Electric Fuel pump conversion,,greatest thing

[jeff york]

I have a nicely restored 77 Airstream Argosy Motor home. Its powered by what you might call a hoped up 454 GM motor. In my quest to move toward EFI (electronic fuel injection) I took the first step by replacing my mechanical fuel pump with an electric fuel pump. This was the best upgrade I have done so far. Instead of pumping the gas pedal to the point of not knowing if you are flooding the carb in an effort to prime your carb after sitting several days, Now, I simply turn the key on, listen for the fuel pump, wait a few seconds and then turn the key to start and instantly the engine fires up. Instant fuel pressure means instant starts. If anyone is interested, I can give a few details of the installation and procedures with pictures. I highly recommend this conversion and rate it a 9 on convenience but it can be a little high on the difficulty scale for the novice

[Jim Stoltz]

I checked out their link Jack. Very reasonably priced, relatively speaking. Most kits don't come with injectors or a fuel pump and cost $3k or more. Their 454 kit is $2,600. That might be my Spring 2016 project!

[Jim Stoltz]

Also - I'd be curious about your 4-speed plans. I need another gear or two myself. I camped at NASCAR last year next to a guy with an Airstream motorhome. I want to say it was an '84 like mine but I don't recall exactly. He had a 454 with the Banks system on it and an Allison 6-speed trans.

[Jim Stoltz]

That pump should work. The stock 454's fuel requirements are 25 GPH at WOT @ 2-3 PSI. 

GM did a write-up on the installation of external fuel pumps on mechanical-pump equipped motorhomes. They had a lot of trouble with vapor lock and the additional pressure from an aux electric pump prevented it. There were a couple of different options, one including a return added to the electric pump along with an anti-drainback valve. There was also an option without a return that I assume used the stock fuel pump's return to deliver unused fuel back to the tank. 

I'd be curious as to how yours works without a return. That pump is theoretically capable of producing 7 PSI, which is a lot for the needle valve on the carb. Without a return it could flood it at idle or low-demand situations.

If it's working for you, I'm going to do the same thing. I have an Airtex E8016 pump that has similar specs. Airtex told me to eliminate the mechanical pump because if the diaphragm splits, the electric pump will continue to pump fuel into the crankcase. Gasoline is not a good lubricant! Plus the crankcase would eventually fill up and gasoline would come pouring out of every orifice.

[Robert Kocher]

I have a 1979 American Clipper, 440 Dodge and had the same issues. Pumping the pedal, flooding the carb, pump would loose prime...

 I just had an electric fuel pump installed a couple months ago. Best thing ever! Past couple years I've replaced the mechanical pump several times, so when my "mechanic" asked me why not just install an electric one, explaining why it would be a better solution. And we did. Wish I would have don't it years ago!

[jeff york]

My business commitments have not allowed me to progress to where I thought I would be by this camping season. I figured I would have my EFI and my 4 speed over drive transmission in by now

[jeff york]

I went with a Mr Gasket 12S Electric pump

I did not keep the mechanical pump. I removed it complete and installed a block off plate. I pulled the original flex line from the mechanical pump and as it came off the hard line coming forward from the tank. I then added a new line and that bypassed the mechanical pump. This line went directly to the pre carb filter. This required removing the original hard line from the car and installing a new 3/8 barb into the carb and attaching the flex fuel line. Back at the tank, I have a saddle tank, I cut the hard line coming out of the tank and ran a flex line from the tank into the in port of the electric pump. then I ran another line out of the output side of the electric pump and ran that back into the hard line that goes forward to the motor. I race airplanes and have come to find mechanical pumps to be unreliable and not capable of supplying enough fuel pressure to any high performance motor. So, I used that experience to believe that an electric fuel pump would supply instant fuel pressure and make starting my high performance carb based 454 much easier. It worked better then I thought. Pressure is instant which makes starting the engine instant. No worries from delayed starting and the possibility of either running my batter down before the engine fires or flooding the carb. My engine even though my 1977 Aristream motorhome only has about 33,000 miles, I rebuilt the motor making many internal modern upgrades, boring and stroking the motor, high performance heads, special grind cam and much more. This not only adds to performance but doubles my previous fuel economy. But, the price I paid was the motor was harder to start due to the cam change and the higher compression. It stresses both the carb and the battery. The purpose of this was more reliable starts. I also wanted to try this as a phase one towards going full on electronic fuel injection. I do not mean to offend anyone but, carbs are a very poor fuel delivery system and can not properly adjust for atmospheric conditions and tend to cause to lean or to rich a mixture because they can not adjust to conditions. Despite what some think is better metallurgy or  better lubrication systems, modern EFI is the main reason today's motors can produce horsepower numbers that only 10 years ago was not achievable . More importnat is EFI is why todays motors are able to go 300-400 thousand miles. Because of the accuracy of fuel metering resulting in near perfect air fuel ratios.

[Jim Stoltz]

I have a few questions:

- which pump did you use

- did you keep the stock mechanical pump

- did you use a bypass

I have an electric pump that (on paper) should deliver enough fuel for the 454. I'm reluctant to abandon my mechanical pump entirely though. Back in the day (mid-80s) they had an electric pump supplement the stock, mechanical pump in order to pressurize the system slightly and avoid vapor lock. My '84 Allegro had an electric pump at one point in time, but it was removed long before I got it. I run on the stock 454's mechanical pump without issue (so far, knocking on wood...)