Mechanical fuel pumps on a big block

[Moparman01]

Hey ya'll, i've been running a Holley blue electric fuel pump on my 440 but after less than 2 years the pump decided to crap the bed on me and Holley told me thats normal since the car gets stored for the winter! Junk! Anyways, the reason i ran the electric pump was becuase when origionaly put the engine in the car i had a mechanical pump on the motor but it did not pump any fuel what-so-ever and i was told it was becuase my engine was missing the "actuator rod" inside the engine that runs the arm on the pump. Well, now i want to put the mechanical pump back on the engine cuz i'm not dealing with another junk holley electric pump, but i have no idea how this actuator push rod goes inside the engine!?!? Can it be done with the engine in the car?? I've had to pull the motor already a couple times for other reasons, i don't feel like doin it again. I've also been told there is no fuel pump actuator rod in big block Mopars, but i have a rebuild book that mentions this push rod but doesn't give a detailed way of installing it. So what's the deal? Thanks for any help! 

[mally69]

Yes, it can be done with the engine in the car. If you look, there will be a plug right below the hole where the tail end of the fuel pump goes into the block . You need to screw that plug out. Then you need to get a fuel pump push rod and push it up in that hole where the little plug was and you will see the where that rod needs to go when you shine a light up there. but first greese it so that it will stay in place long engough to get the pump bolted to the block.

[4aThrill]

but make sure that you push the rod up far enough with a finger or something, then with the other hand slip the fuel arm into the hole make sure that rod does not slip down and miss that arm. have fun done it many times. 

[terrible one]

Where do you get the rod? I wonder if I've got mine. . .

[mally69]

Where do you get the rod? I wonder if I've got mine. . .

440 source, thats where i got mine.

[terrible one]

Where do you get the rod? I wonder if I've got mine. . .

440 source, thats where i got mine.

Right on, only $9.95 too. 

[Moparman01]

$9.95??!! Damn i got it on order thru a parts store my dad works for and i think it's costing me like $28 bucks!!! Hope it's the right part, but then i got to thinking, i have a complete 440 sitting in my garage i just bought off a buddy of mine that has never been apart and has the fuel pump still on the motor...i coulda just scavenged the rod out from that motor!! O well, live and learn. So it's pretty straight foward to install then, cuz if there is a way to put it in wrong i will find it! Thanks for the help!

[mally69]

Do yourself a favor and buy a new one. I tried  reusing one and it caused problems down the road. What happend was I just could not find out why my car would just shut off out of the blue and didnt have any fuel pressure but it would shut off and any given time and might run for 1 mile or 20 miles before shutting off . And after tearing everything apart, that was the last thing left to check and it was just a pain.   

[4aThrill]

the fuel rod wears down over time and such if you plan to re use one measure it before using the specs are located onmoparts or in the manual if you have one. but Mally69 is right best thing to do is shop around and get a new one. 

[firefighter3931]

The fuel pump pushrod should measure 3.25 in long....if it is worn down then replace it. 


Ron