Technical The dreaded rollback

Went to a local car show yesterday, after a couple of hours I decided I had enough and headed for home. I have a couple of hills on the way home . The first hill is maybe a mile long ,about half way up it seems like I am starting to run out of gas . I am pumping the gas and it's barely running, just enough to keep moving. I doubt that I'm going to make it to the top. For the next 3/8 of a mile I'm a pumping and it's a backfiring and bucking and amazingly I make it over the top. For the next 4 miles or so , it is acting normal , I kick it down and it responds normally. Now I am really puzzled and trying to make sense of all that has just transpired. I have one more hill to make just before getting home . About half way up the hill ,it quits running. I get situated off the road the best that I can. I take my air filter off and find no gas. So I surmise that the fuel pump quit , the fuel filter is plugged or I'm ****ing air from some where. So I make the call for a tow.

This morning I disconnect the inlet side and I instantly get gas, after plugging it I take the fuel pump off and dis***emble it and this is what I found.

One of the reed type valves somehow worked it's way out. I'm guessing it wasn't staked properly.


I 'm pretty sure this is a Holley pump, but there aren't any numbers or stampings on the pump. It had a Holley sticker on that fell off a good while ago. There is a tag on one of the diaphragm screws that tells the date on manufacture 06 and 025 stamped on it. I looked in Summit and I can't see this exact pump anywhere, just a couple that are similar. I am calling Holley tomorrow. Bill

 

Probably just a bad one that slipped through QA.

 

Probably farmed out to overseas manufacturer. The name on the product means nothing anymore.

 

I had a similar issue with my 37 Chevy p/u a few weeks ago but was able to limp it home after I got it off the highway,something got into the shut off valve in the tank and restricted the flow.

 

what do you think Holley will say or do?

 

I should of been a little clearer on my intentions. I hope they can tell me that they have a fuel pump (if they no longer make mine) that is dimensionally the same as to avoid having to make new hard lines between the pump and carb. Bill

 

How about just putting the valve back in and staking it yourself. I'm betting you can do a better job than the factory did. I'm cheap or is it frugal.

 

You can clock the pump, to fit your hard line application. Same bolts removed, rotate bottom barb plate to correct orientation. You got it, bubba! Nice truck too.

 

You're reading my mind. I would rather do that as to avoid making new lines. I would feel better with a new pump, if that happens, I'll take IT apart to check the stakes. Bill

 

fuel pump issues are nothing to call the rollback for I've staked a check valve back in on the side of the road

I had to make the call last month when the trans in my truck died, 357 miles from home. ****s.

 

I have had nothing but trouble with modern mechanical fuel pumps. I am on my fourth in seven years. The first two were rebuilt the last two were new.
Started caring an extra fuel pump changed the last one along the road!
I will be changing to an electric this winter.

 

I got to replace an electric pump that was a little over 3 years old, on the road last month.

when I got home, I took it apart and fixed it, so I still have a spare.

 

Yes, it was clocked originally. I'm just hoping get something that will bolt right back in with no change in dimensions. If I can clock it , can do. This is my line from the pump to the dual feed line at the carb. I'm just hoping that I don't have to make something new . I'm getting lazy in my older age. Bill

 

Many years ago I ran electric pumps, I got tired of taking them apart and cleaning the vanes after the car sat longer than normal times. I guess the older I get the more curmudgeonly I get Bill

 

this is the reason why i run both mechanical AND an electric fuel pump in all my cars , plus carry a spare mechanical

also carry a spare belt , a few fuses , hose clamps, set of points and a few tools. and since i have plenty of room i even carry a spare distributor in my `36

never had any need for them , but it's nice to have

 

It looks like one of their selling points for the Holley pump is that you can easily clock it. https://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/holley-mechanical-fuel-pumps

 

I even carried rocker arms , push rods , A short water pump. I still carry modules , caps rotors and a coil. I may have to carry a fuel pump . Bill

 

A spare fuel pump is kind of high on my list of parts these days.

 

Now that just ****s.Or not as the case may be.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe,
Leo

 

Hey Jim, If I were to travel the distances that you have lately, I'd have to drag a UHAUL filled with parts behind me before I would feel comfortable . And after I think about it that might not even comfort me. I wish I was adventurous as you. Thanks to your threads , I get to live vicariously through you. Bill

 

I've noticed that having a car that sits up high, is really nice...no problem sliding under there to work on stuff!

 

I can't even get my freakin head under mine Bill

 

Not to bash Holley, I have had two mechanical Holley pumps break in half. They were still moving fuel but the oil leak was terrible! Both were at least five years old so I guess that's the life expectancy of a mechanical pump. I now run a mechanical and an electric pump on one of my Olds. Joe

 

Can you get a rebuild kit for it?

 

the one that you have - where/when did you buy it? - there are a lot of cheap copycat parts out there - have a local parts place that you know counter guy? - take yours in and ask him to help you find a match

 

^^^^^^ I bought it at Summit and I'm guessing 8 to 10 years ago, I may take your advice . Bill

 

Murphys law?

Ben

 

I use Carter OEM mechanical pumps from Summit. I seem to have less problems with simple fuel pumps and avoid electric pumps after a couple of bad experiences.

 

everyone has a different story...I put a new Carter mechanical pump from Summit on my brother's 58 brookwood, when I installed the new engine a few years back. It died after a year, the pushrod pivot pin came unstaked. That was fun...

 

Holley couldn't find any numbers that matched mine. I'm going to go to the local parts stores and see if they have a Holley pump on stock that I can eyeball. At this moment , I am going to restake the valve . I'm just thinking ahead in case it happens again , I'll be more prepared for roadside emergency service Bill