Removing mechanical fuel pump

[bobs81sx/4]

What is the best way to remove the fuel pump on an 81 sx/4?  I have 151 iron duke and mechanical fuel pump. cross member appears to be in the way to approach from bottom, carburetor(rochester) in the way from the top.

[IowaEagle]

WOW!  It takes about 15 minutes to R&R one on an I-6.   The Iron Duke is another story.   Maybe someone has an easier way that what the TSM suggests: 

[Venosho]

WOW  that looks like heart sergury  I feel for ya man that is going to be quite the project

[bobs81sx/4]

what is the engine holding fixture step 9 refers to?
There has to be an easier way to do this. This is really going to suck.

[IowaEagle]

Someone mentioned an electric pump.  That might be a whole lot easier.

[bobs81sx/4]

going to buy an inline electric pump tommorrow. $42 cant argue with that the mechanical is only $25 but the two days of taking my engine apart and back to get access is well worth the extra $20. If I stretch it out the job make take an hour or so.

[HappyPappy]

When I changed mine, all I did was drain the rad, removed the alt, then you can access the fuel pump. All that other stuff is from a dealer ship working on the car!! You can use one of those wobbly extensions or a , I  call them wiggily's , universals. You can use either 1/4 or 3/8 drive. Make sure the new pump is the same flange as the old one. I ran into that the last time I changed mine. There was a little extra lip on the back side of the housing, didn't find it until after struggling with it for awhile. Took me about an hour, start to finish. I think the dist cap is harder to change then the fuel pump. Amazing how they can build a car around a motor. Good luck. Happypappy

[bobs81sx/4]

If I change to an electric pump, what pressure does the pump need to be? According to Chiltons manual pressure should be between 7 1/2 and 9 psi. It seems to be hard to find a pump that delivers that high of a pressure without getting an expensive race pump.

[nwamcsx]

If you decide to replace the mechanical one take a close look at the flexible line going down to the fuel tank hard line.  It kind of snakes around some of the bodywork and has a piece of protective wrap around the line.  Mine had worn through and had developed a leak.

[siguy8]

If I change to an electric pump, what pressure does the pump need to be? According to Chiltons manual pressure should be between 7 1/2 and 9 psi. It seems to be hard to find a pump that delivers that high of a pressure without getting an expensive race pump.

I'm curious, what is the correct pressure I should use with an electric fuel pump?

[siguy8]

Ok. So I've been running the electric fuel pump(s) for about a year now. My gas mileage is below 20 mpg, and the previous owner said he was getting 30+ originally. I think something's awry. My exhaust always smells a lot like unburnt fuel. Is there something that would cause this that I'm missing? Also, what would it take to go back to the mechanical fuel pump (besides the heinous job of replacing the pump)?

[carguy87]

Sounds like you need to regulate your fuel pressure to lower it quite a bit.