electric fuel pump prime problem, Mr Fixit or others?

[khall]

Snake Farmer,

I experienced the same problem using a Carter electric pump mounted in the trunk of my SPF. I solved the problem by installing a Holley pump on the frame rail. The Holley has the pump head on the bottom of the motor which placed the fuel intake level with the bottom of the tank. I suspect that the Carter, which has the pump above the motor, would have worked just as well as the Holley if installed on the frame rail. Electric pumps just do not suck very well. You need to get the pump head lower.
Fuel pressure problems are compounded this time of year by the high volitility of winter pump gas. The fuel pump lowers pressure at the fuel inlet side which allows the fuel to percolate (boil) at ambient temps. The problem is so bad here in Denver (5400 ft) this time of year that we have to mix 110 octane race fuel 1:3 with pump premium to prevent vapor lock. Last week, when temps here reached 70 deg, I was forced to fill up on the way home from an afternoon on the chasis dyno. I only made it a few miles beyond the Texaco station before the motor quit. I poked my head under the rear of the cobra to see fuel boiling in the clear fuel filter which is 3" behind the pump inlet. On the dyno we actually had fuel guysering out of the bowl vents 6" when we turned the pump on with a hot engine. Geeze what a sight!