Help Fuel pump install.

[Wayne P.]

I had to take the mechanical fuel pump off to get the engine mount bolt off. ( 327 small block ) I can't seem to get it back on. I pushed the rod up in the block.
Is their a trick I am missing ? Thanks

[Bob H.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

Hi Wayne:

The rod if it stays up at all usually comes back down about the time you try and position the pump to get the bolts in.

First, I believe you want to crank the engine to where the rod is in all the way so you don't have to fight so mutch tension on the pump arm. Then I usually put a small dab of bearing grease on the rod and that usually holds it up and in place.

I know some engines that have a bolt that can be removed to provide access to holding the rod in place but the dab of grease has worked for me.

Once you are not dealing the the rod, the pump should bolt in place pretty easy.

Bob

[Joe L.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

I had to take the mechanical fuel pump off to get the engine mount bolt off. ( 327 small block ) I can't seem to get it back on. I pushed the rod up in the block.
Is their a trick I am missing ? Thanks

Wayne-----


1) Place the engine at the firing position of the #1 cylinder. At this position, you'll be on the base circle of the fuel pump lobe;

2) Remove the upper, passenger side front motor mount bolt (this is one of the bolts used for the OLD STYLE front motor mounts used for C1 Corvettes and pre-58 passenger cars);

3) Push the fuel pump rod as far up as it will go into the bore and, at the same time, thread a longer bolt into this hole, PREFERABLY a nylon or brass bolt. This will hold the pushrod in its most retracted position;

4) Install the fuel pump;

5) DO NOT FORGET TO REMOVE THE LONGER BOLT AND REPLACE IT WITH THE ORIGINAL SHORT BOLT. USE SEALER ON THE SHORT BOLT.

By the way, reverse the direction you install the motor mount long bolt (i.e. install it from the REAR rather than from the front) and you won't have a need to remove the fuel pump if you have to remove the motor mount bolt again.

[Wayne P.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

Thanks Joe. I didn't see any other bolt holes than the two to install pump.
I will follow instructions and try the grease . I believe the engine is a 1966 vintage solid lifter. Regards

[Mike E.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

Bolt holes are around the corner--they are on the front corner of the block that faces the radiator.

[John H.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

I didn't see any other bolt holes than the two to install pump.
I will follow instructions and try the grease . I believe the engine is a 1966 vintage solid lifter. Regards

Wayne -

Here's the location of the shipping bolt to remove/replace:

[Terry D.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

John
Did the General stop making that hole go all the way thru and if so do you know when?
Terry

[Stuart F.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

Good question Terry. I do recall my 1980 Chevy wagon (305 V8) had the bolt hole as I had to change the pump a few times and was frustrated because that hole was used, I believe, to mount the lower A/C bracket and was inaccessible. I have a special bolt with a small spring in the center made for just that purpose.

Just as a side note; the reason I had to change the pump several times was that my engine had a porosity crack the length of the lifter valley and coolant was getting into the oil. Besides the grease it forms, in such places as the underside of the oil cap and in the pump cavity, this mixture attacks the pump arm return spring amd causes it to break. I was using Mobil 1 oil which probably allowed the condition to persist for such a long time before a cam bearing turned. This was a first for me and I never read any thing about such a thing either, which explains why I did not understand the warning signs. Got a new "350" installed by GM for that as apparently many early 1980 "305" blocks had that problem.

Stu Fox

[John H.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

John
Did the General stop making that hole go all the way thru and if so do you know when?
Terry

Terry -

I've never worked on any blocks later than '69, and all I've had prior to '70 had that hole drilled through to the pushrod tunnel.

[Michael H.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

John
Did the General stop making that hole go all the way thru and if so do you know when?
Terry

I lost a bet (lunch) with one of the mechanics at a Chev dealer in about 1973 on this issue. He said not ALL small blocks had the holes drilled/tapped in the front. I followed him around the service dept, looking at one car after another. Just about the time I was convinced I had a free lunch coming, he found one. No hole, never drilled. I think it was a new 73 something.

[Wayne P.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

Michael sorry for the delay in response. Just got back from vacation to -12 deg c . I am one of those lucky ones with the block not drilled .

[David A.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

here is a pic of my chevy 283 small block
one can see it has the hole to hold the fuel pump push rod
it was not blocked off (so can leak oil)

Q what is the thread count on the 1.5" long 3/8" dia nylon bolt?

thanks

iowa

[John H.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

Q what is the thread count on the 1.5" long 3/8" dia nylon bolt?

David -

That's a 3/8"-16 tapped hole.

[David A.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

thanks john
will be installing it tomorrow
i read somewhere that the fittings should be
installed before the engine is lowered
onto the motor mounts.

i'm still waiting for the new cross mount

dave

[Stuart F.]

Re: Help Fuel pump install.

There must have been literally hundreds of thousands of post 57 Chevy small blocks running around with no bolt or plug in that tapped hole and few if any ever leaked much of any oil. I often wondered why, but I guess the amount of oil that seeps down the push rod is just enough to lubricate it and that's all. You'll not find a puddle of oil in the cavity when you remove a pump, leastwise, I never did.

So, I guess it could be said that if your engine didn't have a bolt or plug there and you intend to go through judging, don't add one for the sake of preventing a drop or two of oil seepage.

Stu Fox