[1966_L78]

I might need to run an electric fuel pump on my Chevelle. What is a good choice for long-term reliability (and also relative cost).

I am also planning on NOT having a return line (maybe a regulator a few feet before the carb, near where the mechanical pump would have been). Or maybe a short return line (regulator in the back, near the pump?).

Or would a larger/longer return line be much better for the pump longevity?

The car will "look" mostly restored under the hood.


In the past, I have run a few Holley pumps for years without problems (and no return, just dead-headed), and a friend ran a Mallory for years (not daily) withourt problems...

 

[CHELKAMINO]

I have run a Holley blue pump on my Velle which I bought used and rebuilt 2 times in 8 years. I put 3500 miles on it a year (spring-fall). I have a dead headed regulator as well. No problems here. You may want to go with the red street pump if you are not running a high hp/revving motor.

 

[bc69ss]

I have ran both the holley red and blue pumps. I had one blue pump defective when I got it but, other than that they have worked flawlessly. I bought the last one off of ebay as a remanufactured pump. Worked good...

 

[CDN SS]

Tony assuming were not talking race car here ......one of the most reliable and fairly quiet is the Carter pump ..no need for regulator comes with nice bracket .......put one on my 66 in 1968 !! mounted close to the fuel tank no one could see it ....... still worked when I found car in 2002 ( noisy ) .........lots of these pumps around on regular perf cars FWIW

 

[norvalwilhelm]

I also run a pair of blue holley pumps. They each have an outlet of their own on the bottom of the tank. Each pump is seperately wired to a relay/switch. They feed into a common 1/2 inch fuel line and dead head into a good holley regulator. I alternate each pump from day to day and after 20 years I am still on the same two pumps.
I really don't trust electric pumps so doubling up quarantees a spare.
Like I said so far neither has let me down.

 

[MIKEWITH THE 81'S]

Fwiw I hear that a electric pum with a return line will last longer.There probably has some truth to that because al new cars use a return line.

just pump it into a tee before the pump

 

[1966_L78]

Tony assuming were not talking race car here

No, No race car... In fact, I WAS going to use a new OEM mechanical pump, but I am looking into adding A/C with a compressor mount that bolts in place of the stock fuel pump...

The electric will also work well when turning my car into an engine test stand (before I restore the chassis/fuel lines)...

Thanks everyone. I ordered the Holley "Red" pump. I ran one of these daily (Holley "Blue" with a regulator) for about 6 years, but that was 20 years ago...