[wtm442]

No electric pump in my Cobra ... just a stock mechanical.

The best place for an electric pump is behind the gas tank, and below the minimum tank fuel level. The best hose location on the tank is on the bottom. The second best is the hole thru the top of the tank next to a normal fuel level gauge/sender.

I've had quite a few electric pumps on other cars, and never ever ever needed to prime one.

Dumb question to the passing air comment ... do you have gas in the tank and is the pick-up below below the gas level?

Do you have a leak in the line from the tank to the electric pump inlet?

Remove the line from the tank at the pump. If you have a small vacuum pump, kook it up and see what happens. You should be able to pull a few inches of gravity. Connect a 8 ft piece of rubber line to the inlet of the pump (... another dumb question - I hope you haven't got the pump in backwards). Stick the hose into a small gas tank and lift the tank to a point higher that the pump. Does the electric pump now pump gas?