1965 396 fuel pump help

[Keith B.]

While taking my car out for a test drive before Survivor road test this summer my fuel pump diaphram let go. I replaced the pump with a repo from Paragon but it is simply not the same. There are a couple of "NOS" pumps on ebay but again they are not confirgured the same way as the pump in the picture below. Could a true expert let me know the answer to these two questions. Any question that the pump below is not 100% correct and is there anyone out there that can replace the diaphram to allow me to put me pump back where it belongs.
I know that this is a safety issue and would only want someone who does quality work.

Thanks as always

Keith

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 396 fuel pump help

Keith-----

From what I can see of it, it looks to be about the right configuration. However, the number on it looks to be '40386'. If that's what the number actually is, that's not a correct number for any 1965 L-78 pump I know of. Early L-78 should be '40248' and later (from ABOUT June) should be '40366'. I don't know what a '40386' is, assuming that's the actual stamped number.

[Keith B.]

Re: 1965 396 fuel pump help- better picture

here is a better picture of the code. It is a 40366.

Keith

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 396 fuel pump help- better picture

Keith-----

Then, assuming that the car is a rather late 1965 L-78, I'd say it's the correct one. Some say that the change occurred about June, 1965. However, I think it could have been earlier than that.

The only one that I know of that rebuilds these crimped style units is Paul Baker of Goat Hill. Problems have been reported there. There may be other rebuilders, but I don't know of them. Personally, I wouldn't use a rebuilt unit.

[Wayne M.]

Correct 6440366 pump configuration

Keith -- the '65 TIM&JG says all L78 except 1st month production used the 40366. You would definitely lose points for the inlet tube configuration (supposed to be a square brass block pointing to the RH motor mount that attaches to fuel line rubber hose, not the curved tube. Also, you have the pair of countersunk holes near the bottom edge of the casting that are a sign of current reproduction (if I'm reading the JG correctly, as I'm definitely not the true expert you've asked to respond).

Second pic (click on this link).


These 2 pics are off eBay. I have more showing original boxes, but shots are not as clear as these.

[Rob M.]

Re: Correct 6440366 pump configuration

Wayne,
Are you saying that the picture in your post is correct and that Keith's picture is the reproduction configuration?

[Wayne M.]

Yes -- curved inlet tube is a NO NO (another pic)

Excuse the poor eBay picture quality.

I say this as a non-expert, but one who has followed this trivia for several years, and reads his '65 TIM&JG. New-in-the-Box originals went for $250-380 a couple of years ago.

[William C.]

Agree with Wayne *NM*

[Keith B.]

The care is a late May car

I am confused if there was a change to the second configuration. This is a low mile car and I have most if not all the maintenance records with no indication that the pump was replaced.

The judging manual decribes only one.

Thanks

Keith

[John S.]

Re: The care is a late May car

Keith,

The Judging Manual describes both the 6440248 and the 6440366 fuel pumps. My 65 is a May 24th car and has a 6440366 fuel pump that looks just like yours. Based on what Wayne is saying, it looks that I also have a problem.

[Joe L.]

Re: Yes -- curved inlet tube is a NO NO (another p

Wayne-----

It's somewhat of a surprise to me; I always thought that welded-on, machined fitting was a feature of the 1966 version of the 40366. I thought that for 1965, both for the "short valve" 40248 and the "long valve" 40366 used the curved inlet nipple. However, I am not an "expert" on 1965-66 big block fuel pumps, either.

[Bill W.]

Re: 1965 396 fuel pump help- better picture

# 16120 is a short pump..I cant get to it now to rear the #.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 396 fuel pump help- better picture

Bill-----

Is the INLET the "curved tube" or does it have the "welded-on type fitting"?

[Bill W.]

Re: 1965 396 fuel pump help- better picture

Yes the inlet is the curved tube . It goes into a short base then the pump.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1965 396 fuel pump help- better picture

Bill------

Thanks. That confirms what I thought the inlet configuration was for the short valve units.