'65 Fuel Pump Failures

[George J.]

All,
I have owned my '65 FI car for 20+ years. Every 4-5 years, it seems I am replacing the fuel pump. This equates to about 5k to 8k miles. The failure is not with the diaphragm, but usually with the spring. I even installed an original, rebuilt pump, a few years ago, but that one failed at the pivot shaft. I am now at the point that originality is not as important as reliability.
I have two questions. One, is there any way to make a replacement 40083 pump reliable? Two, if not, what pump would you recommend?

Thanks,

George

[George J.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

100 views and no comments? Anybody have a pump they can recommend other than the stock reproduction pump?

George

[John F.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

I feel properly rebuilding your original is your best bet. You should be getting more than 4-5 years for the miles driven!

[George J.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

John,
thanks. I had bought it rebuilt by one of the reputable houses. I'm just not that confident that the new rebuild kits on a 50 yr old pump can take 6500rpms. I was hoping someone either had had this problem and fixed it with an older one, or is using a new pump they could recommend.

George

[Leo G.]

[Dan H.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

George, I've used Hal Houghton to rebuild my 64 FI pump, give him a call, 518 374 5078, he's old school.
Dan

[Mark E.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

Do you really wind it to 6,500 rpm? Try keeping it under 5,500 and see if that makes a difference. Maybe the asian aftermarket or rebuilt or old pumps can't take the stress and strain.

[Jimmy G.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

If you or your rebuilder used old technology parts failure is bound to happen. New technology rubber parts are needed Ethanol is a killer for old cars. Hopefully you are using no OH gas as well Personally I run AVGAS Last fuel pump rebuild was in 1999

[George J.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

Dan,
thanks. I might give him a call.
Mark - I love running the engine up to 6k. It's been rebuilt and has been okay with it for 20yrs.
Jimmy - I've run Shell premium for 20+ years and had no deterioration of any soft parts that I know of.

Otherwise, I will look at Summit or Jegs like Leo suggested. If anyone has any more opinions, or experience with a higher quality aftermarket pump, I'd appreciate hearing.
Also, I assume the proper pump would deliver no more than 6psi, correct?

George

[George J.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

All, I've decided on an Edelbrock 1721 Performer pump. Hopefully the installation goes well, and it's more reliable than the factory replacements.

George

[Leo G.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

Keep us informed of how it works out for you. I can see more problems in the future.

Drive em safe

Leo

[Timothy B.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

George,

Was it the spring above the diaphragm or the spring that keeps the rocker arm in contact with the push rod in the engine. I can't help but wonder if these are cheap aftermarket parts. I can't remember hearing about spring failures in these fuel pumps.

[George J.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

Leo, will do.

Tim, the spring for the rocker arm. This has to be my third or fourth one. It does seem like a cheap spring, but I wouldn't know where to get another, and/or what the specs are. I'll try the Edelbrock pump. There are some things that aren't worth being original about. Tires, batteries, and now fuel pumps, it seems.

George

[Timothy B.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

George,

After you get the engine running again and have some time try rebuilding that pump again but mine a GM spring off a junk pump somewhere. That seems really odd considering the spring just holds the rocker arm against the engine push rod. Are you sure the push rod length is correct, that's the only thing I could think of that would dead head the spring other than a cheap reproduction part.

[George J.]

Re: '65 Fuel Pump Failures

George,

After you get the engine running again and have some time try rebuilding that pump again but mine a GM spring off a junk pump somewhere. That seems really odd considering the spring just holds the rocker arm against the engine push rod. Are you sure the push rod length is correct, that's the only thing I could think of that would dead head the spring other than a cheap reproduction part.

Tim,
Yes, I had thought about trying to find an old spring, but without knowing its history, I opted for a new pump. I have wondered if there is something wrong with the pushrod, or block, but the fact that the pump works for a few years lead me to believe it is spring fatigue, or lack of qualilty. I was hoping others had the same experience. I think I found a post by Jack Panzica, who traveled all over with his car that alluded to him having the same problem. It would make sense, since he put a lot of miles on his car. The spring is actually breaking in half, by the way.

George