fuel pump

deriley · Post by **deriley** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 9:35 am

I need to replace my fuel pump. I had a NAPA pump mounted in the engine compartment on the side wall by the carb. Went to NAPA to get a new one and they changed the design that dosen't fit. I called IAP and ordered one sould be here by friday. James from IAP told be that the pump should be mounted in the rear under the car. My questions are:
Is this correct? Is so where do I mount it? How do I wire it? It sure looks like where its at now is factory original.
Thanks everyone, I don't know what I'd do w/o this site.

lanciahf · Post by **lanciahf** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:02 am

Denise,
First what year is your car? If your spider has a carb and came with an electric pump originally. The original pump was mounted in the trunk next to the tank. (1975 & 1976 I think). Sounds like someone retro fitted an electric pump.

A simple solution would be to install a mechanical pump. If you still want to go electric mount one under the rear seat on the driverâ€™s side. You will see the existing hoses there. You should wire the pump where it only turns on when you are cranking the starter or the engine is running. You can find an oil pressure safety relay switch at some online places.
For Example http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/produc ... p?RecId=88

or find a VW Fuel Pump relay which receives a signal from the coil & ignition switch to start the pump. Part number: 321 906 059 C. This is what I did.
See http://www.dolphinsci.com/relay.html
I would have used the mechanical one (hint hint) but I cut the lobe off the Aux shaft. The mechanical one is the easiest.

spiderrey · Post by **spiderrey** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:22 am

i like that. think ill use it.

deriley · Post by **deriley** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:27 am

My baby is a 79, I bought an electric pump because that was what she had. This is all over my head. But i'm figuring it out little by little thanks to this site and all the helpful advice I receive.
If I get a mechanical pump where does it get mounted? It's not to late to change my order at IAP, nothing will be shipped before tomorrow.

So Cal Mark · Post by **So Cal Mark** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:34 am

you should definitely move the electric pump to the rear, in the trunk next to the tank is the ideal place. If you're happy with the way your existing pump is wired, simply extend the existing wire to the trunk when you relocate the pump.

TVST*R · Post by **TVST*R** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:15 pm

Mark-
What's a good 'lectric pump?
T

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:17 pm

The mechanical pump would be to the right and above your oil filter housing. It may be a little hard to get to due to the intake manifold and there may be a plate over the hole.

rod shiftright · Post by **rod shiftright** » Wed Sep 20, 2006 7:08 am

A good pump would be the Purolator model #PRO06sv. It puts out between 4-6 psi and cost $30 at Advance auto. I have used the eariler version of this pump for over ten years on my '77 spyder. You always want to mount these pumps as low and as close to the fuel tank as possible. The reason is because pumps used for carb equiped cars are generally of the diaphram type and as such,they do a good job of pushing gas,but not pulling it. They rely on a siphon action to fill the inlet side of them,and then a moving diaphram forces the gas out. Built in check valves make sure the fuel can only travel in one direction. They could be mounted closer to the engine but then priming them might be a problem as they don't create much suction.

deriley · Post by **deriley** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 10:02 am

Thanks for all the advice. The electric pump that I ordered from IAP arrived yesterday and I will attempt to install it on Sat. in the trunk. I finally checked the manual that I downloaded from this site and it clearly shows the pump in the engine compartment. Wish me luck!

kmartin83 · Post by **kmartin83** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:03 am

Okay, my fuel pump is in the front of the car as well, next to the carb. I will have to look in my shop manual for proper placement and will change as well.

deriley · Post by **deriley** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 9:19 pm

Hi everyone,
I installed the new fuel pump today and everything is working well. opted to place it in the original mounting in the engine compartment. my
husband was having a tizzy fit about installing in the trunk (he's bi polar and an archit. and knows everything) I figured it was easier than listening to him grumble forever. Next time he's out of town I'll reinstall in the trunk. Thanks for all your help and advice.

HOLLYWOODSPIDER · Post by **HOLLYWOODSPIDER** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 9:35 pm

My '78 spider originally had a mechanical, cam-driven fuel pump. PO installed an electric fuel pump in the trunk and used the wires that used to run from the guage to the tank as the power lines. Pump runs constantly when key is turned on, and I have no fuel guage.

What's the benefit of electric over mechanical fuel pump? Why wouldn't I want to switch back to the original style (still bolted in place on the engine)?

I thought the pump was shot earlier today. It was making a god-awful racket. Very noisy, I thought, I'd never been able to hear it before. Then it kept running after I shut the car off! Beginning to get worried, I opened the trunk to disconnect the power.

My tire compressor had turned itself on rolling in the trunk. That's what I had heard. Dork.

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