<VV> Electric Fuel Pumps vs Diaphragm

[Frank DuVal]

I have run both for years.

Only some of the mechanicals will leak into the engine before it leaks 
externally. There was a Communique article a while back showing the 
difference in bottom castings. I would avoid the problem castings.

I only installed electrics to band-aid a vapor lock problem. They did 
well in this duty.

I install new mechanicals if the old ones leak or stop pumping fuel. 
These are probably the quickest to replace fuel pumps on any car ever 
built. I would not install an electric pump just to solve the leaking 
problem.

I do not recall ever having to change oil after a fuel pump started 
leaking. Only one local  club member ever reported wiping bearings from 
a failed fuel pump.

Poll time:

A. How many people have first hand knowledge of engine failure from 
leaking fuel pumps?
B. What percentage of Corvairs you know had this engine damage?

Statistics-what a wonderful way to prove any point!

Frank DuVal


John wrote:

>I would appreciate anyone's opinion concerning switching to electric fuel pumps on my 3 Corvairs or keeping the "old style" diaphragm pumps.  I have friends who would only have electric, while others say the "old style" diaphragm  is just fine.  I had a diaphragm pump fail 2 years ago and my brother had one fail 4 weeks ago.  Both pumps were about 4 years old and had very few miles on them.  I was fortunate that mine failed in the garage as I was getting it out for an afternoon cruise.  I was able to change the pump, oil and filter immediately.  The "new" pump has been on the car since then and has worked fine.  My brother was not as fortunate, though.  His failed on the road (12 miles from home) and luckily he was able to get it off the road and into a shopping center parking lot.  Other than the aggravation, cost of a new pump, oil filter and oil, no harm was done to the Greenbrier.  However, we had both his Greenbrier and my '64 Monza on a cruise to Luray Caverns VA in May.  A failure on that trip could have spelled disaster, since we were about 150 miles from home.  Carrying an extra pump is not the problem, getting gas into the crankcase is!  Are there any warning signs?  My brother's Greenbrier and my 3 Corvairs are stored over the winter.  When we get them out in the Spring, are we going to have to charge the battery, change oil, lube AND replace the fuel pump?  With the 2 failures, my confidence in the "old style" diaphragm pumps is not very high.  Suggestions and opinions would be appreciated.
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>John Johnson
>64 Monza Conv
>65 Corsa Conv
>65 Corsa Turbo Coupe
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