Should I use a mechanical or electric fuel pump?

[Charger1973]

The motor is a 400, but it will be a 451 stroker eventually.  Im about to replace the gas tank, sending unit, fuel lines, and get a new intake and carb (about 800 cfms).  Right now I have an electric pump hooked up but I dont like it and was thinking of going back to a mechanical one.  Is this a good idea?  Or will I want the electric one with this setup?  If a mechanical is ok, which one should I get?

[Charger-Bodie]

The motor is a 400, but it will be a 451 stroker eventually.  Im about to replace the gas tank, sending unit, fuel lines, and get a new intake and carb (about 800 cfms).  Right now I have an electric pump hooked up but I dont like it and was thinking of going back to a mechanical one.  Is this a good idea?  Or will I want the electric one with this setup?  If a mechanical is ok, which one should I get?

im in the process of building a 512 stroker and im told it should be ok with a mechanical pump so im going to run a holley110gph and see how it goes! so yes id try the mechanical one first if i were you.

[Chryco Psycho]

I like the quiet mechanical street pumps for street use , the electrics whine & get old fast , if you do go electric get a mallory pump

[Charger1973]

Thanks guys, ill try the mechanical one.  Any recommendations on which ones to get or not to get?

[supserdave]

We've had good luck with the carter pumps, and bad luck with the holley pumps.

[Charger1973]

Moparguy also recommended the carter so I think i'll give it a try. 

[Purple440]

I'm using a Carter 120 and it's been fine so far.  The only fitting size I found on summit are 5/16 inlet so be prepared to adapt if you have 3/8 lines.

[Charger1973]

Hmm, not sure if I want to adapt them or not.  I have 5/16 lines now but planning to replace them soon and going with 3/8... 

[Purple440]

That's what I just got done doing.  I just used short pieces of hose with clamps, no big deal, but not pretty.

[Charger1973]

Wouldnt that defeat the purpose of going to 3/8 lines though?

[Purple440]

If you think about the volume difference between 5/16 and 3/8, given the length of the line between the tank and the pump assuming you also install a 3/8 sending unit at the tank, it provides more volume to the pump.  I didn't actually calculate the difference though.  But, numerous members have said that 5/16 line is fine for a 500hp range car assuming you have a high volume pump...in hind sight I would have replaced the pump and left my 5/16 in and tested it.  But I'm still glad I put the bigger lines in, and if you need 3/8 from tank to carb you can get a 3/8 inlet pump I was told, so you'd have 3/8 all the way but I can't tell you which mech pump will give you that.  If Carter does, I didn't see it.  Check summit or jegs, maybe I just missed it 

If you do find one, plz post up a link or something,

- Doug

[oz_charger]

Try Clay Smith at www.claysmithcams.com, they have a mechanical pump with 1/2" in and out and its supposed to support over 1000hp.

[Ghoste]

Wow!  That's one big mutha mechanical pump.

[Charger1973]

I ended up just grabbing a stock replacement pump for now.  Once I get the stroker kit, i'll upgrade it, but I decided im going to stick with a mechanical one.

[Charger74]

Just keep a spare with you when you take it out, had one go out on me on a drive to Tucson one nite.  Sucked cause there were no stores open til the next morning.  Then bought a holley mechanical, never evr again, it failed within 3 days.

[Nacho-RT74]

not to highjack, but, is there different fuel pumps to each line size ?

[Ghoste]

You can get size specific pumps or you can use adaptors.

[Nacho-RT74]

well but What the hell I do with an adaptor if internally Pump works sucking the same LOL... when I mean about that wasn't really because the fittings/outles, like really internally

[Ghoste]

Which asks the obvious question, why put a big high volume pump on an engine and leave the smaller fuel lines running back to the tank.  I think when it comes to internals, it will basically be that the higher the output, the larger the internals. 
As to are there different pumps to different line sizes, well, yes.  If you ordered a Hemi, which came with the higher output Hemi fuel pump, you were also getting 3/8 lines.  There would be other cases where the fuel line would be the same, for example a 340 and 318 car both had the same fuel lines, but the pumps have different flow.  In that case, I suppose the smaller fuel line can support the 340 and more than support the 318?

[Headrope]

Did any '66 or '67 non-Hemi B bodies come with a 3/8 line?

[Ghoste]

440 cars.

[Runner]

im not sure the claysmith pumps are a bolt on deal,  might have to do some grinding on your block to clear things so if you choose to go this route do some homework on it