installed a new fuel pump on my 68 l36 tonight, bolt question

[Brandon T.]

My car is pretty well stock so far all bolts removed 95% were correct. I assume the fuel pump bolts were too. However, one place I read where the head marks are RSC or RCS whichever it was.

Another place I read they're marked "E"

Mine that came off the black were marked E so I re-used them thinking they're probably stockers and correct.

wanting to make sure which I doubt I'll change them now even if they're incorrect but they're marked E and this is on a early 68 427/390 car.

thanks! and yes I have a judging manual but I don't think it covered this.

[Joe L.]

Re: installed a new fuel pump on my 68 l36 tonight, bolt question

My car is pretty well stock so far all bolts removed 95% were correct. I assume the fuel pump bolts were too. However, one place I read where the head marks are RSC or RCS whichever it was.

Another place I read they're marked "E"

Mine that came off the black were marked E so I re-used them thinking they're probably stockers and correct.

wanting to make sure which I doubt I'll change them now even if they're incorrect but they're marked E and this is on a early 68 427/390 car.

thanks! and yes I have a judging manual but I don't think it covered this.

Brandon-----


"E" was a common headmarking for fuel pump bolts.

[Brandon T.]

Re: installed a new fuel pump on my 68 l36 tonight, bolt question

ok so sounds like my bolts are the correct ones. I noticed it didn't have a backing plate..? guess it didn't have one.

corvette-paragon is wrong then they sell rsc head marked bolts for my car...I don't trust that site too much.

[Joe L.]

Re: installed a new fuel pump on my 68 l36 tonight, bolt question

ok so sounds like my bolts are the correct ones. I noticed it didn't have a backing plate..? guess it didn't have one.

corvette-paragon is wrong then they sell rsc head marked bolts for my car...I don't trust that site too much.

Brandon-----


Big blocks do not use a fuel pump mounting plate like small blocks. For all Mark IV big blocks, the fuel pump mounts directly to the block.

While "E" is a common headmark, it's not likely to be the only one used. For most fasteners there were usually at least 2 suppliers to GM and very often more. Reproduction sources usually do not reproduce more than one of the original headmarks. Any of those known to have been originally used will judge ok. In fact, usually any period-correct headmark will be accepted even if it was not known to have been originally used for a particular application assuming the fastener is otherwise configured properly.

[Brandon T.]

Re: installed a new fuel pump on my 68 l36 tonight, bolt question

hey, did I install the pump right here is what I did.

put the #! cylinder to TDC and pushed the rod up with my finger and then slide the pump in.....the pump NEARLY I mean NEARLY mated up flat with the block but the rod was holding it up jsut a tad.

so with it nearly flat you would wobble it a little side to side....but I went ahead and installed the bolts and torqued them to 20 foot pounds...(btw my shop manual just said tighten until snug" so I guessed and put 20 lbs on the bolts.

I assumed that little wobble went away since the pump had to compress a tad and it looked to have pulled up perfectly flat and torqued down.....

but since I've installed it I've read post on here that I wish I had read before I intalled it........learned about the little bolt up front to hold the rod in place etc while you install it.....

I also forgot to put a dab of oil where the rod contacts the pump...

I used high tact sealant of both sides of the gasket....

think I'll be ok!??

[Joe L.]

Re: installed a new fuel pump on my 68 l36 tonight, bolt question

hey, did I install the pump right here is what I did.

put the #! cylinder to TDC and pushed the rod up with my finger and then slide the pump in.....the pump NEARLY I mean NEARLY mated up flat with the block but the rod was holding it up jsut a tad.

so with it nearly flat you would wobble it a little side to side....but I went ahead and installed the bolts and torqued them to 20 foot pounds...(btw my shop manual just said tighten until snug" so I guessed and put 20 lbs on the bolts.

I assumed that little wobble went away since the pump had to compress a tad and it looked to have pulled up perfectly flat and torqued down.....

but since I've installed it I've read post on here that I wish I had read before I intalled it........learned about the little bolt up front to hold the rod in place etc while you install it.....

I also forgot to put a dab of oil where the rod contacts the pump...

I used high tact sealant of both sides of the gasket....

think I'll be ok!??

Brandon-----


The "bolt trick" for holding the push rod is not applicable to big blocks; it's a small block only sort of thing.

What you describe for mounting the pump sounds about right. You will never get to a push rod fully retracted position in which the pump flange will fully seat on the block flange with hand pressure. The pump flange needs to be drawn down with the mounting bolts for a small amount. This is because even in the fully retracted position of the pushrod, the pump lever spring tension is not fully relieved. That spring tension is "loaded" when the pump flange is drawn down to the block flange with the pump retaining bolts.

[Brandon T.]

Re: installed a new fuel pump on my 68 l36 tonight, bolt question

Sounds like I installed it perfectly then