1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

[Donald M.]

Surely the last straw after 19 months of restoration work on my new 54 Corvette, this morning I get an email that my fuel pump is leaking. So I go online looking for a rebuild kit and/or new pump. I found an NOS 9797 5592675 pump and promptly ordered it after verifying with my restoration guy that this was the same pump as on the car. Here is a pic...



I understand the real Corvette fuel pump is 4132 5593235 and has a glass bowl. Will someone who knows something about these fuel pumps please help me out here. Does the 9797 work on the 235 Corvette engine? Is fuel pressure okay, etc.?

Don Moses (perplexed in Texas)

[Mike M.]

Re: 1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

53 and very early 54's use the 9797 fuel pump. after that, the early 54 thru 55 6 cal engines used the 4132 pump. the 9797 u bought off ebay will work on any 53-55 6 cal corvette engine. i put a 9797 on our 54 vin 2184 and never suffered any deductions, but that was back in 1989 at the bend national convention. its still running just fine. mike

[Donald M.]

Re: 1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

Thanks, Mike. That helps a bunch. One thing that concerns me is my restorer said my pump did not have a glass bowl, and that the car ran before he noticed the leak. Don't both the 9797 and the 4132 have a glass bowl? Now I'm wondering what the heck is on my car.

Maybe one more thing you could help me with. I can't seem to find a rebuild kit specifically for the 9797. I have a sneaking suspicion that both pumps use the same kit, the only difference being the orientation of the fuel exit on the fuel pump, which I think means the 4132 rebuild kits advertised on Corvette Central would work on my 9797 just fine. Am I barking up the wrong tree?

Don (way less perplexed)

[Mike M.]

Re: 1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

glass bowl on top of pump.. good luck,mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

Thanks, Mike. That helps a bunch. One thing that concerns me is my restorer said my pump did not have a glass bowl, and that the car ran before he noticed the leak. Don't both the 9797 and the 4132 have a glass bowl? Now I'm wondering what the heck is on my car.

Maybe one more thing you could help me with. I can't seem to find a rebuild kit specifically for the 9797. I have a sneaking suspicion that both pumps use the same kit, the only difference being the orientation of the fuel exit on the fuel pump, which I think means the 4132 rebuild kits advertised on Corvette Central would work on my 9797 just fine. Am I barking up the wrong tree?

Don (way less perplexed)

Don------

Here's a kit and it appears to be of modern manufacture. That's important. NOS stuff is usually best but NOT for a fuel pump kit. The old NOS kits were not manufactured with elastomeric materials suitable for ethanol-blended gas. In addition, the elastomeric materials may have deteriorated over time.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVY-AC-9797-FORD-4131-9638-4052-FUEL-PUMP-KIT-NEOPHRENE-1952-1953-53-1954-/381829172386?hash=item58e6cacca2:g:cX8AAOxyjv9SUEIn&vxp=mtr

[Donald M.]

Re: 1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

Thanks, Joe. That is better than the price I found and ordered on Paragon at $100 plus shipping. Oh well.

Don

Don------

Here's a kit and it appears to be of modern manufacture. That's important. NOS stuff is usually best but NOT for a fuel pump kit. The old NOS kits were not manufactured with elastomeric materials suitable for ethanol-blended gas. In addition, the elastomeric materials may have deteriorated over time.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHEVY-AC-979...9SUEIn&vxp=mtr

[Donald M.]

Re: 1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

Mike,
What if I told you my AC 9797 shown in the picture in my original post did not have a glass bowl. It has a metal top. Did all AC 9797 fuel pumps have a glass top? This was sold to me as a NOS part and it came in an NOS box for a 9797 fuel pump. Have I been screwed????
Don

53 and very early 54's use the 9797 fuel pump. after that, the early 54 thru 55 6 cal engines used the 4132 pump. the 9797 u bought off ebay will work on any 53-55 6 cal corvette engine. i put a 9797 on our 54 vin 2184 and never suffered any deductions, but that was back in 1989 at the bend national convention. its still running just fine. mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

Mike,
What if I told you my AC 9797 shown in the picture in my original post did not have a glass bowl. It has a metal top. Did all AC 9797 fuel pumps have a glass top? This was sold to me as a NOS part and it came in an NOS box for a 9797 fuel pump. Have I been screwed????
Don

Don-------


I have no familiarity, at all, with the 9797 fuel pump. However, I can tell you based on other experience, that it's possible the configuration of the 9797 fuel pump changed over the years without a change in AC part number. Normally, AC did change part numbers if a feature changed but back in the "old days", they might not have. So, you could have an actual NOS part but not necessarily configuration-correct for your car.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

first of all, the box containing your "NOS" pump tells me it was manufactured in the 70's or 80's, not the early 50's. secondly, i believe your "NOS" pump is in fact an ac deco pump but when it was manufactured, they musta felt the glass bowl wasn't necessary(as Joe implied). thirdly, i've never seen a 53-4 corvette on or off a NCRS judging field without the glass bowl. if the pump on the vet still has the top piece incorporating the glass bowl, then simply disassemble both pumps and switch the glass bowl containing top to the mid-70's NORS pump. if u don't have the top with glass bowl, it shouldn't be that hard to find as i THINK other GM cars of the 40's and 50's utilized a glass bowl type top that may well fit your NORS pump. i'll look and see if i have the glass bowl piece and if u need it, its yours on the cuff. regards,mike

[Donald M.]

Re: 1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

Mike,

Thanks for the offer. For now I will stick with the new 9797 metal top pump. My '54 will never be a Top Flight car, but I may have it judged in the sportsman class if an opportunity presents. In restoring my car I have tried to preserve the character of it as much as possible, but I have never set as my goal to have every part NCRS correct. My '54 has rack & pinion steering, a Pertronix ignition, and wire wheels with radial tires. Other than that everything works: clock, radio, speedo, tach, gauges, etc. To the untrained eye it looks right. I guess what I'm trying to say is I would feel guilty accepting your offer of the part because I am not restoring to that degree of accuracy.

Thanks for your help. It has been enlightening to say the least.

Don

first of all, the box containing your "NOS" pump tells me it was manufactured in the 70's or 80's, not the early 50's. secondly, i believe your "NOS" pump is in fact an ac deco pump but when it was manufactured, they musta felt the glass bowl wasn't necessary(as Joe implied). thirdly, i've never seen a 53-4 corvette on or off a NCRS judging field without the glass bowl. if the pump on the vet still has the top piece incorporating the glass bowl, then simply disassemble both pumps and switch the glass bowl containing top to the mid-70's NORS pump. if u don't have the top with glass bowl, it shouldn't be that hard to find as i THINK other GM cars of the 40's and 50's utilized a glass bowl type top that may well fit your NORS pump. i'll look and see if i have the glass bowl piece and if u need it, its yours on the cuff. regards,mike

[Chris S.]

Re: 1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

9797 and 4132 are almost the same - fuel bowl on top
it is very easy to change the top and put on a fuel bowl
If your Ebay part is a real AC part - the letters AC would be cast and raised on the front of the pump
9797 or 4132 is stamped on the flange of the pump on the flange facing the front of the car
The psi output should be 4 psi
If you want a very good rebuilder - ship your pump to Authur Gould - they do a GREAT job

[Donald M.]

Re: 1954 Corvette fuel pump questions

Thanks, Chris. I am familiar with Mr. Gould's work. He rebuilt my water pump.

Don