As we all know, if the car sits for several days, there's quite a bit of pumping and cranking to get it started due to the gas evaporating. To avoid this, I pour a small amount of fuel down the vent tube in the top of the carb to "top off" the float bowl and it starts immediately. But this is a pain. I saw a '59 Caddy once that had a small fuel pump on the fender well that was controlled by a toggle in the car. Before starting, this was turned on briefly to prime the carb. I would like to do this in my GS. Has anyone done it and if so, how? What pump is appropriate and where should it be placed?
Many years ago, there were aftermarket "impulse" electric fuel pumps, which replaced the mechanical units. These ares still available, and they operate the same way the original impulse units did. When the carb bowl fills, they turn off, and are operated by the ignition key. Food for thought... Ray
Any electric fuel pump--with a regulator if needed--can be used. As soon as you turn on the ignition, the pump fills the bowl. Of course, if you wire the pump so that it doesn't activate unless you have oil pressure, it won't work as well to prime the bowl. Just for giggles: Install a paper filter WITH THE TINY CHECK VALVE into the filter housing of the carb. Often, the trouble with the "carb" turns out to be a small leak in the check valve(s) of the fuel pump. As soon as some fuel evaporates or leaks from the bowl, the float drops causing the needle valve to open. This allows air into the upper part of the fuel tube, and if the check valves also leak, the fuel will drain back to the level of fuel in the tank. The check valve leak is not enough to cause problems once the engine is running, but will allow the fuel tubes to drain backwards towards the fuel tank overnight. The tiny check valve in the fuel filter can "crutch" that problem by preventing backflow. If it makes a difference, you need a different fuel pump.
I wasn't aware there was a check valve in the filter. Is this a special filter or standard? I'm thinking the float needle doesn't leak because the carb was rebuilt a couple of years ago by Jet Performance, but you never know.
AC Delco: GF-470 (short) GF-471 (long) Personally believe evaporation is the problem, but fuel filters are not expensive, and easy to try. Jon.
