Fuel Pump ?

Spievy · 07-19-2007, 10:14 AM

Hey Guys and Gals

I just bought my wife a 75 914 with weber carbs. The carbs need to be synced, I knew it when I bought it. I think the Facet fuel pump isn't sucking enough fuel. It starts first time, every time. But after about 5 min it sounds like the engine is starving then dies. Wait 10 -15 seconds (with fuel pump on) starts fine. Yes there is fuel in the tank. I am not familiar with 914s but the pump location doesn't make sense to me, in the engine compartment and up under where the battery is. Seems to me the pump is way too far away from the tank and too high. I was reading previous threads about relocating it but couldn't get an answer if I should move it. So should I move it, if yes where. BTW, 2 more things the clear fuel filter doesn't come close to filling with fuel and there is a fuel pressure regulator set at 3 1/2? is that right? Thanks very much in advance with your answers.

Spievy · 07-19-2007, 12:30 PM

Okay there is fuel in the tank little over empty or 3 inches with dowel rod

The elec. fuel pump should still be able to suck the tank dry.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

If it is a '75, the pump should be in the front already.

Sounds like plugged fuel filter or crap in the tank to me.

Spievy · 07-19-2007, 02:46 PM

Thanks Tobra

Sorry for the noob questions. Where in the front should the pump be? The fuel filter is right in front of the pump in the engine compartment. I can see the filter (clear) and it looks pretty clean (no particles) and the gas is not yellow. I just put 2 gallons of gas in now it just starts and dies. I was just going to take the fuel line off and see the flow but it just started raining. I will see how much it flows before and after the pressure regulator. BTW what should the adjustable regulator be set at?

Spievy · 07-19-2007, 05:01 PM

update.. I went to do a flow test and realized that whoever installed the pressure regulator, installed it backwards. I reversed the regulator and did a flow test, about 1/2 gallon per minute before and after the regulator. I think that is right, most after market carb fuel pumps pump 20-30 gallons an hour. I put everything back together and she fired right up and never starved for fuel. So the problem was the reversed regulator. Now it is time to sync the carbs, and relocate the pump in the front if I can figure out where to mount it

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Look for an access panel low on the vertical rear wall of the front trunk. The stock EFI pump is mounted to that (inside the tank's compartment) and the filter is nearby. Not a bad place for an aftermarket pump either.

--DD

Spievy · 07-20-2007, 07:07 AM

Thanks Dave I will take a look.

Tidybuoy · 07-20-2007, 02:48 PM

The 74 & earlier cars originally had their fuel pumps located under the car, just below the battery. The 75 & 76 cars had their fuel pumps in the front trunk section. The factory did this to reduce vapor lock problems. Since your car has carbs, the prior owner obviously made some changes including moving the fuel pump back to the rear.

If you want to move the pump to the front, look on the panel that seperates the gas tank from the spare tire area. Down about 5" from the bottom and to the right (drivers side) there should be an access hole. The factory had this hole covered with a weird shaped cover that the fuel pump is bolted to. I suspect that the facet pump would not fit like a fuel injected type pump fits and the easy fix was to move it to the back - but, if you remove the gas tank, there's plenty of room in there for any size pump.

Regarding your engine running problems - this sounds like a clogged filter. There is also a fuel screen at the very bottom of the gas tank and can cause similar problems. When I replaced my screen, it had about 2" of muck in the screen (it's shaped like a finger). These screens are hard to find but I found one at Car Quest and it was for a VW Bus but was identicle as the 914's.

Vern