Will an inline style, high pressure fuel pump be able to pull fuel out of the tank with a dead fuel pump in place?

The reason I ask is because I'd like to rig up a backup fuel pump setup, for an emergency roadside repair on a long trip.

 

I don't think that will work. I don't think that an in line pump would pull through the in tank unit. I also don't think an in tank would pump through an in line unit. To do this, you would need 2 separate lines and a splitter/valve prior to the fuel rail. The whole in tank pump is an issue but its far better than an in line pump. I totally year ya as far as fixing it on the road. Thats why so many people do the trap door thing.

 

Yeah, I didn't plan on permanently installing it, just have a setup ready to install if the need would arise.

I also had the idea of rigging the emergency pump in a way that it could be attached to a commonly available fuel jug (which a friend would have to obtain and bring to me) and stuck in the rear storage well. But the way the hoses would need run is hack-taskic.

 

Almost always, no. What you're proposing won't work. You could "theoretically" do it with a 3-way valve like some boats have, butt carrying gasoline around inside your car, is a very good way of shortening its life, and winning your very own Darwin Award. I can't think of anything much stuuuupider than that. "'At ain't nuttin' y'all, hold mah beer and watch THIS!"

 

Many years ago i worked on a camaro a fellow local member had purchased. Basically it would start but not run well and then die. He thought the fuel pump was dead so we were going to replace it. Now this was an inline holley pump that was mounted under the rear area under the car and was attached to hose running up to the tank. I found that the car still had the in-tank pump installed (which was dead) and it also had a mechanical pump on the engine block which was also connected to the same fuel line. It was crazy to see it all.

Needsless to say, multiple pumps in-line is a bad idea.

 

Of someone really wanted they could pull the in-tank pump and use an in line pump instead. They run hot and are noisy and as a result don't last long. Another option is w the in tank pump removed, you could use a small sump tank/pump setup. They've used them in boats forever. They also are an option in standalone efi systems like edelbrock and fitech. They use them for efi swaps that don't have an in tank pump. The high pressure pump is in a really small tank so its still cooled by fuel. Personally in think they're less than ideal but better than an inline pump. Ill keep my in tank pump and just be miserable pulling the tank when/if it dies!

 

Well, looks like I'll just carry a spare pump then and hope for the best. I'm not going to cut the infamous access hatch into the car either.

 

The trap door is the move. I wish i did it while my tank was out. Just do it right and you'll be all good. If my pump goes, I'm gonna pull the tank and weld in a door and never pull the tank again.

 

I'm not doing the trap door. Do I have the ability to properly modify the sending unit and fab a properly sized and sealed hatch? Yes. Am I going to do that? Nope.

I installed a new Delco pump about 5000 miles ago, but it's also been about 15 years. It still works and I don't expect it to fail, but you never really know. I'm not going to replace it as preventive maintenance either, as there's a good chance the current pump could outlive whatever pump could be bought and installed right now.

 

So I just had another thought.

The return line on the sender, iirc, drops all the way down into the tank, near the pump inlet. If that's the case, the return port could be utilized for the temporary external pump suction line. Then the return hose under the hood could be rigged up to the vent line under the hood that goes to the charcoal canister, which would then return fuel to the tank.

Like I said before, just as temporary. The pump and wire kit, along with conversion fittings and hoses could be just be bagged up and carried along on long road trips. It could be carried along for potential use on any of my 3rd gens.