Hi, I have a 57 Super 88 and I would like to get into the fuel pump and service it. My shop manual says if it has a glass bowl which it does, it's a 56 model pump and I should refer to the 56 shop manual. I hate to have to buy another whole manual just for the few pages I need. Would anyone consider sending me just the 56 fuel pump pages out of the shop manual? Dan

 

The glass bowl pump (part # 5593934) was used on all cars from 1955-1956, and some cars 1957-1958. There really isn't much difference between the pumps. The glass bowl version has an air dome in place of the pulsator diaphragm and a strainer or filter in the glass bowl. In my opinion the glass bowl is the better one. You could probably proceed with the instructions for the pulsator version and just account for the differences. If I can coax my scanner into working I'll send the other one along. There are 8 pages on the '56 pump.

 

 

This you tube link is for a 55 Buick but almost the same as Oldsmobile if you do better with a video over pictures and script. I think it is the one I used when I rebuilt my pump.... Tedd

 

Wow, thank you for the quick response! My 57 started dying out and I thought it was vapor lock but I think I have ruled that out. I checked the glass bowl and noticed 1) It has no filter in it and 2) It has a bunch of debris collected on the bottom including what looks like small metal shavings. I had a new gas tank installed recently and I'm wondering if it's coming from there. I didn't think to ask the mechanic if he installed a new filter on the end of the siphon tube in the tank. The previous owner installed an in line filter between the pump and the carb and it was clean a whistle when I checked it so I think the problem is at the pump which might be filled with junk. My plan: clean out the bowl, install a filter in the bowl like original (O'Reilly's has them) and eventually get rid of the in line filter once I know the pump is clean. Oh, and make sure there is a filter on the tank siphon tube. I appreciate you taking the time to send me the pages. Thanks again. Dan

 

Many of the glass bowl pumps typically came with a screen or strainer at the top of the glass. It's hard to say where the debris came from. If any of it lodged in one of the pump's valves that could account for diminished pumping capacity. Sometime those "sock" strainers in the tank will disintegrate and cause problems with loose pieces. While there was originally a filter which would fit in the glass bowl, be careful as some of the aftermarkets don't fit. It's best to carry the pump with you when you look for one. Also be careful with the pick-up in the tank. Many Oldsmobiles in the 1950s would "run out' of fuel with 3-4 gallons left in the tank. Perhaps the mechanic resolved this when he worked on it.

 

And if mine I would leave the inline filter where it is. There isn't much reason to remove it and if you have issues with junk in the fuel line or tank added filtering doesn't hurt a thing. You might want to remove that filter and check see if there is anything coming up stream of that. Makes me wonder how the glass filter had stuff in it and how did it get through the inline filter.. Tedd

 

Hello Ozzie, I'm reaching out as I have a 57 Olds 88 (base model) and I have what I think is the '56 fuel pump ( I copied your scanned 8 pages from the '56 manual). I am interested to learn about the screen vs filter option. I am guessing that my fuel pump unit is #4317. When I removed the glass fuel bowl, it had no filter and it had a screen. I added a paper filter that I got from Fusick. The car ran great for 4 days and then on day 5 it would not run. No fuel was getting to the carb. I could suck it through with a vacuum pump and I could push it from the filler neck with compressed air. Would adding the paper filter (so the screen + the paper filter) have caused problems with the pump? I am just wondering if the later '57s with pump #4646 are the ones that need the paper filter and maybe they don't have the screen? Thanks in advance, David

 

Hi David,

The pump number is usually stamped on the flange next to where the pump attaches to the engine.

You probably don't need the screen and the paper filter. Lack of pumping can be caused by several things: pump valve that doesn't seal, pump diaphragm, congested filter in pump, congested strainer ("sock") in tank, crack(s) in flex line connecting pump to steel line on chassis (this will cause pump to suck air).


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Thanks for your reply Ozzie. I was able to add an electric pump and the car runs well with this temporary fix, so I think everything from the tank to the OE fuel pump is fine (at least for now). The OE pump only had the screen which I could see when I removed the fuel bowl. I added the paper filter and reinstalled the fuel bowl with a new gasket. I am trying to ascertain whether adding the filter caused the pump to malfunction or if the paper filter is wrong for this #4317 fuel pump. I have been thinking that I should try to run the OE pump without the paper filer to see if it will work again. Also I don't think I can confirm the OE pump number without removing it. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks, David

 

Ozzie, after reading the '56 shop manual related to the fuel pump, I decided to see if I could locate a number. As I was unsuccessful I removed the pump and it is very much as described in the '56 manual, though there is no number stamped on the flange or anywhere on the pump body. The only number I can see is on the rocker arm and that number is 5593538. This pump is dual action, has the air dome, glass bowl and screen. I'd like to get either a rebuilt pump or preferably a rebuild kit. I found Then and Now Automotive has a kit for pump #4317, which I suspect is correct. Let me know your thoughts on making sense of no numbers or the only one I could find on my pump. Thanks, David