Thread: electric fuel pump advantages

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what are the advantages to installing an electric fuel pump opposed to having the mechanical one that comes with the engine? im tryign to figure out if i should stick with teh mechanical one or upgrade to an electric. thanks guys!

how much HP do you want? Fuel injection. generally mech pumps are fine in street conditions, but in racing/ NOS conditions, more GPH is needed so an electric is best. High HP engines should also have good fuel delivery

For the sake of discussion, I am assuming you are talking about a carbed engine. If that is so, the primary advantage is that you eliminate vapor lock by mounting the electric pump near the tank. But in a hot rod scenerio, where an engine demands more fuel, you can bump up to one of the electric race pumps, and get the fuel your engine needs.

I've never run nitros (but I will) and everything I read is that nitros and fuel starvation = a blown engine.

I guess there are high output mechanical pumps available, and for most street driven engines one of these may move enough gas. Maybe the thing to do is run your electric pump through a mechanical pump? I think I've seen this done.

I'm running a Holley red pump on two of my cars now, and I like them. My Son just put a Holley Blue race pump on his '29, and is running it through a pressure regulator.

If you install an electric pump, use a good filter before the pump, and wire it with some shut off ( oil pressure sensor) so that the pump turns off if the engine stops running (like in a wreck) It isn't real cool if the pump keeps running when the car slams into something.............k-boom?

I'm sure some other guys on here have more experience with both pumps in high performance applications, so we will see what they can offer.

Thanks, Don

If you're runnin' a 350 in a street Nova, you probably don't need an electric pump. The stock pump will supply all the fuel the motor needs. Either way, mechanical pump or electric, monitor for 6 psi max fuel pressure at the carb inlet. Install a Holley fuel pressure regulator between the pump and the carb inlet it it's over 6.

thanks guys for your responses, this is very helpful. so if an electric fuel pump eliminates vapor lock, would that mean that i could get rid of the vapor canister if i installed one or would i still have to keep it in there? thanks -danny

Two different things all together. Vapor lock is when the fuel in the line turns to gaseous, and keeps fuel from coming through the line.

The vapor canister has nothing to do with this.

Don

Sorry, I had to run for work, and didn't have time to give you a very good answer on the vapor canister. I think the vapor canister is tied into the emissions system, and serves to remove something or other from the fuel vapors before they go back to the tank, but exactly what it does escapes me.

All my cars are pre-emissions, so I haven't dealt with one of these in years. Someone else will know though, I'm sure.

Don

oh woops, thanks for clarifying itoldyouso

Originally posted by zeroskater
thanks guys for your responses, this is very helpful. so if an electric fuel pump eliminates vapor lock, would that mean that i could get rid of the vapor canister if i installed one or would i still have to keep it in there? thanks -danny

Here is a link to a description of the evaporative emission control system.

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...3d8011c144.jsp