Electric pump or not
- Thread starter autox19
- Start date
Stuartc
True Classic
I recently removed my starter to have the solenoid rebuilt, went in and out in 5 minutes with mechanical fuel pump in place so no issues with mechanical pump in the way.
Saying this I will replace the mechanical pump with an electric one at some stage but as the mechanical pump is fine atm I’m just leaving it.
fiatfactory
Steve Cecchele
When Fiat fitted an electric pump as standard on any twin cam (carbed) model, it was a rotary vane pump with approx 90litre/hour delivery capacity at 4psi, that's not 90 litre/ hour free delivery which is how a lot of the cheaper pumps are "rated", Standard the electric pump is mounted in the boot / trunk.
a pump with just 60 litre / hour delivery will starve the engine of fuel at WOT
I personally like Carter pumps, my favorite motorsport pump for these cars is a genuine Carter gold 4070 47GPH at 5psi, rated 4 to 7 psi, free flow 72GPH. Use a pressure regulator and always run a return line.
SteveC
a pump with just 60 litre / hour delivery will starve the engine of fuel at WOT
I personally like Carter pumps, my favorite motorsport pump for these cars is a genuine Carter gold 4070 47GPH at 5psi, rated 4 to 7 psi, free flow 72GPH. Use a pressure regulator and always run a return line.
SteveC
Dr.Jeff
True Classic
For any vehicle I always use a electric pump, for a whole list of reasons. However there has been a serious decline in the quality of electric fuel pumps in recent years. Therefore you have to pay a decent amount to get a good one that will last. One unit that's always done quite well is the Holley style like this:
Although I haven't had to buy one in a few years so I can't say if they have changed quality since then. Combine it with a return style fuel pressure regulator for a much improved system.
Although I haven't had to buy one in a few years so I can't say if they have changed quality since then. Combine it with a return style fuel pressure regulator for a much improved system.
carl
True Classic
I add a simple toggle switch on the dash because there are many times I'm working on the electrical system with the ignition on and I really don't need to have the fuel pump thumping away. Also makes a simple anti-theft device but honestly I don't see anyone trying to steel any of my Fiats.
kmead
Old enough to know better
Yay, I don’t have to give my standard diatribe…
I will say I don’t fit electric pumps to my old Fiats. That’s just me.
RoyS
True Classic
Consider adding a controller for added safety (I did).
Fuel Pump Safety Switch
Shuts off the fuel pump if the engine stalls. Primes the pump at startup.
www.revolutionelectronics.com
Roy
kmead
Old enough to know better
Good advice. There is a VW fuel pump relay which does the same thing if interested.
carl
True Classic
The only problem I see with this setup is you could get hit from the back or side, doing significant damage to the car but allowing the engine to keep running. This is similar to the system Fiat used on the 124 and 128 only it used a signal from the oil pressure sending unit to activate the pump and also the starter circuit to activate the pump. I would probably go the route many folks do and wire in a collision sensor that many cars have. I guess it detects a high g-load from a hit and turns off the pump.
kmead
Old enough to know better
It is the combination of the impact sensor to cut things off in an impact and the ignition or oil pressure to be the go no go for the pump running in the first place.
carl
True Classic
Two true anecdotes.
1. My dad and I spent a week trying to figure out why his XJ6 would not start. Perusing the factory wiring diagram I found a "black box" that made no sense to me. Turned out it was an impact sensor that had tripped itself (good old Lucas). This was pre internet and you had to figure out everything yourself.
2. On a rainy night the oil light came on on my 128 and a few minutes later the engine stopped (fortunately I had enough warning to pull over on a side street). Next morning I found the oil pressure light switch had broken and sent a false "no pressure" signal to the electric fuel pump relay and turned off the fuel pump.
Undeterred I run electric pumps on all my Fiats. Facet cube pumps are noisy so easy enough to tell if it's working! And if they get really noisy you know you have a fuel supply problem to the pump as it's starting to suck air.
1. My dad and I spent a week trying to figure out why his XJ6 would not start. Perusing the factory wiring diagram I found a "black box" that made no sense to me. Turned out it was an impact sensor that had tripped itself (good old Lucas). This was pre internet and you had to figure out everything yourself.
2. On a rainy night the oil light came on on my 128 and a few minutes later the engine stopped (fortunately I had enough warning to pull over on a side street). Next morning I found the oil pressure light switch had broken and sent a false "no pressure" signal to the electric fuel pump relay and turned off the fuel pump.
Undeterred I run electric pumps on all my Fiats. Facet cube pumps are noisy so easy enough to tell if it's working! And if they get really noisy you know you have a fuel supply problem to the pump as it's starting to suck air.
autox19
True Classic
had one on the 81 I had. will be at sometime putting one in. but right now the budget is soooooo drained, if it currently works, it stays.
Odie
I put in an electric pump after a couple failures with mechanical pumps on my 124 Special. I used a Ford inertia switch mounted in the DS corner of the engine bay. Never got around to figuring out the oil relay set up. I guess the Spider's twin cam must be laid out different from the pushrod 4 in the 124 sedan? My starter was on the pass side and the mechanical pump was on the driver's side. I put in a regulator and pressure gauge as well.
You can see the red inertia switch at the top left corner. Regulator and gauge top center and the pump is mounted on the frame near the wheel well. The pump is visible straight down from the regulator to the left of the coil. This is all @Fiataccompli 's problem these days.
You can see the red inertia switch at the top left corner. Regulator and gauge top center and the pump is mounted on the frame near the wheel well. The pump is visible straight down from the regulator to the left of the coil. This is all @Fiataccompli 's problem these days.