Electric fuel pump on a FE powered SPF?

[milehigh427]

Fellas-
Just purchased a Superformance with a 427. The car currently has a mechanical fuel pump. Is anyone running an electric pump on the street? My elevation is 5500 feet and we have very poor quality pump fuel. My fear is summer vapor lock and driveability issues.
Thanks in advance.

[sierramadre45]

I'm running a high flow mechanical fuel pump on my 428 FE. I have a dual quad setup with the fuel rail and have no problem with fuel delivery. You may want to use the standard carter electric fuel pump that mounts in front of the gas tank in addition to your mechanical fuel pump if you want insurance.

[chopper]

FWIW, I'm sure there are lots of folks using electric fuel pumps on their street cars. My car has a Holley red pump (installed when I bought the car), and besides the noise (which is unnoticeable when the engine is running) I have no complaints. That said, I also note that I wired the pump with a quick-disconnect electrical fitting and carry a spare pump tucked into a nook in the trunk, just in case. There have been several posts on relative merits of different brands of electric fuel pumps; some of the others surely must be more reliable than the Holleys.

[Al Bockman]

Poor fuel is right! Seems like a lot of people here in Colorado have fuel problems. I got rid of the mechanical pump because of fuel boiling issues. Fuel would shoot out of the primary bowl vent tube about four inches. It looked like an old coffee pot. I put a red Holley electric pump on mine. The fuel still boils occasionally, but I can always shut the pump off for a few seconds if I have a problem. Last summer we got caught in the Idaho Springs traffic while my wife was driving (I had just crashed on a bicycle and broken a collarbone) and I had to reach over and toggle the pump switch on and off until traffic cleared up.

If at all possible stay away from fuel with ethanol. That's usually a winter problem in Denver. I put some in last summer on the way to Deadwood SD and had trouble before I got out of the gas station. I also put an over-ride switch for the fans. If traffic is moving slowly I turn on the fans and blow some heat out of the engine compartment.

Look into the Mile Hi Cobra Club. We have a few drives scheduled this summer including a five day trip through Crested Butte, Durango and Glenwood Springs.

Al Bockman

[TerribleTed13]

I run a carter and a mechanical pump and still notice some fuel boiling problems,on hot days. The carter pump is quieter than the holley pump. Just remember mount it lower than the fuel tank, if possible, and wire it through an oil pressure saftey switch. If you need the part numbers just email me. I got the pump and switch from Ontrack here in Englewood, Co.

[SFfiredog]

Your mechanical fuel pump may be saved by installing a "closed loop" fuel system which would return the fuel to the tank instead of dead-heading it at the pump.
The idea is to keep the fuel constantly moving, not allowing it to sit any one place (except the fuel bowls) long enough to get hot enough to vapor lock. This is a real problem with the low flash-point fuels used at higher altitutudes.
--Mike

[Rodney]

I ended up replacing the Edelbrock mechanical fuel pump in favour of a BG 220RR electric fuel pump with the -10AN return line. No more problems.

[Cracker]

I installed four 48 IDA Weber's and never have had a problem with fuel staying in any one place for long!

They're thirtsty little suckers! BTW, I replaced my mechanical Carter with a Blue Holley electric and besides the noise (like above post not really noticeable with engine running) it has worked like a gem.

[Jamo]

All I run is an electric.

[deadwood1584]

I'm with Al on this one. You will really appreciate it at 11990 ft on a hot day. Welcome to the Mile High Cobras! Holley electric with on/off and switched fan and no ethanol.
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