Hot Rods Weird-Ass Fuel Pump.

I originally posted this on What's It Worth, but got tumble weeds.

This came off a flathead in a AV8.. The previous owner was just using it as breather as the car has an electric fuel pump. He called it a "school bus pump" and I have no idea what that means, and can't find any useful references on the internet. It almost looks like the bowl is mounted upside down, but I don't think that's the case.

Any ideas on what it is or it's value?

 

I think it's an upside down water trap for the gasoline line

 

Definitely looks more like a separator than pump. I don't see any mechanical means to actuate a pump.

 

I don't know. It definitely looks like it receives push rod from the cam.

 

That pocket in the end of the arm goes over the pushrod.
I think it was bolted on upside down.
Try lining it up properly and see.

 

There’s a few cars I can think of that came with pumps that way up. Citroens for one.

 

Hi volume early Ford flathead fuel pump.
Early racers used it.
Originally was equipped on 1944 rear engine Ford busses, city buss, not school buss.

 

If I flip it over, it won't clear the manifold. Also the actuator arm is spring loaded to be pushed upward. Its definetly not upside down.

 

Thanks. I think this makes the most sense.

 

Makes sense because it's fact.

 

With the sediment/separator upside down? How's that work?

 

Looks to me that it's more of a sight glass to see that it's pumping than it is a separator. We have some old water cooled TIG welders here that has that same type of glass on top that is just so you can see that coolant is flowing.

 

The push arm cup has obviously been modified. We probably need pics of it from its natural environment to know how it fit on that bus.

 

How could it be mounted up side down?

 

The two bolt holes reversed?

 

As requested, here's a photo of it on the car:

 

Here is one in the wild. All Ford all the time.

 

The modification on the cup could also be a repair.

 

41 and 47 Cadillac has the glass up. That does look hi-volume. Kool, I'd kit that sucker and run it.

 

Not the first time seeing the bowl orientated like that on a flathead but it is the first time I’ve seen it as part of the pump like that.

cool find.

 

That is a nice looking piece.

 

Hijack...
This came in a box of parts I got with a V8-60. Not for the 60. Had a glass bowl once.

It is huge compared to the 60's pump. Any guesses ? It is an AC and has a "Rebuilt" tag on it. Mike

 

Looks like a common old "AC" fuel pump, lots of GM 6 cylinders run them, I think the Ford 6's also had them.
In operation, the fuel comes in to the bowl/glass area thru the shorter tube (inside the bowl) any water/crud falls to the bottom, the fuel level builds up until it overfolws into the larger opening, don to the diaphragm area, and exits out the other side. There is usually a fine gauze type filter, in this case it's missing from the top of the large outlet tube..

 

the bus version of the flathead also had longer snouts on their water pumps.
Once you get away from the standard cars, there are going to be variations of what most of us are used to seeing.
Just the other night this popped up on trademe, (NZ version of ebay)
I have never seen one before.
Guessing it was for a stationary engine, fire pump or similar ?
(Someone on here is sure to know).
Lots of interesting stuff out there……

 

That fuel pump is exactly what dad was running on his 41 Ford pick-up. He was a Air Force mechanic during the FORGOTTEN WAR. He drove his 41 daily, rain or shine and some of the worst Colorado snow storms. We would pull the bed off so he could run chains and get to work, without destroying his fenders and bedsides. I remember that fuel pump very well.