1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

[Robert S.]

Was #4150 Fuel Pump used for all 1955 Corvettes?

[Jack H.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

First, there's a dot the 'i' issue here... There WERE a handfull of 1955 6-cylinder cars produced, so you have to separate engine questions in '55 into 6-cyl versus 8-cyl camps. I'm going to assume your question deals with an 8-cyl 1955 Corvette...

Currently, the NCRS judging guide cites only the AC 4150 pump for 1955 V-8 engines while the JG book for '56-57 cars call out the AC 4262 pump for an early '56 car and the AC 4346 pump for late '56 and '57 cars. It might be possible for a late build '55 to have left the factory with a 4262 pump installed, but the burden of proof in terms of originality will fall on your shoulders during judging...

[Robert S.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

Jack,

Thanks for the info. I will use the AC 4150.

[Troy P.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

Suggest you check with the 53-55 Team Leader on this. If you have a late 55 I think the 4262 may be recognized as correct. But if you have an early to mid 55 then the 4150 is the way to go.

[John S.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

Suggest you check with the 53-55 Team Leader on this. If you have a late 55 I think the 4262 may be recognized as correct. But if you have an early to mid 55 then the 4150 is the way to go.

the chevrolet parts book effective april1,1955 list fuel pump #5593256, flange stamped 4262, as the fuel pump for all V8s. so by april 1955, if not earlier, the 4150 was being replaced.

[Troy P.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

Question is how long did it take for the Corvette assembly line to run out of 4150s? With only 700 built the answer may have been "never". Or they could have only been shipped several hundred at a time or 500 at a time. No one knows from the records.

[John S.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

Question is how long did it take for the Corvette assembly line to run out of 4150s? With only 700 built the answer may have been "never". Or they could have only been shipped several hundred at a time or 500 at a time. No one knows from the records.

aren't the motors delivered to the assembly line with the fuel pump on them? from the time a newer part appears it is a very short time that they completely replace the old part. the reason for newer part is almost always improving on some defect or deficiency of the original part. there would be no way, especially on a fuel pump, that they would continue for another 8 months using a part that had been updated.

[Troy P.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

Good question. I know some years they weren't. In fact I think I read that the current motors are shipped without fuel pumps because the don't fit into the shipping cradles with the pump on.

[Robert S.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

I have 1533. The Birthday is late August, 1955. So I guess either would be OK.

[John H.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

aren't the motors delivered to the assembly line with the fuel pump on them?

Fuel pumps were always installed at the car assembly plant, not at the engine plant, which is why the fuel pump installation is shown in Section 6 in the Assembly Manual. The photo below was taken on the shipping dock at Flint V-8 in 1955 - if you look at the engine to the right of the one being handled, you'll note that there is no fuel pump on the block.


55V8Shipping1024.jpg

[John S.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

I am looking to replace the fuel pump which is an aftermarket. I noticed that there was an early fuel pump #4150 and late fuel pump #4262. However NCRS’s Technical Manual does not refer to #4262 for late model 55 Corvettes.

Was #4150 Fuel Pump used for all 1955 Corvettes?

on ebay is the very original and for the most part unrestored #594. it is owned by steve newsom who is a bloomington judge. i would contact him and ask him about the number of the fuel pump. in the engine compartment almost everthing is the way i would expect them to be except for a operating vacuum advance, unpainted and upside down tackdrive and maybe the black generator support arm. on the arm i seem to see them both black or engine color. it would be wise to keep pictures of this car for your restoration. also for a span of cars between 525 and 600 there are cars where the 3spd type washer pedal was introduced. cars with the 3spd type washer pedal use the washer bag as seen on this car. after 600 the automatic cars seem to return to the first design button type foot plunger and the washer jar.

[John H.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

[QUOTE=John Scopelite (50653).. and maybe the black generator support arm. on the arm i seem to see them both black or engine color. [/QUOTE]

John -

Fllnt V-8 production records and the Engineering Bill Of Material show that the #3704884 generator brace installation (only on "FG" and "GR" Corvette engines) was re-allocated to St. Louis in early April; after that point, the brace should be semi-gloss black (primed at St. Louis), not engine orange.

[John S.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

John -

Fllnt V-8 production records and the Engineering Bill Of Material show that the #3704884 generator brace installation (only on "FG" and "GR" Corvette engines) was re-allocated to St. Louis in early April; after that point, the brace should be semi-gloss black (primed at St. Louis), not engine orange.

thanks for clearing that up. after your picture with the painted brackets on the engines i was beginning to doubt the black brackets.

[John S.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

Was #4150 Fuel Pump used for all 1955 Corvettes?

fuel pump on #594 is #4262.

[Robert S.]

Re: 1955 Corvette Fuel Pump

Gentlemen,


Thanks for the information. I some time wonder if my car is really a 55 even though the vin number indicates it is. I don't have the windshield washer system. There are a few other items missing.