Electric Fuel Pump

[GregL]

Hey guys,
What are you using for an electric fuel pump?
I'm in California, with the horrible corn gas, many starting issues so I decided to install an electric fuel pump. Bought an Edelbrock part number 17301 with 4-7 psi (Made in China) for $68.00. Should have been just what I needed. Did the install and..... nothing. Lots of noise but no fuel. Install is absolutely correct as per instructions so I know that's not the issue. Says it's a pusher pump and that it will self prime. I disconnected the hoses right at the pump and keyed on, could feel nothing on either side. I put a short hose on each side and put the "pull" side on my tongue, couldn't feel anything. Put the "push" side in a glass of water and also got nothing, no bubbles, zip. I'm convinced it's dead right out of the box. I checked the on line reviews and there are LOTS of complaints of quick failures.
I will not buy another Edelbrock. So what are you guys using who may have switched up to electric?
Cheers, Greg

 

[Bextreme04]

You don't need an electric pump to fix "starting issues". It has nothing to do with California or "Corn gas" either. You need to get your carburetor adjusted properly and make sure the rest of the engine are mechanically sound. What are the actual problems you are having? Have you had someone that knows what they are doing look at the carb?

 

[GregL]

I am an ASE certified tech with a list of certifications as long as my arm, GM heavy line, but thanks for your helpful reply.

 

[Bextreme04]

I am an ASE certified tech with a list of certifications as long as my arm, GM heavy line, but thanks for your helpful reply.

Good for you... I guess? That doesn't really have anything to do with this though. There are tens of thousands of us driving our trucks with mechanical pumps on 10% ethanol pump gas and no issues. Everyone I have ever seen running a supplementary electric fuel pump has nothing but issues with them. It is completely unnecessary unless your fuel pump lobe is worn off or your block doesn't have a mounting boss for the pump.

You still haven't actually said what your starting issue is?

If I absolutely HAD to have an electric pump, I would probably just get a TBI sending unit from an 87' and run the in-tank pump with an adjustable regulator to let you take down the pressure to whatever you want. Second choice would be a Holley Red pump on the inside of the frame rail(assuming you don't have exhaust running right next to it).

What carburetor are you running?

 

[Rumbledawg]

walbro fuel pumps.
not chineseum
i been running an external Walbro fuel pump for my fi big block for close to 18 yrs before it crapped out....and it wasn't the pumps fault, i got too far out in the bush and ended up running my tanks almost dry.
of course i replaced it with another Walbro pump and expect to get just as long service

 

[Originalthor]

I recommend walbro aswell. Good pumps. Never had a problem with them.

Your pump you have now. Take some wd40 and shoot a pile in there and hook it back up. Thats what I had to do to a few other brands.

 

[SquareRoot]

Stop buying crap from Amazon. Genuine Edelbrock parts are good quality and they stand by their stuff.

 

[GregL]

Thanks guys, appreciate the input. I will locate a Walbro pump.

 

[GregL]

Stop buying crap from Amazon. Genuine Edelbrock parts are good quality and they stand by their stuff.

WTF?
Bought from my local parts store. Edelbrock chooses to make these pumps in China. Spoke to their tech line here in SoCal and the guy said they're having nothing but trouble with these Chinese pumps. He recommended I just return it to Autozone.
They really stood behind this one.

 

[GregL]

Good for you... I guess? That doesn't really have anything to do with this though.

Eric, I don't know what you do for a living but if you told me you were an certified accountant with lots of experience and we were discussing taxes I would expect that would have a great deal to do with the conversation and I'd also think you knew what you were doing.
You assume to know more about my issue than I do, without really knowing anything about my issue at all. I'm asking for others experience with electric fuel pumps, not for an on line diagnosis from a guy in a different state with a completely different environment, I didn't think it was necessary and apparently the two other responders didn't feel it was necessary to quiz me either.
I suppose I could have given a lengthy explanation about triple digit ambient temperatures here in the desert, which you likely never experience and fuel boiling and evap problems like 90% of the nation has never dealt with, break downs, tow-ins, relocating and insulating steel fuel lines when inner frame rail temps near exhaust reach almost 200 degrees, etc., etc., etc. These are all common problems here in my environment.....which is not Oregon.
But, I thought it was much more expedient to just ask for the specific info I wanted.

 

[GregL]

Rumbldawg and Originalthor are you running pressure regulators with your Walbro pumps?

 

[Ricko1966]

I've done several electric pumps,what year is your truck?Do you have provisions for a mechanical pump? Do you have fuel bypass provisions factory? The bypass is the big deal mechanical pump or electric pump.

 

[Ricko1966]

I am an ASE certified tech with a list of certifications as long as my arm, GM heavy line, but thanks for your helpful reply.

I'm ASE certified and GM certifications as thick as a phone book not one those little wuussie phone book either bout an inch and a half thick. I still make mistakes it happens. Maybe people could have been a little more PC but @Bextreme04 is a very smart man. And seriously the way you wrote this up you didn't give us much info. But thinking about it you are right you didn't ask for any help,just want to know what pump people are running. I think I'm staying out of this,good luck.

 

[Rumbledawg]

Rumbldawg and Originalthor are you running pressure regulators with your Walbro pumps?

yes, i'm fuel injected

 

[Frankenchevy]

I’d run an adjustable return style regulator, especially if you are experiencing vapor lock / fuel boiling. It’ll keep the gas circulating. Some people are reluctant to run a pressure gauge at the carb inlet for fear of a leak, but I had one for a while to double check what my ecu was telling me with no issues.