1950s 59 fuel pumps and vapor lock

[Cadillac Jack 82]

So today Shelley s***t the bed.  She ran fine all day until I was trying to go home after lunch.  She died on the freeway and even 6 hours later, refuses to start.  Fuel bowl is full but carb is dry.  Initially I thought it was vapor lock as it was 110 today.  Doesnt seem to be the case.  She'll run with starter fluid but wont keep running.  The fuel pump is one of those aftermarket OEM ones from overseas.  Did she literally just eat another pump after 9 months or am I missing something?

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

One thing you could try is to run a jumper lead from the battery Positive terminal to the Coil Positive, to "Hot-wire", and see if she runs from there.

If it does, then you have an electrical problem.

Bruce.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

One thing you could try is to run a jumper lead from the battery Positive terminal to the Coil Positive, to "Hot-wire", and see if she runs from there.

If it does, then you have an electrical problem.

Bruce.

Good idea but its fuel delivery.  Had two of those aftermarket pumps fail within months.  Something about QC in some countries doesn't exist

[Roger Zimmermann]

Those aftermarket fuel pumps are notorious to fail ater a short time. Usually one of the internal valves is getting loose, interrupting the fuel delivery. There are many posts in this forum relating this issue.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Well time to get a decent one then.  Ebay doesnt have the one vendor who used to sell the rebuilt AC ones.  Does anyone have a source for one?

[Roger Zimmermann]

Take the cover out from the pump. You will immediately see is if one valve is bad. Do a search because my vocabulary is insufficient to correctly explain the issue and how to repair it.

[Michael Petti]

I'd start by making sure you are getting gas from the tank. Next check the fuel filter to make sure it's not clogged. If all ok move on to the pump. These aftermarket fuel pumps are all junk. Disconnect the fuel line exiting the pump and crank it. Bet there is little or no gas coming out. I went through 4 of them in 12 months of driving. I was able to bring one back to life to finish a driving season but only provided 3 pounds of pressure and you need about 5ish to run right. I cemented the check valve back into the casting with Loctite (fuel resistant) and cut new gaskets for the pump as the originals were paper thin. The casting itself was very soft and the screws holding the 2 halves together were pulling out. Replaced them with small nuts, bolts and lock washers from Ace Hardware. The best solutions are to install an electric fuel pump, or as I did, found an original A/C pump casting and had it rebuilt by Arthur Gould now known as A.G. Rebuilders. No problems after that. Cost was not that great, and turnaround time was good.

[TJ Hopland]

What do you mean by bowl is full but carb is dry?   That implies that the fuel pump and float is working but there is some other issue in the carb that isn't letting fuel get into the airflow.

[Clewisiii]

1959 is a 4622 pump. AG Rebuilders is the best rebuilder. And they had one for sale on their Ebay site a while ago.

[60eldo]

 I have 3 new spares in my trunk. I had the same issue, all junk. They last for about 9 months to a year.

[David King (kz78hy)]

I have used Then & Now Automotive for kits and rebuilds, They provide good stuff.

https://www.then-now-auto.com/product/cadillac-fuel-pump-kit-fpa-246-1958-except-brougham/

[David Greenburg]

Egge Machine also rebuilds, and may sell outright, the original pumps. And eBay usually has some Carter and AC pumps.

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

I had an Airtex new pump on my 54 and it stopped working. I took it apart and both valves had gone hard. I replaced both the valves and it worked fine. The usual problem is the valves are not staked in properly and come loose. The diaphragm was fine. I've since rebuilt an AC original that Clay kindly gave me. Phil

[Michael Petti]

H0as ana

I had an Airtex new pump on my 54 and it stopped working. I took it apart and both valves had gone hard. I replaced both the valves and it worked fine. The usual problem is the valves are not staked in properly and come loose. The diaphragm was fine. I've since rebuilt an AC original that Clay kindly gave me. Phil

I'm curous how long the rebuilt Airtex lasted.

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

H0as ana I'm curous how long the rebuilt Airtex lasted.

It didn't fail after that but I replaced it with the rebuilt original all the same.