fuel tank outlet so it is gravity feed to the pump. However I have had 2 new pumps fail in the last two weeks. The second one was a Carter and don’t recall the maker of the 1st one.
Any suggestions from members that have had a similar problem?

Back in the 60s I mounted a lot of E pumps. From what I remember about Vettes there is no serious room and what your mechanic says makes sense.

Wild card here, is the wiring to the pump done right? As a Vette is fiberglass you could have a ground issue!

[ZipZap]

Pics of wife?

[ratflinger]

WTF???!! This is a corvette site now?

[Frankie the Fink]

Your mechanic doesn't know what he's talking about and yes, you REALLY want the fuel pump as close to the gas tank as possible - this is what I installed - you have to be very careful with electric pumps - most put out too much pressure - this one is perfect:
https://www.amazon.com/GoodQbuy-Univ...6WD6SSZM&psc=1

Here is mine mounted just in front of the rear valence on a 63 coupe; you can see where the fuel tank sending unit is for reference:

You can also see it in this video at 10:30 minutes in:

YouTube (Short URL)

[GrandSportC3]

I used to run 2 fuel pumps in the rear of my 68 Vette (2nd one for fuel supply for nitrous). No issues finding a mounting location. Would have to look through my old pics to find the setup. C2 and C3 were about the same in the rear

[roadpilot]

I had no problems finding a spot near/at the fuel tank for my electric
fuel pump. Maybe your mechanic should try another smaller pump.
Good luck

[MadInNc]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

Back in the 60s I mounted a lot of E pumps. From what I remember about Vettes there is no serious room and what your mechanic says makes sense.

Wild card here, is the wiring to the pump done right? As a Vette is fiberglass you could have a ground issue!

It’s a C2 with mechanical pump

[AUTOHOLIC]

Originally Posted by MadInNc

It’s a C2 with mechanical pump

OPs subject car doesn’t have a mechanical pump, electric only.

[AUTOHOLIC]

Thanks Frankie. That is what I thought but as my age increases my memory diminishes.

[Frankie the Fink]

Two caveats though - if you do NOT have an oil pressure OFF switch for the pump and you should have a rollover or violent wreck the electric pump will most likely NOT stop flowing fuel (huge fire hazard) If you have a full-time electrical pump that's a big consideration.

Second, if you run the electric pump as a booster or "back up" THROUGH the mechanical pump (yes, it works) and the mechanical pump diaphragm/oil seal fails; you'll pump your crankcase full of gas and never know it because the engine generally will not stumble/quit. Not an issue if you are replacing the mechanical pump though.

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by Frankie the Fink

Two caveats though - if you do NOT have an oil pressure OFF switch for the pump and you should have a rollover or violent wreck the electric pump will most likely NOT stop flowing fuel (huge fire hazard) If you have a full-time electrical pump that's a big consideration.

Second, if you run the electric pump as a booster or "back up" THROUGH the mechanical pump (yes, it works) and the mechanical pump diaphragm/oil seal fails; you'll pump your crankcase full of gas and never know it because the engine generally will not stumble/quit. Not an issue if you are replacing the mechanical pump though.

Back in the early 60s I had a 318CI Mopar. The Woodruff key that worked with the fuel pump used to fail and I would lose my fuel pump. Rather than do a tear down I took the easy way out. Left the dead pump there and put on a electric pump a friend gave me on the lower part of the firewall. Bypassing the now dead mechanical pump!

Worried about a pump run on I wired it through a on/off switch and the ignition switch. That on off switch also acted as a theft determent, but this set up was not as good as the oil pressure switch you mentioned. Hey I was just a dumb kid way back then! Drove it like that for 3 months then bought a better newer car!

[ptindall]

Dumb question; what's wrong with using a factory mechanical pump?

[Bill]

Originally Posted by AUTOHOLIC

Thanks Frankie. That is what I thought but as my age increases my memory diminishes.

I'm just glad we settled on a workaround. Posting threads about actual generation specific questions in OT actually garners useful help.

Maybe we could have some kind of forum function where thread starters could opt to have their threads shown in both a generation sub, and in OT, and responses would automatically show up in both threads?

Just spitballing here, but that might be a way to gain membership. I see we have a bunch of n00bs who post serious questions in the generation threads, then get no traffic, and they just leave. That's wrong. We're small, but we do have a knowledge base here. Automatic cross posting would help.

Is this possible with our forum software, @Rob?

[SurfnSun]

Originally Posted by ratflinger

WTF???!! This is a corvette site now?

Two Corvette threads in one week is two too many.

[AUTOHOLIC]

Originally Posted by ptindall

Dumb question; what's wrong with using a factory mechanical pump?

Which today’s ethanol fuels in the summer time there is eithe vapor lock or fuel percolation with carbureted engines unlike all of the newer vehicles that are fuel injected and have electric pumps in their fuel tanks that by their nature don’t have those problems. Keeping the fuel pressurized to the carb helps overcome some of these problems.

[AUTOHOLIC]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

I'm just glad we settled on a workaround. Posting threads about actual generation specific questions in OT actually garners useful help.

Maybe we could have some kind of forum function where thread starters could opt to have their threads shown in both a generation sub, and in OT, and responses would automatically show up in both threads?

Just spitballing here, but that might be a way to gain membership. I see we have a bunch of n00bs who post serious questions in the generation threads, then get no traffic, and they just leave. That's wrong. We're small, but we do have a knowledge base here. Automatic cross posting would help.

Is this possible with our forum software, @Rob?

I agree.

[ToolMaker]

Contact Carter and see what they offer these days!

[AUTOHOLIC]

Originally Posted by ToolMaker

Contact Carter and see what they offer these days!

I have found that the simple Carter pumps to be the most reliable. I had one on my 1957 with 383 stroker, my 1972 El Camino with 350, now my 1965 with 383 and soon to be my 1966 L72.

[Yadkin]

The best location is in the tank. It seems counter-intuitive but that's where modern cars put them.