The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi all,

A week or so ago I posted the subject of a red Facet fuel pump. There seemed to be a little concern over these from some people and not others. I'm no expert on the various pumps available, however I am struggling the get mine to fit ( Facet red ) once I've fitted rubber insulation mounts and the pipes I just can't seem to find a good place to mount under the car around the axle area especially as it needs to be vertical. I'm not particularly wanting to start drilling holes in the body if it's avoidable.

What other pumps are readily available and good, which are suction and can be easily installed within the engine compartment and will work well on a dellorto set up.

I see the SU type pump is available, sounds good but is 1.5psi enough pressure? This is suction type so can go in the engine compartment. Are these just for SU carbs?? I'm sure I worked on a 70's Esprit some years ago and this had an SU pump....but I may be wrong.

If people could post some ideas and what out there is good and can be mounted at the engine compartment that'd be great. I will be wiring in an inertia switch, so on any impact it will kill the pump. These where fitted to 90s Citroens and are very effective.

Thanks in advance everyone.

Chris.

A pump is a pump is a pump. An SU pump is no different from any other type in that it will supply petrol. For use with a carb or carbs you don't want much pressure or you will find the float valves overpowered and fuel overflowing from the carbs. What is much more important is the volume of fuel delivered. An SU as used on an MGB should pump at least a pint a minute, which ought to be plenty. On the MGB it is mounted low down under the car. I'm not sure what is the maximum height it can suck fuel, but a specification sheet ought to tell you.

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Mike
(1969 MGB GTV8, 1977 Dolomite 1850HL, 1971 MGB roadster now all three on the road)

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the post. I did see the SU pump can draw fuel in excess of 40 inches above the tank and should be mounted in the engine compartment. A company called Southern Carburettors over my way sell lots of different SU pumps, I'll try call them tomorrow, see what they say.

Many years ago, I ran a Ford Zodiac mkII on a Moggy Minor SU pump! This car had 3 x 1.5" SU carbs on a 2.5 liter straight 6. The Moggy pump was designed to fit under the bonnet (long suck, short blow) and is normally fitted high on the bulkhead, at or above carb level.

However, it did struggle to supply sufficient fuel for sustained high revs on that engine,

I would be a bit anxious about supplying a pair of 45s which are notoriously gas hungry with a similar SU type pump, my instinct would be to persevere with the Pacet pump and if necessary fit a pressure regulator to hold it down a bit.

No matter what you fit, unless you stick to the original mechanical pump, you're gonna HAVE to drill some holes SOMEWHERE!

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

Huco pumps have a good reputation, available in a few varieties. (pressure, you want pretty low, 2psi I reckon) and choose between near tank or near engine type. Not the cheapest, but avoid the need for a regulator if you get the correct version.
Facet also sell the posiflow, worth a look.

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Clive Senior
Brighton

Mine is under the passenger seat on the outside. Mounted on the slope at 45degrees and not had an issue running 45's including hill climbs etc.

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Mike

1980 Vermillion Sprint - 174bhp

Facet solid state pumps are good as well, either the 60104 or 60106 would work well for you.

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Russ Cooper
Dursley
UK

Do these electric pumps have an inertia cut out switch in case of accident; to stop fuel being pumped out of a ruptured fuel line, for instance?

Nope, but then again, neither did 10's of thousands of MGBs, Minis, Midgets, Morris Minor's et al

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BWJ
1966 Triumph 1300 Royal Blue
1966 Triumph 2000 Blue
1965 Triumph 2000 black and rust
1967 BSA B40wd green
2018 Jaguar E pace 2018
NOBODY expects the Canley Inquisition!

TR5 and 6 did.

Stag does

As did the 2.5PI! but there is a theme here and it is high pressure fuel injection!

Most moderns with high pressure fuel injection have some sort of device to shut the fuel off, whether it be a simple inertial switch as on Fiestas or the more complicated ecu controlled relays on Vauxhalls. which "know" if the engine stops running, even if the ignition is left on.

But there is a world of difference between the 3 bar running pressure (circa 45psi) generated by the Carledo's EFi pump and the 1.5psi that comes out of an SU pump feeding a carb or two!

As far as I am aware, NOTHING factory fitted with an SU pump and carb(s) ever had a fuel shut off facility including over a million Moggy Minors!

This is not to say that I disapprove of the idea, were they still making carbed Moggies, I suspect safety regs now would require one! And for the sake of simplicity, if nothing else may I recommend the one fitted to Triumph TR5, 6 and 2.5Pi, it's simple, rugged, easy to fit and can be activated manually for a bit of extra theft prevention!

Steve

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'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.

Also fitted to stags, which also use a boot mounted SU electric fuel pump to serve the two bergs.

I have an aftermarket replacement in my Snag which blows too hard and needs a pressure regulator.

My 3500S Rover P6 has an MGB style leccy pump mounted under the bonnet. It replaced the crap Facet effort the car came with and has given
no trouble fueling the Rover V8 at all... Think Moss supplied it back in the day...

Jonners

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Note from Admin: sadly Jon passed away in February 2018 but his humour and wealth of knowledge will be fondly remembered by all. RIP Jonners.

The US mgb's did have also an inertia switch.

I would not use the solid state type facet pumps mentioned above as they make a continuous loud ticking noise as Jonners did experience many times. The copy of the old bendix pump that facet makes is a nice quiet pump what never fails.

Jeroen

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Classic Kabelboom Company. For all your wiring needs. http://www.classickabelboomcompany.com

I use one of these from a Jag to cut the electric pump. Hopefully I never need it...

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Mike

1980 Vermillion Sprint - 174bhp