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Every since I rebuilt the fuel pump and replaced it on my 356CID engine it has leaked oil along the gasket. The bolts are tightened and then safety wired as best I can manage but they still work loose about 1/2 a turn after a few miles and asmall amount of oil seeps out which seeps back along the engine and then to the ground. Should I use something like Locktite on te bolt threads or gasket shellac on the gasket which I haven't yet tried. The fibre washers broke and I have been using lock washers but have only tightened the bolts to factory torque or a bit more. I would also like to know a source for the fibre washers (other than MM). Thanks

Locktite would not hurt and I would use the 242 (blue) medium strength. Anything stronger could be a royal PIA to remove bolts later. Clean the oil off the threads & use the wire as well. I would use some non hardening permatex on the gasket but probably the stuff you mention would work as well. Kind of odd things would loosen though. Are the fiber sleeves thru the pump body holes intact? Is there any kind of vibration or stress causing things to move?

The washers are available from both McMaster-Carr & MSC. Sleeves are also available but not exact match. US Plastichttp://www.usplastic.com/ carries phenolic tubing and would be a better choice for that.

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Dave to you have the bolt hole spacers in place? If not the fuel pump will wiggle about because of the play between the bolt holes and the bolt shafts and break the seal on the gasket.

If you do have the spacers in place, then try spraying the gasket with some cooper gasket spray on both side and reinstalled. This should help to cement it in place, but still make it some it will come apart if needed.

Gee thanks for the quick and great advice. Yes Kev the spacers are in place. I broke the washers some time ago when installing another pump so I do need those. I ran a tap and die on the bolts and bolt holes. I find that the safety wire helps but is almost impossible to get tight especially when working blind since the heat shield conceals the bolts. The gasket that came with the Then and Now kit is very thin but the original gasket is probably almost 1/8" thick and made of bvery hard material. I wonder which one would be best to use?

I never checked them out as to thickness but at my local Napa they had a row of fuel pump gaskets of varying sizes and styles. Wonder if your local parts store might have something thicker that would work.

Since the carter fuel pumps were used by several manufactures, I believe the feul pump gasket size/shape was pretty standard/common. Of course you can just buy a roll of thicker gasket material, and make your own.

Dave, as part of my "recommissioning" of the '47 Custom I removed the fuel pump, disassembled, and cleaned it. It was missing the insulating sleeves and washers. I found some nylon pieces at a local hardware store and used them. I could not find any bolts where the heads were drilled for safety wire and made holes in the bolts. I reinstalled the pump using the old gasket, new nylon insulators, and drilled bolts (which I safety wired). I found that removing the heat shield made the job much easier. I also got a correct flexible fuel line to pump hose from MM. I have not run the car yet, so do not know how good the job is. There was a bit of oil seepage around the pump mounting before the work, but not what I would call a leak. I thought about using a thicker gasket, but went with the old one.I hope this helps.

(o{I}o)