Any years Electric Fuel Pump

[Jim Miller]

I've purchased a very nice 1957 model 62 sedan. It has an in-line auxiliary electric fuel pump that is wired into the ignition so it runs all the time when the car is on. My other cars have a switch on the electric pump. Not sure if this is good or bad to run all the time? Any thoughts from other CLC members.

[bcroe]

Safety requires that the electric pump shut down
anytime the engine stops.  One way to do that is
feed power thru an oil pressure switch.  If a
momentary boost is needed before cranking, wire
a manual momentary closed switch across the oil
pressure switch.  good luck, Bruce Roe

[David Greenburg]

You absolutely want to have it either wired as Bruce suggests, or with a momentary switch that you have to hold your finger on for priming. Otherwise terrible things can happen if, for example your fuel filter develops a bad leak. Do not ask how I know this.

[Jim Miller]

I'll put a switch on it. You guys have confirmed what I thought.
Thanks

[James Landi]

Jim, Good to know that you're adding a switch. I suggest a momentary one.  Too MUCH constant fuel pressure has consequences... Your carburetor was designed to accept a certain prescribed amount of fuel pressure... I've had experience with too much pressure ... in my case, the float's needle valve got stuck in its seat, so the engine would not start for lack of fuel.  A couple of aggressive bops with a hammer, caused the valve to unseat thus dropping the float and allowing fuel to enter, and so the engine started. When the problem occurred again, I disassembled the carburetor, and could easily see how the needle valve had developed a ridge line from too much fuel pressure. Another concern: if you have a compromised fuel line, fuel filter gasket, or damaged fuel pump, adding pressure on the 'vacuum side' of your fuel system  can cause a dangerous fuel leak.

[dn010]

The pump should have a switch regardless of whether it is a full-time pump or not. That way you can shut it off if you need to have the ignition on for diagnosing issues, etc.

I have a 57 as well. I ended up removing the mechanical fuel pump and running the electric pump full time, obviously with a switch, but also with a fuel pressure regulator. Not helpful if you like to keep things original but I had many problems with the fuel system in that car, the electric pump eliminated all of those problems.

[TJ Hopland]

I was gonna say or ask is the mechanical one still in place and functional?   The answer there makes a big difference especially when it comes to if it should be running all the time. 

[Jim Miller]

The original pump is in place. I'm going to pull the wire on the electric and see how the mechanical pump performs. The car was restored around 1997 and the records show it's been replaced twice since then - but not many miles. The car was restored by CLC member Dave Rockstein in Oregon then owned by CLC member Paul Watts in California. I just purchased the car from Paul.