Re: Fred's Series 23 fuel pump

Posted by Fred Puhn On 2013/11/1 23:36:42

After some delay I finally got the Packard running well enough for a temperature test. I drove it for over 30 minutes at freeway speed (65 mph) around San Diego bay. The ambient air temperature was about 68 degrees. I stopped and immediately took the temperatures using a laser remote temperature sensor. Here are the locations and the temperatures recorded:

Radiator top tank 180
Core support rear surface on right side of radiator 130
Sheet metal cover in front of radiator top tank 92
Mechanical fuel pump 160
Cylinder block right hand side near front 180
Sheet metal on right side of engine compartment 108
Front of body 78
Exhaust manifold 240
Fuel line on side of frame on left side of car 70
Carburetor float bowl 140
Carburetor mounting flange above insulator 150
Manifold below carburetor flange insulator 210
Water pump near exit 150

This test confirms my intuition. If I mount an electric fuel pump on the fuel line under the car it will be at ambient air temperature. If I mount it on the radiator core support in front of the engine compartment it will be warmer but way cooler than the engine compartment. The vapor locking would happen somewhere between the mechanical fuel pump and the carburetor.

My next task will be to fix the charging system so it will handle additional electric load if I run the electric fuel pump at low speed.