1957 Biarritz fuel pump color

[57eldoking]

I'm still quite certain the video shows a blue fuel pump. You can see a hose hanging down on the front of the engine. Based on its length, location and dimension I'm 99% convinced this is the fuel pump hose. If you trace the hose up to its connection point, the part it connects to is the same color as the block. This part also sits right next to the oil filler tube which is the correct location of the fuel pump. Some small lighter areas can be seen on the part which are probably the brass fittings.

[Jon S]

I'm still quite certain the video shows a blue fuel pump. You can see a hose hanging down on the front of the engine. Based on its length, location and dimension I'm 99% convinced this is the fuel pump hose. If you trace the hose up to its connection point, the part it connects to is the same color as the block. This part also sits right next to the oil filler tube which is the correct location of the fuel pump. Some small lighter areas can be seen on the part which are probably the brass fittings.

Quite possible.  I see the carburetor heat tube and a small round item in front of the carburetor just to the left of your red circle top which I believe to be the fuel pump.  Anyone's guess . . .

UDATE:  I just spoke to my 90 year old retired Cadillac serviceman neighbor and he assured me the factory installed pumps in 1957 were all "cast" dull silver; never painted.

[Jon S]

Two more pictures. Perhaps the Authencity Manual needs to be updated?

[Paul Tesone]

 Jon - thanks for the input . Too late for me , as mine is already painted . Now John , who renewed this topic , has to decide to paint or leave natural - keeping in mind that judges will be referencing the authenticity manual , unless convinced otherwise at the time of judging . Paul Tesone CLC # 6876

[57eldoking]

Here are pictures of a 57 Seville that has been in Europe since 1958. It is a 58.000 original mile car and the engine has never been out and the car has been sitting in a museum since the early 80s. The fuel pump is visibly blue. It is very likely to be the original pump because extremely few parts stores in Europe would have carried replacement pumps in the 60s, 70s and 80s. The easiest and cheapest way would have been to order a rebuild kit for the original pump.

[Jon S]

Paul -

Sorry you repainted the pump, but I'm sure it will look great when finished. I do think the Authencity Manual needs some updating. I had volunteered to assist in the past. I do believe I know the 1957/1958's very well.

[Jon S]

Here are pictures of a 57 Seville that has been in Europe since 1958. It is a 58.000 original mile car and the engine has never been out and the car has been sitting in a museum since the early 80s. The fuel pump is visibly blue. It is very likely to be the original pump because extremely few parts stores in Europe would have carried replacement pumps in the 60s, 70s and 80s. The easiest and cheapest way would have been to order a rebuild kit for the original pump.

I hear you but I have to tell you here in the States in the 1960's pumps were just replaced and the replacement AC pumps were crimped, not screwed together like the originals. I sold many working for an AC Delco distributor in 1964-1968. As I've stated neither brand new 1957 or 1958 I personally worked on since new had painted fuel pumps. I knew the complete history of both cars.

[57eldoking]

Perhaps the process wasn't consistent, some pumps were painted and some were not. There's plenty of stories of inconsistencies at the assembly line...

[Jon S]

For sure!  That is why it is so hard to know what is correct. I use my 1958 and a friend's 1958 as points of reference but as you state inconsistancies do exist and some Dealers made modifications to differentiate their cars.

Here's a picture of my engine I just took while it's in winter storage:

[J Kjerrulf]

Have nothing to contribute other than additional question marks. Was my fuelpump replaced almost when new? Is this a non 57 fuel pump or was the "gold" removed prior to install?

[57CaddyBiarritz]

FWIW I believe this is the original one that I pulled off the car.  It has traces of Cadillac blue on it though I don't know if it was repainted at some point or if this is from the factory.  The condition leads me to believe the latter but I'm far from an expert...

[Jon S]

Have nothing to contribute other than additional question marks. Was my fuelpump replaced almost when new? Is this a non 57 fuel pump or was the "gold" removed prior to install?

That one is an AC replacement made around 1962 - 1965.

[57eldoking]

FWIW I believe this is the original one that I pulled off the car.  It has traces of Cadillac blue on it though I don't know if it was repainted at some point or if this is from the factory.  The condition leads me to believe the latter but I'm far from an expert...

Does it have the embossed AC letters on top? It doesn't appear to have the slanted lid so I'm inclined to say this is a replacement pump.

[Jon S]

Does it have the embossed AC letters on top? It doesn't appear to have the slanted lid so I'm inclined to say this is a replacement pump.

The replacement AC Pumps (713) did NOT have the slanted tops.  It is indeed a replacement AC pump.  I sold them in the mid-60's.

So here is a question for Authentication and Judging . . . Is a period correct manufactured in USA AC 713 Fuel Pump (w/o the slanted top as replacements did not have slanted tops) correct for a 1957/1958 Cadillac?

[57CaddyBiarritz]

Yes on the embossed AC on both the top and bottom.

[57eldoking]

Could very well be the original pump I'd say. It appears from the pictures the pump wasn't completely painted on the top. The authenticity manual does mention that some 57s could have had a horizontal lid like this pump has. What body number is your Biarritz John? Perhaps the lid design changed at some point during the 57 production run.

[57CaddyBiarritz]

It's body #115.  Based on all the great feedback, I think I'm leaning towards painting it blue, unless someone tells me different.  Thanks!

[57eldoking]

The replacement AC Pumps (713) did NOT have the slanted tops.  It is indeed a replacement AC pump.  I sold them in the mid-60's.

So here is a question for Authentication and Judging . . . Is a period correct manufactured in USA AC 713 Fuel Pump (w/o the slanted top as replacements did not have slanted tops) correct for a 1957/1958 Cadillac?

The authenticity manual says: "Some ostensibly original cars have been observed with the edges of this pulsator diaphragm parallel with the ground, but shop manual and master parts book show the version with the diaphragm not parallel to the ground."

Since the authenticity manual is the judging guideline and it makes a mention of the parallel diaphragms observed on "ostensibly original" cars I would think they would not deduct points.

[Jon S]

It's body #115.  Based on all the great feedback, I think I'm leaning towards painting it blue, unless someone tells me different.  Thanks!

I contacted Lou Commisso and he is looking for his enlarged picture of the assembly line video and will contact me soon.  I will reiterate that my personal experience on my cousin's purchased brand new 1957 Fleetwood and my dad's purchased brand new1958 Sedan De Ville (which I have) neither came from Detroit with painted fuel pumps.

This is becoming interesting!

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Jon, this subject has come up a number of times and the consensus is that fuel pumps were indeed painted blue. I have personally found this to be the case on a number of untouched originals that I have seen.

However, there is evidence to show that this was not invariably the case - for which there had been a suggestion that fuel pumps of this era had some level of failure and this would only be known after the pumps had been installed. When this occured, a new pump would need to be installed while the car was still under assembly. And it was during these instances in which the replacement pump would not have been painted.

I cannot comment on the validity of this hypothesis but it is the most logical theory proffered that I have heard, to date.