Got some questions.

1. I'm going to drop the tank and remove the fuel pump assbly, where can I buy a new assmbly with just a pickup. It is cheaper/better to modify mine like in the sticky.

2. If my car didn't have a mechanical pump, then it's not possible to put one on it correct? So I will need to run a electric pump. (out of tank) where would this normally be installed?

3. Carb Tuning. I have a holley 650 DP. I've never tuned any carb before except a lawn mower. Where can I find some good reading. Also what tools/kit do I need to tune the carb. I know I will need jets. last guy had a 400, I have a 305.

4. Do I need a return line with my pump/regulator. Or if I have a low PSI pump can I run the fuel straight to the carb.

5. What am I missing? Should I need to know anything else.

 

By the numbers:
Junkyard. I'd just modify it per the sticky.

All SBC's had mechanical fuel pump provision well into the EFI era. There are a few reports of early 90's engines not having the provisions machined, and cams without the fuel pump lobe, but all engines made while carbs were still an option have the provision. You need to replace the block-off plate with a pump mounting plate, and add a pump push rod.

Holley Performance Products - Carburetors, Fuel Injection, and Fuel Pumps They aren't that complicated. The Holley 66-99 jet assortment is a good assortment to have.

"Need" is the problematic word in that question. I highly recommend it to help prevent vapor lock. But, it will "work" without it.

What do you plan on using for a distributor?

We'd need to know more about your modifications and planned usage to say more.

 

don't mean to critisize the moderator here but my 87 350 tpi motor did not have the fuel pump boss machined for the mech pump when I went to swap to carb. nor did it have the lobe on the cam. so I know at least some of the late 80's camaro's didn't have this. could have been a one out of a thousand deal but I have no idea.

 

That's an area where reports vary. The first question that comes to mind is whether that was verfied to be the original factory-installed engine. It wasn't uncommon for engines to be swapped out, and the dealers would often get whatever the latest crate engine replacement was being used at the time, so a 1987 model year car could easily get an unmachined block with a no-fuel-pump-lobe cam in the early 90's.

I have a 1987 LB9 engine. It had the fuel pump provisions machined and a lobe for the fuel pump. It was also .040" over with dished pistons, and had one 081 casting head and one 191 casting head. My guess would be that it needed a rebuild, possibly under warranty, probably after the engine either overheated or froze, had one cracked head, and they rebuilt it with low-po parts mixed with the proper LB9 parts. A real mess. Didn't help any that I discovered the block was also cracked in the lifter valley.

Since the originator has an '83 305, my bet would be that it has the mechanical fuel pump provisions.

 

definitely true on the replacement engines. My guess is that since the 350's were all supposed to be fuel injected they skipped the machining on the fuel pump boss. the 305 block could be either or so they machined all of them. cam's probably came from two different places so the 305 grinds all had the fuel pump boss. all the 350's didn't but this is all my opinion so who knows. but yeah I saw the 83 so was probably crossfire injected so it almost definitely has the mech provisions.

 

And we should be more careful about the use of the term "crate" than I was. My '93-cast ZZ3 block was fully machined for the fuel pump, and the cam has the pump lobe, while being a factory roller block. So. . .

 

so, In answering the question whats better mechanical pump or a not of tank electric pump.

 

either will work. mech was used for decades mass produced with not many problems and electric has been used for a long time. they both have pros and cons to them. Mech is cheaper and just as easy though.