Fuel pump and tuning

[ULYCYC]

Just a little advice.  Before you go crazy trying to figure out stumbles, stalling, won't start at times, knock and a host of other problems check your fuel pump. This will be the third friend this year I found a defective pump. No names, brand or vendor. This car had tip in stumble then stalls when hot issues. His rail mount fuel pressure gauge showed good pressure but was also defective as 99% of them are.  My OTC pressure gauge shows 38lbs (line on) at cold startup. After warm and driving it drops to 26-30 and stalls at times. Then no start when hot with pressure at 18lbs.  New pump will be ordered today.  These bad pumps were less then 2 years old.  One pump bought on ebay, one from a buick vendor and the other from a mail order speed shop. Not sure if the cause is china shit, alchy in the fuel these days or running with low fuel and overheating the pumps I have no clue.  Invest in a good mechanical fuel pressure gauge with a 3 foot line so you can place it under your wiper for a road test. You may have to do this more often with pumps available today.

[Grumpy]

I have a WE4 goin to Australia here. I have a new Walbro "169" waiting to go in it.. I do not have a warm fuzzy feeling with it     with all the past problems that were "suposably" fixed.

[ULYCYC]

Was told yesterday that Delco EP242 stock pumps were available for $50 to $150. Who know which ones are real or fake. I'm sure the suppliers are confused too.

[Steve Wood]

There was a lot we never heard about this "problem" which always make me wonder ...almost only seemed to be Buick specific?  Walbros are built here to strict standards.  One would think if they did have a problem it would soon be evident why and to adhere to their ISO standards, it would be fixed.

Makes me want to stick with the 340M which was a Ferd pump initially as I understand it.

Stick a new 340 in the truck just in case 

Referring to Ed's comments, I agree.  I have seen a number of pump failures this year on cars that the owner did not realize the pump was going.  Generally, they just kept adding more alky to the spray.  It seems there are more pump failures across the board.

[ULYCYC]

You can bulk order fuel pumps from China with any brand, pn# and correct oem box to match.  This goes for almost any product from automotive to Gucci bags.

[Steve Wood]

Yep, and I have seen failures reported across the board regardless of brand.

[daveismissing]

I know a local mechanic found an original pump from GM - somewhere in the GM system.
Wasn't cheap over $200 IIRC

[daveismissing]

Do 'tronix modify their pumps? heard something about staking/punching  some part?

[Steve Wood]

the way pumps are put together, I find it hard to believe anyone goes inside them.  Red Armstrong used to grind all the numbers off the pumps and stick a piece of 12 ga wire in the top to shim the bypass to a high level and he did not seem to make an effort to end the belief that he opened the pump and rebuilt the guts...but, no one ever saw a difference other than it bypassed higher than the stock pumps.

The factory pump was pretty marginal as delivered.  It supported what rolled out of the plant and nothing more

[Just a Six?]

Jack does modify them but I don't think he tears them apart? He had before & after pics on his site years back. I have 2 from him from when I got my DP Harness & they are still good. Considering they sit 80% of the time I can't say whether that would hurt or help the lifespan of them?? 
 
After meeting him & seeing his shop I can say that he is Very Fussy & makes nice stuff!

[Grumpy]

Racetronics sells the GSS294M for the Buicks now.. I am leaning towards that.

[Steve Wood]

It looks ok to me...last I had looked, he was still offering the 340m and I never heard of many of them failing....I suspect the market is so small that no one has tried to "import" one of them.  Looks like he is modifying the bypass for the pressure to something close to 80-90 psi on the 294

[The Radius Kid]

You guys ever see this one - found it on EBay:
 
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walbro-450-LPH-In-Tank-E85-High-Pressure-Fuel-Pump-Install-Kit-F90000267-/120909475533?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c26c42ecd&vxp=mtr

[ttipe]

I'm all about "made in America" (and Canada too) but the Denso 280 is a great pump by my experience.Thi s is the Supra fuel pump.A manufacturer is not going to release and install a dud pump to drive warranty costs.The 280 will static a set of 80#'s at 15v in the tank.

[Steve Wood]

You guys ever see this one - found it on EBay:
 
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Walbro-450-LPH-In-Tank-E85-High-Pressure-Fuel-Pump-Install-Kit-F90000267-/120909475533?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1c26c42ecd&vxp=mtr

John, I have not seen that one...and I would be very nervous about one that I did not know came from a reliable source. 

Wonder what the dimensions are?