Ok, read a lot of posts and replies on this, but I'll ask again: "Replacing my 'Fuel Pump" and my "Rebuild (original) Carb". In the past (when I was a younger gear head), I would ALWAYS use the "Gasket Goop" whenever replacing a part that had a gasket.

Then later on, I remember the discussion as to "Never Use" that stuff.

I was talking to a good friend of mine, who at one time had an "Engine Shop" and has and is building several "Muscle Cars", and he said:

"Make sure you put some shellac on those gaskets when installing that pump and carb".

I questioned the shellac, and he said to use that or the "Goop".

So, the questions:

Q. Should I (do you) put "Gasket Goop" on both the "Fuel Pump" and "Carb" gaskets when installing, and if "Yes", both sides or only one side?

Q. NEVER USE the "Gasket Goop" on either the "Fuel Pump" or "Carb", just rely on the gasket itself.

Q. What's with, did anyone ever use "Shellac" on gaskets?

 

The reality is that is won't matter. We spend waaaay more time worrying and writing about this than it takes to change the pump. The factory didn't use anything other than the paper gasket. If it makes you feel better, smear RTV on it. There isn't a lot of pressure to cause a leak here.

 

If you choose to use any type of sealant do two things, clean the surfaces thoroughly, then clean them again and use the sealant very sparingly. I've seen too much sealant cause problems.

 

Agree on the "spend too much time" on this subject, but it was a discussion with my buddy, so I thought I would once again float it out there.

As for "factory never used it", I agree, in one of my posts, I noted that at a young age, I worked at the GM Lordstown Plant, Engine Line. One of my many jobs was the "Fuel Pump" job (1970s), and we never used ANY gasket goop, so I guess it was ok back then, OK now.

I use to tell my buddies, hey if you guys need any work done on your car, engine, muffler and pipe installation (another job I did at the GM plant) I can do, but: "You have to drive really slow while I'm doing the work, if you stop I stop"! At the plant, if the "line" stopped, we wouldn't work, and have to wait for the next engine or body coming down the line.

 

OK, here's the "Update" on the "New Fuel Pump" and the "Rebuilt Carb" for my 64 F85, V8. Sorry for the length of the update, but pour yourself a good cup of coffee if it's early, or crack open a cold beer, or a good glass of bourbon, here we go:

Picked up the "New" Fuel Pump at Summit Racing (main plant is about 30 minutes from me); Carter Pump

Took the carb to Benchwick Carburator rebuilder (he's 5 miles from me, well known, respected, been in the business for well, well over 50 years)

Had to get the "fittings" for the pump, didn't come with the pump - picked up at O'Reilly's Auto Parts

Had the time set aside, ready to install:

Side Note: Back in the 70s, I worked at GM Lordstown Plant (Truck Division, Van Plant). I worked on the "Engine Line", did every job there was on the line, which included "Fuel Pump" and "Carburetor" installation. I'd put on a pump or carb every 30 seconds, so this job on the 64 should be a piece of cake?

Cleaned up both the carburetor and pump old gasket area, soaked the nuts and bolts overnight in some PB Blaster, got the tools lined up, new fuel line (rubber hose), new clamps, got the radio on, LET'S GO!

Ooops, no gasket with the New Pump, let me run up to the parts store and get a gasket, be right back.
First Stop - No Gasket
Second Stop - No Gasket
Third Stop - Don't have one, can have one here tomorrow - OK, I'll wait.

Tomorrow - Wrong Gasket

Called Summit, told them it didn't come with a gasket, they said Come right up, exchange it for a new pump, with a gasket. OK, a little drive, but I enjoy visiting the place anyway.

Note: When Summit Racing first started, it was their only location, Talmadge, Ohio. Now they have one in Nevada, Georgia, and Texas, so when you call (toll-free 1-800), you don't know who or where you are talking to. I won't make this discussion any longer, but after 45 minutes at Summit, I got my "gasket".

Time to get these parts on, get this 64 running.

Fuel Pump (New Carter): The Fitting goes right in, next fitting is the lower, 90-degree "nipple" fitting that the rubber gas tank fuel line connects to. What, it won't go in all the way, can't tighten up, secure the fitting? Why? Well it seems that the "upper diameter" of the "New Carter Pump" (re-pop) is about 1/16" larger, just enough to not allow that 90-degree fitting (nipple) to screw in tight, end of extended nipple hitting the upper diameter of the pump, now what? Extend the fitting? They don't, or at least nobody has an extended fitting, so just to get this thing on, I "jerry-rigged" an extension. I don't like it, don't like how it looks, but it worked. Pump on.

Carburator: Ok, let's get that "4 botl" carb on. What, this isn't the right gasket? Drive to the carb shop, pick up the right gasket. Carb on.

Fuel Line: Should mount right on, took it off, didn't do any bending, it is as it was. What? These connectors don't line up. Come on, it came off this way?

Like the upper diameter on the new pump, the fitting portion of the pump is slightly offset, one is a little set back more than the original, and the other is slightly at a side way portion, different, hard to see by sight, but just enough so that the fitting doesn't line up.

Ok, time to "cut" or "bend" that fuel line to fit. I decided to "cut" and insert a "fuel filter", just not knowing what is in the tank, the car is 61 years old.

Fuel Pump - ON
Carb - ON
Fuel Lines - Connected

Car started right up, took throttle great - BUT - has a fast idle. I don't want to mess with any of the jet adjustments on the carb; they should be set after the rebuild. I did attempt to adjust the "idle screw", but still idling too fast.

So a 30-second GM Assembly Line Job," I once did, well this took me 2 weeks, running around, quitting, running around, and now a "fast idle".

Q. Any suggestions other than a carb adjustment on how to slow down that idle?