Looks like my FP's gone south for the winter

Topic: Looks like my FP's gone south for the winter (Read 1296 times) previous topic - next topic

Looks like my FP's gone south for the winter

November 24, 2014, 04:01:16 PM

Ha, this car's been yoyoing all month! Fix one thing, another breaks down.
Noticed a couple hairline cracks around a post on my dist cap which definitely need to be addressed, but my current issue seems to be one of starvation.
Finally got myself down to harbor freight for an injection tester. Initial tests didn't look great - it primed to 16 PSI and ran at 35 PSI. No gas in the line, but slight fuel odor and no change in pressure on removing the vacuum from the regulator. I've never changed the filter

Cool, cheap stuff. Start with new filter, new regulator. Got new filter on - old one clogged as $#!7.

Decided to give it test before fooling around with that regulator. (From what I've gathered, it seems folks find it necessary to pull off the plenum. Anybody around here ever changed a FPR on a 3.8 without pulling the plenum?)

First prime, 0 PSI. Cool, lost an oz. or two of fuel changing the filter. Give it three primes, still 0. Another three - ah, 5 PSI. A handful more and I never got it above 10 before I decided to just crank it. She stumbles and starts, gets up to speed. Steady idle at 35 PSI. Pulling the vac off the FPR, now it's jumping up to 41. Still going to replace it, but I guess it can wait for a less windy day. Gauge won't reach past the cowl so wasn't able to do a full road test with it.

Shut the bird off and the pressure drops from 35 to 30. Drops from 30 to 20 in about a minute and holds. Ten minutes later, she's at 10 PSI. Twenty minutes 8 - thirty minutes still at 8.

Guess I'm going to be dropping the tank, checking voltages and replacing pumps tomorrow. I've dropped the tank before, so I know it's actually one of the easier components of the vehicle to remove - but sucks nonetheless. C'est la vie.
Replaced a kinked nylon line near the fuel rail input and found a worse kink under the heat shield hose. I could see how all that regurgitating fuel could kill an already aging pump.
I've no doubt we kinked those lines replacing the head gaskets. Live and learn I suppose. I'll definitely take the time to get the spring locks loose or plan on replacing the rail lines with injection hose off the bat next time.

Looks like my FP's gone south for the winter

Reply #1 – November 25, 2014, 04:14:03 PM

Ha! Yep, clogged as $#!7.

As for the pump, it took about 2 hours to pump out 6 gallons of fuel through the filter inlet.
Surprised it was running at all.

Looks like my FP's gone south for the winter

Reply #2 – November 25, 2014, 05:28:43 PM

I am SO glad I fabbed the panel for the trunk to replace the pump. The pump access panel makes a fuel pump job a 20 minute deal if I take my time. This is a good time to upgrade your pump. Mine is fairly new, but I'm not having faith in it. It's going away soon and making way for a new Walbro 255 lph unit.

Looks like my FP's gone south for the winter

Reply #3 – November 25, 2014, 05:59:56 PM

the super charge 3.8L pumps are pretty good as well Vinnie, they are better than stock, never seen a reason to do the 225lph , I may be wrong.

Looks like my FP's gone south for the winter

Reply #4 – November 26, 2014, 01:55:09 AM

Super coupe, 108lph. Stock mustang is 88lph, our cars, 68lph.

I helped a buddy swap in a 110lph pump. We ordered it at an auto parts store for a 87 mustang gt for $10 or so more then a stock pump.

Looks like my FP's gone south for the winter

Reply #5 – November 26, 2014, 07:21:41 AM

For me, it was because I wasn't sure how far I was going with my car as far as power goes. Figured buy the 255 and call it good, plus, it was about the same price as the lower lph pumps and took the exact same amount of time to install. LOL.