Biting the bullet: Converting to electric fuel pump

IDIBRONCO

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That's what I thought you meant. I'm doing that same thing on the three (will be four one day) fuel tanks I have on my deuce. Pumping from them into the one I keep as my "usable"tank. [emoji106]
That's what I'm going to do with mine too. I just have to buy one of Wes's bigger rear tanks so that I have a good tank to draw from. In my opinion, thee best part of this set up is that if something should go wrong with the extra tank, pump, or even a filter, you can still run off of the "useable" tank so you'te not sitting on the side of the road somewhere. I think you could use a tank with an in-tank pump too. You'd just have to wire the pump to a manual switch (assuming that the pump is still good). Since they also have a fuel return, it would fill the "useable" tank pretty quickly (no need for a return in this case).
 

Cubey

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I'm thinking it wouldn't be such a hot idea to run fuel hose from the filter head across the top of left side of the engine to get it down to the left side frame rail.

It gets mighty hot and there's so many places to chafe a hose.

Instead, I think I will just get a brass 1/4" npt to 3/8" hose barb fitting and put that in place of the mech pump. It will still require a short hose down there like with a mechanical pump, but I feel it's safer.

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The steel supply line is positioned differently than on trucks, so it's easier to reach. That way too in a dire emergency where I might need to put a mechanical pump back, the steel line to the filter will still be there.

I will just need a longer hose to loop from the supply to feed.

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chillman88

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I've just slid a rubber hose over the steel line and clamped it for what it's worth.
 

Cubey

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I've just slid a rubber hose over the steel line and clamped it for what it's worth.

It cost me $10.25 for a pair of fittings, with an elbow so the hose doesn't have to stress or be extra long to curve around.

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Cubey

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I wish I was more decisive. :confused:

Now I have decided that I don't like the 105p pump due to worrying about the return line from the regulator. The ebay seller offers free return shipping, so I'm sending it back. It hasn't been installed or used at all, so yeah.

Instead, I decided on the Holley Red. It's rated 97GPH and 5-7psi right out of the box, so no regulator is required for an IDI. No return lines to mess with either. For my oddball 085 turbo van kit without cold air intake from the grill, where I have to keep my foot out of it to control EGTs on hills, 97GPH should be more than enough flow.

I got it for $110 after a 25% off promo code from Advance Auto, with tax and free shipping. Can't beat that! (Sales tax is just over 10% here)

The pump repair kit is $22 from O'Reilly and can be had anywhere in the country within 2-4 days, which is great for me. However, I will probably buy one preemptively right before the 90 day warranty is up and carry it with me"just in case".



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Cubey

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Omg
buy a fomoco mechanical lift pump for the monies to get around it!!!
go here and add some tech. PLEASE.
https://www.oilburners.net/threads/e-pump-b-s.87177/

Electric has the filter replacement priming advantage that mechanical lacks. I want to run a 30 micron racor w/s filter due to the stock w/s being gone, plus the stock filter. It's no fun air purging with a mechanical pump. It's ******* the batteries and starter, all of which cost more than a Holley Red.

Somewhere deep in the archive here, I saw a thread where someone had been running a Holley Red for 9 years, then bought an extra for a backup. So they seem to hold up well with diesel despite not being rated for it.

And repair kits are fairly cheap if it ever needs it. I can have the Holley removed from the frame rail within a few minutes. No removing the vacuum pump and fighting to reach the bolts in the super cramped van engine bay like with mechanical. It's not like trucks where you have all the room in the world. I had a look at my F250's engine bay yesterday around the mech pump location and OMG it's so roomy!

Maybe it's silly to spend so much for an electric pump, but it's what I want to have on the RV. I will keep the old mechanical as an absolute emergency backup, but with the highly reliable and easily repairable Holley, I probably have nothing to worry about.
 

LowTech

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Doing the same on mine for the same reasons. I got the Walbro and plan on moving the stock filter set-up down to the rails w/ the pump.
It will make working on the engine soo much easier.
Now I just need the block off plate.
 

Cubey

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Doing the same on mine for the same reasons. I got the Walbro and plan on moving the stock filter set-up down to the rails w/ the pump.
It will make working on the engine soo much easier.
Now I just need the block off plate.

I just removed the fuel filter itself when I did my injector O-rings then put it back. No leaks from reusing it. I used a rubber strap wrench so it didn't cause damage to remove it.

Get the Spectre 42473 block off plate. People report that it needs no modifications to fit IDIs, unlike some made by others. That's the one I ordered. Not sure if the included bolts fit the IDI block though, so that might be something to consider ahead of time.
 

Clb

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Just a thought...
why is air intrusion ... a $50.00 -100.00 fix worth this b.s.???
 

Cubey

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Just a thought...
why is air intrusion ... a $50.00 -100.00 fix worth this b.s.???

Buy an IDI van chassis, then you'll understand. It's not just about "air intrusion". It's that changing a mechanical pump is far more difficult, especially when you're constantly on the go like I am in my RV. I don't want to worry about mechanical pump failures because it's a horrible job to do in a random parking lot or remote BLM campground somewhere. I want something I can service with minimal labor, should it ever need it.

To quote your sig in part, applying it to fuel pump servicing:

Good and fast, won’t be cheap. (Electric)
Cheap and good, won’t be fast. (Mechanical)
 
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Clb

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One more vote for a truck platform\trailer!
Sold my m.h!
Never going back!
But to EVERY season turn turn turn... You fit your needs.
Ford dicked class b owners, then class a next!
 
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