When I purchased the car, the fuel pump top cover and bolt were off and laying inside the car, along with numerous other bits and pieces. The PO had let me know that he had stripped the threads in the pump body so the top cover could not be tightened down. Of course, I took the easiest solution and ordered a new after-market pump on-line. Soon enough, said pump arrived from halfway around the world and was duly fitted. Beauty! Time to get the engine started. Made sure there was some fresh petrol in the tank - fuel gauge works - amazing. Hand cranked the pump to get some fuel through then went for a start. Bloody Niagra Fuel Falls from the top of both SU carby float chambers. Not a few drops or a seep but big squirts.
Not good I think. Must be badly adjusted floats or bad float needles/seats. Spent a couple of hours playing with and adjusting the carby float levels and checking the needles and seats. All good but no change in the amount of fuel being ejected. A bit of checking on -line revealed that some after-market pumps, even though supposedly being for a mk1/mk2 Spit, can put out as much pressure as 12psi. The SUs can only handle about 1.5 to 3psi.
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| New After market Fuel Pump |
Drilled and tapped the pump body 1/4" x 40 threads per inch then turned up and threaded a stud to suit.
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| Stud - Looks a bit tatty as it has bits of paper towel stuck to it |
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| Main pump parts including new stud and home-made cork gasket for the top cover |
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| Stud fitted to pump body |
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| Old pump re-fitted with closed ended nut holding the top on |
1: 125psi
2: 130psi
3: 130psi
4: 130 psi
Not perfect but nice and even across all cylinders.. Engine didn't blow any smoke or make any untoward rattling or knocking sounds. Temperature gauge works, oil pressure warning light works and the tacho sort of works. Happy days!
