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New Fuel Pumps for Fuel Injection (on the cheap)
As we all know, you learn a lot by trial and error. I just went through such a case with Scodum Fab’s 1968 CJ5. Last winter we converted the stock Buick 229 V6 over to fuel injection using a Mega Squirt computer and used GM 4.3 V6 throttle body. We originally were using a common electric rotary vane type pump (such as Holley “Red” or “Blue” pump). However, we kept running into a random stalling problem. The vehicle would run fine for several minutes and then stall. After a few minutes it would start right back up and run fine. After much research and experimentation we determined that it was the fuel pump. Here is what I found out about electric fuel pumps for fuel injection along the way…
Rotary Vane type pumps are for the most part intended for carbureted vehicles and therefore do not work well on fuel injected vehicles. This is despite the fact that they often have more than adequate psi and gph ratings. Apparently this is because the fuel flow from this type of pump constantly fluctuates and therefore doesn’t work well on EFI because the regulator and injectors need a smooth, constant flow of fuel. Listed below are some suitable and relatively inexpensive EFI external pump options for different applications.
V6 GM TBI: Use Master/Airtex brand PN E8153 - $56 at Oreilly. This is an inexpensive aftermarket solenoid type pump that flows at 35 GPH and 10-15 psi. This should be perfect for a 4.3 TBI. This pump works well on our CJ and I found many people on Pirate and other boards that have used it with much success. Some have even ran it on V8’s with no issues. In fact, I didn’t find one complaint about this pump when I was doing my research. Carter sells a pump with very similar specs and consturuction. It is PN P74017 and sells for $66 at Advance Auto Parts
V8 GM TBI: Use Master/Airtex brand PN E8094 - $111 at Oreilly. This is a reasonable cost aftermarket roller vane type pump that flows 45 GPH and 12-17 psi. This pump is made specifically as a TBI universal replacement pump. Should be more than adequate for any fairly stock V8 TBI. Carter sells a pump with very similar specs and consturuction. It is PN P5001 and sells for $150 at Advance Auto Parts. Holley also has one that is almost identical to these. It is PN 12-927 and sells for 147.99 from Jegs. There is also Holley PN 12-920 that shows the same psi spec but flows 67 gph. This sells for 165.99 from Jegs.
Other High Pressure Fuel Injection Systems: Use Master/Airtex brand PN E2000 - $119.99 from Oreilly’s or nearly free from a junkyard. Seems like everyone uses one of these roller vane booster pumps form a late 80’s Ford Truck on their retrofit fuel injection project. It flows around 40 GPH and 80psi. Apparently all 85-91 ford trucks have these high pressure booster pumps mounted on the frame rail to work along with the in tank pump. These pumps apparently work very well as a stand alone pump for most any high pressure fuel injected engine. The only negative that I read about was that some people said that they were difficult to prime. Also, some guys are running them on GM TBI’s but I read several posts about flooding and running rich due to the excessive pressure. It may be too much pressure for the TBI fuel regulator to manage. Another PN to try if you have a “high performance” multi-port application would be the Master/Airtex brand PN E8248. This is listed as a “High Performance Multi Port Injection” pump and is rated at 120 psi and 70 gph. It sells for $128 at Oreilly.
Hope this info helps!
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Author: Missile Man
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