Re: Tim's '55 Patrician

Posted by HH56 On 2012/1/6 18:44:28

You should be able to power the pump and it will push fuel thru the mechanical pump without even turning the engine over. You can stop the electric pump when the filter bowl is full and then crank the engine and mechanical will take over pulling fuel thru the electric. That is how many use their pumps so as not to have excess cranking.

When you had the tank off did you verify that the pickup line is open or not rusted thru. The opening points downward into a shallow cavity. Sometimes if fuel was allowed to sit in the tank it evaporates and turns that cavity into a solid block of varnish. Other tanks have had rusted lines right at the bend where it exits and if fuel is lower than that point the pump pulls air instead.

Addendum: I just remembered an electric pump on one of my cars that sounded good, pulsed it's little heart out and nary a drop of fuel because it had failed or clogged. That's always a possibility.