Converting from mechanical to electric fuel pump

[Dleslie212]

Hello all. 77 10 here with a 350 and Edelbrock carb. My truck doesn’t get a ton of use, and often sits for a week or two at a time without being started. This morning, I added a mechanical oil pressure gauge and when I went to start it up to check the gauge, it took forever to start. I ended up killing the battery and having to charge it, and then finally got it to start. Once running, it files fine. Carb was rebuilt about two months ago.

I’m thinking that swapping from mechanical to electric fuel pump would help. Any thoughts?

[TrailerTrash]

Does the choke work? Is it adjusted properly?

It should start just fine even after sitting I wouldnt think it's a fuel pump issue

[Rickysnickers]

I would just you a question before you consider a swap. If your doesn't get driven a lot, is it really worth the expense to convert? Swapping to an electric pump could be a pricey layout. I would do some diagnosing on your current system first to see what is going on with it.

[Dead Parrot]

Mine does much the same with a similar setup. Starts fine after a few days then gets harder the longer it sits. The gas will eventually evaporate from the bowls as they are simply vented into the air cleaner.

Older trucks often develop small current leaks. Old diodes or suppression capacitors, radios with memory backup, etc. So the longer it sits, the lower the battery gets.

The end result is needing to crank longer with a battery already partially discharged.

My solution is if it has sat long enough, I put a charger on it ahead of time. 30 minutes from an old school 6 amp charger is usually enough. If it is also cold, I will sometimes put a few dribbles of gas down the carb. Only takes a few drops.

Another option would be a BatteryMinder type of device to keep the battery fully charged.

[Palf70Step]

Mine is crankie too when it sits. for a few days or more. I have an electric choke on my edelbrock carb. I found if I turn the key on, let is set a short time to let the choke close, pump it couple times, then it seems to fire up either on that try or 2nd try. If I just jump in and turn the key I spend a lot more time cranking to get it to fire.

[truckin 79]

Yeah make sure the choke is working properly that is very important for starting truck that has sat a while. I also use a battery cut off switch to save from any parasitic electrical gremlins, keeps battery ready to go. I let engine crank a few times so gas flows back in fuel bowl, truck still has a quadrajet. Then on the third crank I hold my foot down on gas pedal ever so slightly and usually kicks over then if not the fourth time. I am pretty sure even the owners manual has in it to hold foot on gas pedal ever so slightly while turning key. I usually have to stay in truck for a little while to make sure it comes off of high step idle once it starts. This method has worked on my 79 truck, 79 Trans Am and 83 chevy van. The van used to be the worst, I would crank on that thing and kill battery almost everytime. Once I could actually get van started it smoked out the exhaust with white smoke because it was getting flooded from cranking so much. I am sure my neighbors love the smell of raw fuel in the morning

[Dleslie212]

Thanks all for the replies.

The choke is a manual choke, with a rod you pull from inside the cab to open the choke. I’m assuming it works properly... when it’s cold, I open it, and the idle rpms go up quite a bit. Then close it when warms up and idle rpm decreases

I was thinking it was more about the mechanical fuel pump taking forever to take fuel up to the carb, and that switching to electric would fill the bowls quicker