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John D


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Green Mary in dry-dock...
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Well, if there's a good thing, she didn't leave me stranded... never made it out of her slip for the meeting yesterday.

The last several months I've notice a drop in performance, harder starting, etc. Well, the in-tank fuel pump finally bit it yesterday - no 3 second "ZZZZZZZZ" when you 1st turn the key. Already checked the relay, and it's activating and there's power going back. Tryed the "thump the tank with a rubber mallet" gag - no go - it's dead.

I knew this was inevitable, and good thing #2 it's only got about 3 gallons in the bunkers. New pump assy, sock, filter, and tank straps should be here Wednesday.

At least I've done this job before... like FIVE TIMES! It seems that these B-bodies crap the pump at about 90K turns. I did it twice on my Roadie Woody, once on Blue Buford, once during the Blackie conversion, and now the Green Mary.

(Another one for my "punch in the nuts" file. Why is there no access door in the floor of the car to service this CRITICAL piece on an FI engine??? Noooooo, you have to disconnect 3 fuel lines, vent hose, the big rubber hose from the filler pipe, an electrical connector, and 4 rusty bolts before dealing with a 30"x36" plastic washtub with weight sloshing around in it!!)

 



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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

2018 Factory Five MkIV Roadster build thread
SShink


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Good thing it happened in the garage at home, and not 30 miles away.

Not saying you did anything wrong, but I think if the in-tank pump is run frequently without more than half a tank of gas to  submerge it in fuel to cool it, that they can overheat and burn up?  It's more likely the age/useage IMO.

Same access issue in trucks with the bed over it.  Probably adds too much manufac



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Stan S.-Twin Cities 'South Metro'

1972 Malibu Convertible 2nd time around 

2001 Mustang GT Convertible 

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John D


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Yeah, I'm aware of the cooling issue, but the engineers (on this one) actually did some thinking. There's a "well" with a ring around it inside the tank that keeps about 1/2 gallon of fuel in there. Sloshing & vibration will splash the pump.

It's probably age/miles. Like I said, it's inevitable from 90K and up.


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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

2018 Factory Five MkIV Roadster build thread
bowtie


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I'm still waiting for a pic of the newly cut access panel in the back.

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Bryan-NW 'burbs
1972 Malibu
Vaguely stock appearing, and the opposite of restored.
1999 std bore 5.7, Vortec heads, Holley Stealth Ram, GM cam
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John D


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Naaah.. been there done that enough times. But it still is STUPID that you have to go to the extents described to replace what should be an "easily serviced" part.


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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

2018 Factory Five MkIV Roadster build thread
John D


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Priming and painting the new tank support straps in anticipation of a nice "wrenchin' day" tomorrow!

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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

2018 Factory Five MkIV Roadster build thread
John D


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Got started around 8:30, and the Green Mary is ready for sea-trials. I'm glad I did a pre-soak with PB Blaster on the tank strap bolts - they were TOUGH - but didn't snap. Used hand tools and the tighten/loosen/tighten/loosen trick (pushrod), and they came right out.

Oh, don't take anything for granted. Double check everything. I avoided TWO "gotchas" that would have resulted in the tank coming back down again.
1) The new fuel pump wasn't an exact replacement. It had a 2" long electrical adapter to convert the plugs. When I clicked it in I noticed some shiny metal on the connector. The prong wasn't seated in the plastic, and when I pushed the connectors together, the prong pushed out of the connector!
2) The ground terminal for the fuel sender was bad/sprung... NO grip on the tab. It just rattled around on the tab. I replaced it with a new crimp connector.

Gonna shower up and go fill up... yeah FILL up... It's fixed.

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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

1965 El Camino - LT-1, 4L60e, 4wh discs, SC&C susp.
2013 F-150 Platinum - Twin Turbo 3.5

2018 Factory Five MkIV Roadster build thread
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