Fuel Pump

Through the bulkhead works.

you can bump it, easy to access through bulkhead as stated

I just removed mine by reaching up from under the car to access both the top bolt and the nut. A little inconvenient reaching a box wrench onto the top bolt blindly by finger feel, but it worked. I didn't feel like pulling the bulkhead.

New RobbMc fuel pump and pre-filter should arrive in a few days.
http://www.robbmcperformance.c...roducts/ford550.html

We'll see if I can properly tighten those bolts from under the car - I suspect not.

The Pantera Service Manual instructions are to remove and install the fuel pump from under the vehicle.
With the bulkhead removed, in my vehicle, the inlet hose to the water pump blocks any easy access to the upper fuel pump bolt.
I would suggest a few attempts at "blindly" securing the nut from beneath rather than the time to remove the bulkhead.

quote:

What's the best way to change out the fuel pump?

I did mine from under the car. Wasn't much of a problem as long as the fuel pump eccentric was on the "low" side.

Just remember that the fuel pump inlet hose will be below the level of the fuel in the tank, and fuel will continue to flow once disconnected from the fuel pump.

Either pinch off the inlet hose, or disconnect it from the top of the fuel tank.

John

quote:

Just remember that the fuel pump inlet hose will be below the level of the fuel in the tank, and fuel will continue to flow once disconnected from the fuel pump.

Either pinch off the inlet hose, or disconnect it from the top of the fuel tank.

I re-plumbed my fuel line from the bottom of the tank and installed a Groco stainless marine 90-degree fuel petcock so I can shut off fuel flow in the event I need to service the fuel pump or a fuel line.

http://www.groco.net/seacocks.htm

The 1/2" male threads allow it to thread directly into the metric plug bung in the bottom of the tank. Initially it didn't seal completely - it had a pretty good drip. Then I reinstalled it with commercial grade fuel-safe pipe dope (thread compound?) and an O-ring from my local O'Reilly Auto Parts store (one of those generic "Help!" packages that contained various sizes). Hasn't leaked a drop since!

This valve is 1/2" throughout, so no tight banjo fitting to restrict fuel flow to my new 383 stroker engine. Also, it fits snug up against the tank so no part of the fuel system hangs below the frame rail, so nothing to get knocked off if you hit a speed bump or have an off-road adventure.

Funny thing is when we tried to start the new engine, we primed the carb but couldn't keep it running. One of the guys helping with the install connected the fuel line, but didn't know about the shutoff. After a few tries we were wondering if my buddy hooked up the fuel lines to the wrong fitting on the pump, then I remembered the shutoff, gave it a quarter turn, and fired it right up!

Thanks for all the help guys. I will let you know how it went after the weekend.

John

quote:

so I can shut off fuel flow in the event I need to service the fuel pump or a fuel line.

Seems like a great anti-theft tool, also.

quote:

Seems like a great anti-theft tool, also.

Definitely! A thief won't get far on the fuel in the bowls.

Yes, I got the fuel pump in after all this time. Just like any other project on this car, changing the pump about 20% of the time involved, work generated by changing the pump 80%. I took the advice about getting eccentric 180 degrees off TDC and the pump almost fell in. I had to remove the bulkhead to loosen the top bolt, but most of the work was done from the bottom, on my back, upside down. Worst part was I could only get one hand up into that area. Pump works great.

I want to thank everyone for their advice.

John

So what fuel pump did you go with John?
I installed a RobbMC pump on mine. Did it all from under the car, laying on my back. Never removed the bulkhead.

The RobbMC pump body is significantly larger than the Holley pump it replaced - a very tight fit! I couldn't fit my fingers between the pump and block to put the bottom nut on to secure the pump. I had to get my son who has smaller hands than me, and even then he could barely get his fingers in there, while I pushed down on the pump from the top to seat it against the block.

The RobbMC pump also has 1/2" ports instead of 3/8" ports like the Holley pump, and they're located in different positions on the pump body, so it took a number of trips to Royal Brass and my local Lowes and Home Depot to find all the appropriate fittings I was looking for to connect it to my hard line to the carb. I also had to bend up a new hard line from the pump to the carb since the old one for the Holley wouldn't work with the new pump.

But, the new pump works great!

I went with a replacement pump from NAPA. They claim that it is made by Carter. I couldn't get a box socket on the bottom nut because the way the OEM pump was built. I took out the bulkhead to break free the top bolt. Not a lot of room down there. My engine is pretty much stock, a little wilder cam.

John