Hi, I need to replace the fuel pump diaphragm on a 57 DeSoto. I have a sheet of reinforced Buna n rubber membrane that I have cut several diaphragms out of for other cars. On all the fuel pumps I have down in the past, the two plates that the diaphragm is sandwiched between are bolted together with a single nut and bolt through the center, with the bolt being attached to one end of the actuator arm. When I took apart the DeSoto fuel pump, which was clearly an aftermarket replacement, I found that instead of a nut and bolt, it is riveted to the actuator arm with a single rivet through the center that goes through the bottom steel disk, the diaphragm, and the top steel disc. Has anyone drilled out or ground off a rivet on a fuel pump like this? How did you get it back together? Drill and tap for a bolt? Put in a pop rivet? Before I possibly screw this thing up, I'm looking for the voice of experience. Nobody that I know of has a new pump available. Thanks, Joel
Joel Were you able to repair the diaphragm for the fuel pump? The fuel pump for my 1958 Plymouth Suburban with a 318 Polyester has a leaking diaphragm. I got a replacement, which is for the 318 LA, which pumps fuel just fine. However, it doesn't allow me to use the hard line from the pump to the carburator. I'd like to replace the diaphragm material in my old pump. Thank you!
Dan, I did not end up fixing it. I found RockAuto had a replacement. They listed it as the last one so I snagged it. It doesn't look exactly like the one I took off, which I suppose doesn't matter anyway because it was an aftermarket pump that I took off. But it did fit right.
Joel Thank you for getting back to me!! Much appreciated! I joined this forum just to ask you this question! LoL I take it the diaphragm you got had the plate riveted on it so you didn't have to go through all of that. Do you remember the thickness of the material? I'm seeing .062" for diaphragm stock. I found some material 12"X 12" X .062" for around $10.00. I'm in SW MN. I plan on being at Henderson's cruise in sometime this summer. Regards, Dan
So you’re telling us you have have a goldchainer streak running through you? . Messing with you. Still subbed to the trunk monkey thread. I’d suspect it won’t happen.
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