Fuel Pump Replacement

[Clark K.]

I am considering replacing the current fuel pump in my '65 L76 (with C-60) Coupe. It is working fine.

When the car was chapter flight judged this spring, the judges told me that the fuel pump on the engine is a dreaded "replacement", having NO "AC" logo on it. Long Island Corvette Supply has a fuel pump listed for $160 and that sounds reasonable to me, if it looks original. Does anyone know whether I can recoup the lost 12 originality and condition points the next time it is flight judged by installing this unit?

Also, if the repro fuel pump is acceptable, how hard is it to change the fuel pump for someone who has never done it? Remember that I have factory A/C.
-Clark

[William C.]

Re: Fuel Pump Replacement

I have done it and it is a SOB on an air car, mostly you will wind up doing all the work from under the car. I am not familiar with the long Island part, but a real 40083 is a very unique pump easily identifiable from the top by the dark grey color due to the magnesium top cover and also the two "wings" molded onto the top of the cover for reinforcements. I will try to attach a couple of photos of "real"

[Jim T.]

Re: Fuel Pump Replacement

Clark to make the changing of the fuel pump easier the fuel pump push rod needs to be retracted in the engine block.
You can do this very easily.
At the front of your 327 lower left is a bolt that does not retain anything and is just screwed into the block.

Remove this bolt and find one that is the same thread but longer. Reason for the longer length is that you can finger tighten the longer bolt and it will touch the fuel pump rod and hold it in the retracted position. It will not take much pressure to secure it. Just don't forget to reinstall the original bolt.

After you remove the old fuel pump you can have someone just bump the starter with your finger on the fuel pump rod until you recognize that it is fully retracted. It operates from a camshaft lobe.
With the fuel pump rod retracted tighten the bolt in the front and it will be easier to install the fuel pump.

[Joel T.]

Re: Fuel Pump Replacement

I am considering replacing the current fuel pump in my '65 L76 (with C-60) Coupe. It is working fine.

When the car was chapter flight judged this spring, the judges told me that the fuel pump on the engine is a dreaded "replacement", having NO "AC" logo on it. Long Island Corvette Supply has a fuel pump listed for $160 and that sounds reasonable to me, if it looks original. Does anyone know whether I can recoup the lost 12 originality and condition points the next time it is flight judged by installing this unit?

Also, if the repro fuel pump is acceptable, how hard is it to change the fuel pump for someone who has never done it? Remember that I have factory A/C.
-Clark

Clark;

I've replaced the fuel pump on my 1963 non-air car and can confirm that it is a PITA.... used words which I've never used in my life before! I've also had poor success with repro pumps. The pivot point failed on one I had in there after just a few hundred miles which gave me all kinds of strange symptoms... but that is another story...

If you are going to go though the expense and aggravation, I would try to get a rebuilt original. I picked an NOS pump up at Carlisle last summer at what was a reasonable price compared to what folks are charging for "correct" repros....

Good luck,

Joel

[Larry M.]

Re: Fuel Pump Replacement

I believe that both Paragon and Long Island Corvette Supply sell this pump.....and it is a rebuilt original not a reproduction. Call and check before ordering just to be certain. Not sure who does the rebuilds.

However, even rebuilt originals can fail prematurely. But Paragon and LICS are very reputable sources, so risk should be minimal.

Larry

EDIT: As an added comment, consider using a brass bolt to hold/secure the fuel pump pushrod in the block when changing the pump out. Less chance of scoring/nicking the steel pushrod.

[Mike G.]

Push Rod Retracted

On a 327, when the timing mark is in the #1 firing position, the rod is fully retracted, on the low spot of its cam eccentric.

[Brian M.]

Re: Fuel Pump Replacement

I'd use a service replacement pump before a rebuilt anyday, points or no points. JMHO

[Chris W.]

Re: Fuel Pump Replacement

I have done it and it is a SOB on an air car, mostly you will wind up doing all the work from under the car. I am not familiar with the long Island part, but a real 40083 is a very unique pump easily identifiable from the top by the dark grey color due to the magnesium top cover and also the two "wings" molded onto the top of the cover for reinforcements. I will try to attach a couple of photos of "real"

Bill,

Now that I see the pictures you posted, I see what is met about the "Wings". I recently rebuilt the pump on my '65 L79 with C-60. While I knew it was a 40083 pump with AC on the top, after reading the recent thread about original and replacement 40083 pumps I thought may be it was a service replacement. I just went to the garage and looked and it does have two reinforcement "wings" so I guess it is an original. I do remember having a tough time getting upper housing to look like anything because it was so dark. It still looks dark.

Now for my question. Did all the original 40083 pumps have cast bottom covers as you have shown or did they also come with stamped steel covers? I seem to remember seeing them both ways in the "Old Days".

Thanks for the pictures you posted on the other thread.

Chris Wickersham

[Brian M.]

Re: Fuel Pump Replacement

I was referring to the later crimped bottom type fuel pumps.

I'd use a service replacement pump before a rebuilt anyday, points or no points. JMHO

[Stuart F.]

Re: Fuel Pump Replacement

I have a bolt with a spring in it for that purpose. Bought it long ago, however, there are very few Chevy applications (many Corvettes though) that have this bolt hole free and clear. Over the years, they have found lots of uses for the tapped hole which was an original 55 V8 motor mount bracket hole (2 of 2).

Stu Fox

[Jim L.]

Re: Fuel Pump Replacement

I am considering replacing the current fuel pump in my '65 L76 (with C-60) Coupe. It is working fine.

If it's working well now, and if that were my car, I'd leave it alone. Seriously. I'd just drive and enjoy it.

You had the car judged to find out what's not correct and the pump turned out to be one of those things. You gained knowledge in the process and that's good. It's not as clear to me what you'd gain by replacing a perfectly good pump.

Jim

[William C.]

Re: Fuel Pump Replacement

Cast and stamped appear to be random, I've seen a stamped bottom on a '64 that was owned by the original owner and had set out in a field so long that the shifter ball crumbled, doesn't seem to be rhyme nor reason as to the bottom config. Pictures are just what I had on hand.