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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / 1955 flathead fuel pumping issues Please help

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Discussion Topic: 1955 flathead fuel pumping issues Please help

Greenco1036

06-04-2025 @ 7:18 PM

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Put in a new fuel tank & replaced old steel fuel lines with fuel specific rubber line. After some fairly major priming & cranking the engine started and sat idling for 10 minutes or so. Shut it off. After awhile I tried to restart going through similar routine as before. Motor will run on the gas I poured down the carburetor & then dies. Obvious that it is not getting fuel. Easily Siphoned fuel from tank up the hose from tank so line is not plugged or blocked. Was certain the pump wasn’t pulling fuel so I replaced the pump. Made no difference. Frustrated & confused & don’t know what to do next. Please help. Thanks

carcrazy

06-04-2025 @ 7:52 PM

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You may have a connection or fuel line between the pump and the tank that is leaking air into the line. This might just show up as a vacuum leak without any apparent fuel leakage.
The tank may not be properly vented allowing a vacuum to build up within the tank preventing the flow of fuel to the pump.
The fuel pump pushrod may not be properly located on the arm in the pump.
One of the check valves within the pump may have fallen out of its seat or have a severe leak.
There may be some loose debris in the fuel tank, line or pump that is temporally blocking the flow of fuel.

This message was edited by carcrazy on 6-4-25 @ 9:31 PM

carcrazy

06-04-2025 @ 9:30 PM

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If you are running fuel hose all the way from the tank to the fuel pump, the suction created by the pump may be collapsing the line and pinching it as it warms up choking off the flow of fuel. For best results, run steel or copper coated steel tubing from the tank to the pump. Short sections of rubber fuel hose to connect the tubing at each end to the tank and the pump are ok.

Greenco1036

06-05-2025 @ 7:00 AM

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Thank you car crazy. I do have the fuel hose running all the way from tank to the pump. I had not thought of your point. I suppose siphoning fuel would not collapse the line in the same way as a pumping action. The only hesitation I have before installing steel lines is verifying the new fuel pump was installed correctly. I had a lot of difficultly getting the pushrod in the right place. I think I finally got it right but not positive. What would be best way to verify pump is installed correctly & is working properly even though it is not able to pump fuel under current fuel line configuration. Thanks

carcrazy

06-05-2025 @ 9:05 AM

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Remove the fuel lines at the pump and crank the engine with the starter motor while holding your finger over one of the fuel ports.

If the pump is connected properly to the pushrod, you should feel either a pulsating pressure at the pump outlet port or a vacuum (suction) at the inlet port while the engine is being cranked.

Be sure the transmission is in neutral and the hand brake is set before cranking the engine. It is best to have two people to do this test effectively.

Greenco1036

06-05-2025 @ 1:35 PM

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Thanks again. I will proceed with this & let you know how it turns out

TomO

06-06-2025 @ 1:54 PM

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Many people think that the rubber fuel lines made for fuel injection systems will replace the steel fuel line needed for our old cars. They do not realize that the rubber lines are made for a pressure system, not a vacuum system.

Fuel injection systems have the fuel pump at or in the tank and the pump supplies fuel under pressure to the fuel injectors. Our older cars have the fuel pump at the engine and suck the fuel from the tank.

The steel lines need to be sealed against any vacuum leak so the pump can suck the fuel to where it can pump it to the carburetor. Steel lines also allow the fuel to flow better than the rubber lines, aiding the fuel delivery process. Many hard starting problems can be cured by making sure that the fittings are tight and that the ferrule is seated in the tank and the fuel line.

Tom

Greenco1036

06-18-2025 @ 2:06 PM

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You’re completely correct. I failed to think about the pressure system versus the vacuum system factor. Thanks for the help.

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