Unregistered users may browse the website, but in order to participate in the forums and view select pages (such as "Club Contacts" and "Classified Ads") a user account is required. Click HERE to email the webmaster and request a free account. The National DeSoto Club uses real names rather than pseudonyms. Notify the webmaster of your user name preference (Johnathon Doe vs. John Doe, etc.), preferred email address, and password request.
ok, so i have been through the several options of fixing and replacing the fuel pump on my 291 firedome but i wanted to reach out to the community before i make my final decision. so here are my options. i can buy a rebuild kit for around 60 or so and do it myself. i have never had one of these apart but im very mechanically inclined so im sure i can rebuild it myself...the question for this option is, if i choose to rebuild myself, is there anything specific that i have to know?
a second option is to send it out to be rebuilt. i found a place to do said work here on the boards. upon calling them they said it would be somewhere around 90 for the rebuild minus shipping charges. the question for this option is, can anyone suggest more than the one shop that i have heard of...which i believe is in texas but i cannot remember because my initial research of this was last fall.
a third option is to go with an electric 6volt pump. with this option im curious if you gentlemen, and ladies, can give me a pros vs cons
and the last option, which i would like to do the most but am having the hardest time getting done, is to buy a used, or NOS, but i simply CANNOT find any out there. i have been looking online, locally, ebay, searchtempest, craigslist, etc. at least once a week for literally 4 months and have not found one single pump. so one of my questions is, is there another model that is more common that i could use instead of the original one? are any other years compatible?
one of the main reasons id like to find a working replacement is so that i can keep the original and rebuild or get it rebuilt in the meantime and have a spare.
id appreciate the help. at times it becomes exhasperating trying to find parts to keep this ol girl running and once spring rolls in, i want to get her back on the road and enjoy her, please help me keep the love affair alive!
Josh
I'll chime in with my opinion....
Because of the line of work I'm in, I can certainly identify with your option to do it yourself, since there's an obvious level of satisfaction experienced with doing your own work.
The shop in TX that you found to do the rebuild was likely Terrill Machine in DeLeon, TX. Also, Arthur Gould in NY rebuilds pumps as well, and I have used both of these vendors with satisfaction to rebuild the pumps for our projects at the shop.
To find another (used) pump, I would suggest Big M Automotive in California, if you haven't already tried them.
If you have the club roster (which requires club membership) you can use it to find members that have parts cars, and might be willing to turn loose of a fuel pump from their stash of parts.
Of course, finding a used pump means you need to rebuild 2 pumps. Finding an NOS pump doesn't solve all your problems because a NOS pump will have a short life span due to the modern gasoline which will attack the soft parts in the old pump. So, you'd have to rebuild an NOS pump as well, which might turn out to be your most expensive pump since everybody wants gold for stuff referred to as "NOS"
This task is one of those things that I shop out to a specialist, as I get a warranty as a result, and if something goes wrong (and sometimes it does....) then it gets fixed on someone else's dime rather than me having to do it again.
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
Thank you tim, i agree with you about a few things. one, the warranty offered with rebuilt units is a plus, but what i hadnt thought about was having to actually rebuild a used or NOS pump, thus doubling my cost. and with my second child due here in 6 weeks, the less money i can spend right now the better. i am a member, but besides the classified section, im not sure what you were referring to when you said to use the member roster to find people selling used parts. can you direct me accordingly? although, as per our conversation, i think i may just go ahead and get my unit rebuilt and get it over with. but it would be nice to know what you were referring to anyhow because i could definitely use some other parts here and there. thanks again.
Josh
I guess the 2014 roster issue is nearing publication...the roster is sorted several ways: one way will list cars by owner, with their condition noted. That will allow you to look up the owners of other '55s. You can contact them with your needs.
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
My 2 cents here....
I have used Arthur Gould for the replacement fuel pump for my straight 8 Imperial. They sent me a rebuilt one and I sent them my core and they refunded the core charge. Nice and easy deal and their work is excellent.
Chris
I was going to rebuild my pump by myself, but... I just decided to go ahead and let them rebuild it. I am glad I did because it looks BRAND NEW! I am not sure I would have been able to get it looking like that. I sent it to:
http://www.maritimedragracing.com/then_ ... e___se.htm
They also sell kits.
It was only ONE WEEK from the day I sent it, to the day I got it back. Of course, they are in MA and I'm in NJ, so that saved a day or two there. They have a one year warranty on it. The cost was $95 plus mailing. They accepted Paypal too. Contact Mike if you have any questions. They even returned all the OLD parts.
Oh... sorry to say, I have NOT installed it yet on my '56. I just got it back a few days ago, but it has been... in the 20s here in NJ, so... too cold for me to be handling iron outside in the garage. I need it to warm up to at least 50.
Good Luck!
Jim
Jim
I'm interested in this discussion. I have several NOS pumps on the shelf but cannot recommend them. I need to change 55's again. I'd say a rebuild with some sort of space age diaphragm that resists everything. The gas just keeps getting worse. I had a couple fuel pumps fail at critical times in the past year including the one on my tree spade....during Christmas tree sales. Recently I had trouble starting the Power Wagon and went through the fuel, spark air routine. It turned out the gas had lost it's volatility in a couple months. Very irritating.
Have a nice day
Steve
I read "somewhere" that today's gasoline has a shelf life of about 60 days.
Jim
Jim
thanks for all of the replies gentlemen, i have a few requests out for quotes so i think ill be getting this taken care of this week. i think getting it rebuilt and a one year warranty is the best option.
on the topic of todays gas and our compatible parts, i have put at very least 10k miles on my 55 and hadnt had an issue on any of the fuel components until this fall. perhaps it was luck, but it seems that todays fuel had little effect on my car. im not sure about the shelf life question, but i have let my supra sit for more than a few months with no real issues. i just make sure that i dont boost on an old tank of fuel.
You have a Supra? Cool! What year? The nostalgia bug hit me and I recently bought an '82 at auction. That was the 1st car my wife and I bought together as newly weds back in '85.
The Supra probably looks small next to the '55! (There, my post has some DeSoto content......)
It's supposed to be fun!
1949 De Soto Custom Convertible (project)
yes tim, i actually have two supras, a 97 single turbo and a 98 twin turbo. they are my babies. and actually, the mkiv isnt as small as the first three generations of supra so she doesnt look too small compared to Francine...my desoto. but then again, many vehicles look small next to a yacht! here is one of my babies...
The Supra probably looks small next to the '55! (There, my post has some DeSoto content......)
I can relate. My '55 Firedome is parked next to my '93 Mazda RX7.
I loves me some FDs!
on a related note, i sent my fuel pump to arthur goulds today. ill post some feedback once the transaction is complete.
I'm interested in how your pump turns out as I will need to do the same on mine in the near future.
I loves me some FDs!
mine at a recent Cars & Coffee
Nice FD!
i sent my fuel pump last monday and got a call today saying that it was complete and being sent out tomorrow. ill update as info is available. i cant wait to get in Francine and drive her on a looong country road!
