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Technical => General Tech Discussion => Topic started by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-02 13:34

Title: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-02 13:34
Hello All,  In between life's problems I got back on my '57. I built this car from nothing and finally have been trying to fire it. It is a 1963  390 that was built from 2 engines. The block started out as a clean '63 352 from a Galaxie that was bored to a stock 390 and I put 390 crank rods etc.in it.
When cranking it I found the fuel pump wasn't pumping. I took it out and operating the lever on a bench it will suck my finger in. In the car it won't. I can see I put the excentric on the cam gear. It has a large comp cam in it. I took my time assembling it and have built qiute a few engines.
It seems like the excentric isn't doing it's job or the pump lever is incorrect. Do I have a wrong combo or? I haven't removed the front cover yet.

Thanks Guys, John
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: 57 Ford Kustom on 2014-02-02 14:24
Just a thought, but is the arm long enough to get a full stroke?
Tim
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: Ford Blue blood on 2014-02-02 14:35
Ford changed the cam shaft retention system in mid 63, not sure what month, so you may have an issue related to that.  If the dowel pin does not catch the pump eccentric it will just rotate, need to check that as well.  I know, the front cover needs to come back off to do that but if you want the mechanical pump to work it needs to be done.
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-02 15:33
I'll check those things first, Thanks, John
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-02 16:16
looks like the excentric is just spinning in the breeze :deadhorse:
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: lowrider on 2014-02-03 06:48
Had a 63 Ford 427 way back. Put it together like you from a couple engines. Ran good all spring, summer & fall. One Sunday winter morning it's about 0* out & it won't start. Ck'd it out in the freezing cold & I know there something wrong in the timing chain area. My dad & I hook a chain up to it & drag to the Ford dealer we work at. It only takes me about 30 minutes to get the front cover off & I find the fuel pump eccentric is loose & the timing gear is ready to fall off. Inspected everything and all looked ok. Just tightened everything up & it ran fine for as long as I had that engine in it. My dad didn't mind helping out. He just went down to his local watering hole while I fixed it.
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-03 08:28
I am going to have to take the front cover off and see.
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-04 14:25
Hello Guys,
I took off the front cover and the fuel pump excentric is tight. The only thing I can come up with is it looks like the pump lever doesn't contact the excentric. I must have a mix match. As I mentioned before it's been so long and so many piles of parts anything could have happened. The cam excentric is 2 1/2 " round and the pump lever is 4 1/2" long from the base. Could I have a 289 pump in it or?

Thanks, John
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: hiball3985 on 2014-02-04 17:57
4 1/2" should be correct. Are you sure you had it mounted with the arm under the eccentric?
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-04 19:39
Yes pretty sure. I checked it a couple of times and it seems to contact it but not enough. I don't get it!
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: hiball3985 on 2014-02-04 19:50
Did you remove the bolt and washer from the cam so you can visually see that the locating pin is engaged in the eccentric?
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-04 20:06
Yes I took the excentic off and the dowel pin is holding it secure and the bolt was torqued properly.
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: hiball3985 on 2014-02-04 20:25
Very strange indeed. I went out an measured a pump in the garage, 4 1/2" arm.
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: BWhitmore on 2014-02-04 21:40
I know this is a real stretch but is there any possibility that the inlet and outlet to the pump are plumbed incorrectly?  Also in a previous post it was stated that the eccentric was spinning freely, but when checked it is held securely both by the pin and the bolt.
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-05 07:10
The pump says inlet and outlet on it and if I pump it manually in a vise it seems to suck in on the inlet. I thought the cam was spinning when it was together, so I took it apart and it was my finger slipping plus I couldn't be sure.  Don't know!
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: hiball3985 on 2014-02-05 08:23
Is this a new pump or an old one that someone may have installed wrong and tweaked the arm? Do you have another to compare it to or take it to the auto parts store and compare it?
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-05 10:35
I bought the pump new a couple of years ago online. I think it's a carter. It has the canister filter on it and I remember it said made in USA on it. I had a couple of FE's apart at the same time but threw away all the old junk and don't think I compared them. I bought this car in '81 and sold it in '87 to my cousin who let it go to hell. I bought it back in '07 and have been trying to put it back in one piece. I have not been able to stay on it all the time so stuff has gotten lost or thrown away. I think maybe the pump is defective because the cam was tight and looks correct. Didn't mean to add my life story to this. Thanks, John
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-06 18:41
Going to order a new "new" pump and gaskets and try it maybe this weekend. Thanks Guys, John
Title: Re: 390 Fuel pump problem
Post by: jdlafayette on 2014-02-12 18:56
Put the front cover on with a new local parts store pump. The pump was all they listed and doesn't have the canister filter on it. I have fuel pumping now , but other issues. I have a Summit type aftermarket fuel filter that looks like the kind Ford used on the dual quads. I am running a Offenhauser dual quad with Holleys. The filter leaks like crazy and the front carb needle must be stuck closed and not letting fuel in. But a least I found out that my new pump was junk out of the box!   Take care, John