This is the second one of these replacement fuel pumps I have had come apart internally with less than 10000 miles on each, on my '74 Cutlass 350. Have any of you had a similar experience?? I have driven this car since 1989, put 400000 miles over the 135000 it had when I bought it from a family member, and prior to 2020, only put 4 fuel pumps on it. The symptoms are, dying randomly, and all the time under full throttle, or load.

 

May sound silly but I buy used and NOS pumps. I have never had problem but I also don't drive as many miles.

 

Do you have/use a return line? I'm given to understand that puts less strain on them, since they're not "deadheading" against low demand.

Doc.

 

Yes. Factory return line. AC car.

 

That is not silly at all. After I had two do this, I may do the same
I wish the high volume, 455 RobbMC pump fit with the AC brackets on the 350

 

I went though 2 brand new pumps on my blue F85 in the last week of trying to get it ready for the Nationals last year.
junk.

 

Not surprising. I had multiple mechanical fuel pumps on my 86 Ford F250 fail rather quickly. They would actually pump diesel into the crankcase!

So far, I've been lucky with my 71 98. I'm running a mechanical fuel pump that I bought from the parts store 10+ years ago. Don't get the cheap imported junk, it's just going to fail on you.

 

Yes. These both had the cheap rivets that held one of the valves break off and caused this.

 

Also, even if you order from Fusick or Kanter make sure you keep your old fuel pump (alternator, PS pump, etc.). It's not worth a $20-$30 core refund when the part is suspect out-of-the-box.

There's probably a professional fuel pump rebuilder out there. You could always send the fuel pump to be repaired.