<VV> update on my fuel pump dilemma

[Shari Hebrink]

Thanks for the many good suggestions regarding my question about the need to
prime my fuel pump.  I considered all, and tried most of them.  In the end,
it was a problem with multiple causes:
 
1. I had the rear of the car up on jackstands and the gas was fighting
gravity to get to the engine compartment,
2. Although my gauge was showing a quarter tank, I probably did not have
enough gas in the tank,
3. The rubber diaphragms in the fuel pump were dried out and not sealing
properly,
4.  This is the really big culprit - and probably valuable learning for
other Corvair newbies like myself - I had pushed the fuel pump too far in
(and held it there by leaning on it) before securing it with the tapered
bolt.  The end result was there was no travel for the rod that pushed up and
down in the fuel pump, hence no suction.
 
Fortunately, after installing the pump correctly, it still worked.  This is
when I discovered the dried out diaphragms noted in #3 above.  Gas was
leaking from the pump badly.  I pulled the pump off again and tore it down.
No holes or cracks in the diaphragm, so I wet it with gas and reassembled.
 
Second piece of learning for the inexperienced - there is only one correct
way to put the pump back together again, so pay attention to how it came
apart!  Diaphragms and and their inlet/outlet holes, as well as the five
bolt holes must all be aligned correctly!
 
It was a long night, but in the end, the pump is working and no longer
leaking.  Tonight I will set the timing and begin the engine break-in
process as suggestion by other generous folks here on VV.
 
Thanks to all!
 
Jedd
1966 Monza 110 PG 

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