70 Riviera elec fuel pump.

Discussion in 'Wet behind the ears??' started by JB Riv, Jan 11, 2022.

  1. JB Riv

    JB Riv Active Member

    Just bought the 70 Riv about a month ago. When I found out it had elec pump in the tank, wanted to see what my options are when/if this should need replacement. New here and really enjoying this forum as I figure it out. Thank you.
     
  2. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

  3. JB Riv

    JB Riv Active Member

    Thank you very much. Thought it's kind of an odd combo of elec pump in the tank with lower pressure to combo with a carb. I assume it does this w/o a pressure regulator.
     
  4. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    No regulator.
     
  5. FLGS400

    FLGS400 Gold Level Contributor

    Welcome from Florida!

    The 1970 Riv is my favorite. I don't know anything about the fuel systems, but Larry is the man when it comes that stuff.
     
  6. JB Riv

    JB Riv Active Member

    Thank you very much. I'm so glad I found this forum, the people, the parts, and knowledge here is incredible. As this is my first 70 Riv, it will prove to be invaluable. Had a 92 Roadmaster previously and loved that.
     
    FLGS400 likes this.
  7. JB Riv

    JB Riv Active Member

    Thank you very much.
     
  8. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    You'll soon find out that not many parts are repoped for these cars. Be careful removing things and NEVER throw something away thinking " oh I'll just get a new one at Napa tomorrow" cause chances are you'll be hunting for months/years for a good used one on line. If you need to have your sending unit rebuilt and calibrated this is the place I had Teo done, I think they're the only place that does them? Anyways you're in good hands here, nice car too!

    http://tristarrradiator.com/
     
  9. JB Riv

    JB Riv Active Member

    Great information to know, learning about this car from the forum all the time. Since I just bought in mid December, these are invaluable pieces of info that I am glad to know. Thanks to all that have continued to throw facts my way!
     
  10. Stock Rocks

    Stock Rocks Member

    This question is for Larry. I'm also putting a AC Delco 297 fuel pump on my 69 Riv. It did not come with a strainer for the end of the pump. What is your suggestion on strainers? I can not use the one listed for the pump (85-91 Ford Ranger/Bronco 11) as it interferes with the float. The nipple on the top is also a smaller diameter. The original is 7/16 not 3/8 like the new pump so I ordered a new 3/8 rubber elbow off Ebay.
     
  11. LARRY70GS

    LARRY70GS a.k.a. "THE WIZARD" Staff Member

    I got that information from member Yardley. Here is what he had to say about the 297 pump,

    "They have learned that the fuel pump from an 85 - 88 Ford truck with a 4 cyl or 6 cyl engine (I'm guessing it is for a Ford Ranger) is a direct bolt in replacement. The AC Delco number is EP297. I just told the NAPA guy I wanted that number and he just went and got it - and it was he that told me what it originally fit. Pressure at idle went up from 5psi to 6 3/4 to 7 psi and from 1.5 psi at WOT to around 4 psi at WOT, and the flow went from 30 gph to 40 gph. Needless to say there was much improvement, and no bogging at high RPM.

    Here you can see the 2 pumps side-by-side (click on the pic to enlarge it). While they are a direct bolt in, there are a couple of slight differences. You'll also notice in the picture on the right that I have used hose clamps to hold the OEM replacement pump in place, and I have done so with the new Ford pump as well. I don't like risking having things separate when there is an easy work around.
    [​IMG] [​IMG]
    The new pump is slightly shorter in body, inlet neck and exit neck lengths. Even so, I was able to just fit it in where the old one was. I believe it sits a little higher in the tank, so be sure to not let the fuel get too low. I tried like heck to affix the old sock, but it just wouldn't clamp down tight enough and I feared it would come off and lodge somewhere that I didn't want, so I used the sock it came with. The guys in Chicago installed it with no sock (I think to increase the flow a bit - and about 2 months later their pump failed!) but I chose to keep the debris out of the pump and maybe lose a tad of flow. And I also wasn't happy with how inflexible the new sock is, and didn't want to run the risk of it interferring with my fuel gauge float, so I installed it with the short end pointing down. I also had to do a little trimming to the rubber sleeve around the pump as it was bumping the float arm. I have not installed a fuel pressure regulator as of yet, and I'll decide after driving it a while if it needs one - but I don't think it will.

    That's it! You don't need to plumb a return line, and it sounds just like the OEM Buick pump. And now you have a much better fuel pump."

    Larry
     
  12. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    I suggest putting a return line in. I plumbed a return line on my 69 Riv and my vapor lock issues stopped immediately after.
     
  13. 1969RIVI

    1969RIVI Well-Known Member

    Stock Rocks, call Dan at TriStarr from the link I provide rarlier, he will tell you which strainer to use and or probably sell you one and ship it to you.
     
  14. Stock Rocks

    Stock Rocks Member

    Thanks to everyone for your help. I went through the fuel strainer catalog with a guy at NAPA and ordered one that looked right. It has the opening on the end like the Original but there's now way to tell if it will fit the end of the Ford pump. If it doesn't fit, I'll give Dan at TriStar a call.
     
  15. 69Riv

    69Riv Platinum Level Contributor

    I replaced the pump on my 69 Riviera earlier this year and used the pump and strainer linked below. There was other discussion on this forum that led me to these:

    Delphi FE0065 Electric Fuel Pump Motor https://a.co/d/bCIoRXC


    Airtex FS100 Fuel Strainer https://a.co/d/1pouUlY

    The pump was identical to the pump removed and the strainer was recommended by a forum member as a better alternative.
     

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