Hi guys I am new to this forum so if I am posting in the wrong place please just delete my thread.

I was wondering about fuel pumps... I have a 1984 firebird and I am planing to build a 383 stroker with estimated 500 hp. My question is this, what kind of fuel pump do I need to get the job done? is the stock one enough or do I need a bigger one?

Best regards from Iceland
-Vest

 

Welcome to the forum Vest.
What's in the chassis now? Mechanical or electric? At 500 HP, either option is workable. Some of this will depend on whether the engine you build will have provisions for a mechanical pump.
The mechanical pump has the advantage of simplicity. And depending on the plumbing, they can be made to run without the overheating issues that have plagued some installations. Including my own.
The electric version may add a layer of complexity that will have to be dealt with if the current chassis isn't already set up for it. Namely wiring and control.

 

Thanks for the reply, I know very litle about this car, it has been sitting in storage. It is an 1984 so I am guessing its a mechanical pump. Right now there is a 350 sitting in the engine bay and I am planing on using that as a base for the 383. I am just gathering information at this point as I have not been working on carburated motors before, but there has always been big interest of mine building one. The pump would be located in the engine bay if it is mechanical right? and if it is electrical it should be sitting in the tank? I'm gonna be using this winter to build the motor and want to be sure I'm using the right parts required for the build. I read that they have been using bigger mechanical pumps than the original on a 383 so I wanted to be sure that I will not be starwing the motor with a weak pump.

 

I had a 400 in my car for many years. Had a Comp XE274 cam and a Holley 6211 carb. (800 CFM double-pumper) Don't recall the HP on the dyno but I do remember the torque was 373 to the wheels... the 454 that backed off of the dyno right in front of my pull made 330, and all the people standing around's jaw dropped and the 454 owner looked kinda green around the gills, which is why my torque stuck in my mind. The stock mech pump (bolts to the side of the block) was completely adequate.

 

OK. If you know nothing about these engines, I'll try and describe what you may find.
A mechanical pump would be attached to the engine on the passenger side front corner down low. It may have any number of fuel lines connected to it. You will need to confirm.
A factory electric pump would be in the tank. Again, the number and size of the fuel lines will be important going forward.
Being an 1984 model and having passed through many owners, you may find that it has any possible variation of the above. My 86 Camaro has had at least three different mechanical pumps as well as two different electrical versions. It was originally equipped with the factory in tank model. Then I changed to a mechanical version. Then another mechanical pump as the first was difficult to manage (as in heat soak) which was eventually replaced with an in-line (outside of the tank) electric. So you may have just about anything at this point.
Once you've had a chance to look things over, you can decide where to go from there.

Based on that, if originally equipped, you may be in OK to go with what was factory supplied. Again, based on the years and how many owners have their hands on it, there's no telling what's there now.

 

I think mine was on at least its 3rd replacement fuel pump by then. It was just some yerbasic parts store POS. Couldn't even begin to tell you what brand it was.

My car didn't have the in-tank electric. If it did, I probably would have got rid of it.