Electric fuel pump for easier starting ? (3000S)
Discussion
I believe a regular upgrade these days is to fit an electric fuel pump. Does this improve starting?
My car runs okay and the fuel pump looks relatively new, but (cold) starting takes time (just weekends).
Haynes recommends choke adjustment to give fast idle of 3200 but mine is much lower - around 1200 once she starts-up. When warm, she drops back to 800.
If an electric pump is part of the answer, any recommended type ? Are they easy to set up?
My car runs okay and the fuel pump looks relatively new, but (cold) starting takes time (just weekends).
Haynes recommends choke adjustment to give fast idle of 3200 but mine is much lower - around 1200 once she starts-up. When warm, she drops back to 800.
If an electric pump is part of the answer, any recommended type ? Are they easy to set up?
That's just what I was thinking of doing! Holden www.holden.co.uk do both Facet and SU pumps from £45 to £150 but what rate/pressure is required? Additionally, I have been told that an inertia cut-out switch is required, they are available from rimmer brothers www.rimmerbros.co.uk , look under Triumph Stag - they are about £30 from memory. I understand that lots of people have done this conversion so come on guys, spill the beans!
>> Edited by phil_vernall on Wednesday 17th December 10:12
>> Edited by phil_vernall on Wednesday 17th December 10:12
I fitted a small Facet pump when I had a Holley 500 with a VA9 cam in a 'hot-rod' Essex V6 that powered my 3000S some years ago, due mainly to the fact that this cam doesn't have a lobe for a mechanical pump. It was wired through the ignition so switched off when the ignition was switched off. Inertia switches may be required now, but they weren't then. I also bought a 'Filter King' to regulate the pressure, but I never fitted that either (it's still in the box).
The advantages were that the fuel-bowl in the carb filled quickly and the car started more easily, using less battery and reducing cold-cranking time. Not rocket-science, by any means.
Funnily enough, this engine was taken out after I blew it up at Brands Hatch and a more standard one was fitted with the normal mechanical pump. I took the car to Zolder this year and the engine died just outside of Louvain in Belgium. After the usual torrent of expletives when a TVR dies on you, my exploration of the cause revealed that the mechanical pump was no longer pumping. More expletives. By some extreme chance of fate, I'd left the Facet in my tool box, which always accompanies me on TVR journeys. 10 minutes (and a few snips of fuel line and wiring) later, the Facet was hot-wired to the battery, tie-wrapped to the chassis and happily pumping petrol to the carb and I was on my way again
My Tuscan V8 had a big 'red-top' Facet and this gave me no problems at all.
Is that enough beans spilled today?
The advantages were that the fuel-bowl in the carb filled quickly and the car started more easily, using less battery and reducing cold-cranking time. Not rocket-science, by any means.
Funnily enough, this engine was taken out after I blew it up at Brands Hatch and a more standard one was fitted with the normal mechanical pump. I took the car to Zolder this year and the engine died just outside of Louvain in Belgium. After the usual torrent of expletives when a TVR dies on you, my exploration of the cause revealed that the mechanical pump was no longer pumping. More expletives. By some extreme chance of fate, I'd left the Facet in my tool box, which always accompanies me on TVR journeys. 10 minutes (and a few snips of fuel line and wiring) later, the Facet was hot-wired to the battery, tie-wrapped to the chassis and happily pumping petrol to the carb and I was on my way again
My Tuscan V8 had a big 'red-top' Facet and this gave me no problems at all.
Is that enough beans spilled today?
Adrian Venn did me a kit for under 100 squids with every needed regulator, pump, relay, pipe the works.
One of the reasons i got it was to inprove cold starting.
NOW- the pump pumps away but the wiring is configured so if the engine stops the pump stops- a safety feature.
The pump only runs if the starter is turning OR the alternator is charging.
This means that the pump won't start pumping until the engine is turning so the fuel won't be at the carb when the engine starts moving on the starter. I expect the electic pump gets the fuel up there quicker than the mechanical one did but it still takes a while to fire when it hasn't been used for a while.
SO- it looks like I have a choice: the safety way detailed above or just a straight "the igntion is on, the pump is on" which may solve the slow starting. I am sticking with safety (partly because it took me so long to understand the wiring and get it working! Adrian was very helpful BTW)
perhaps your is wired up the same as mine- does it tick when the ignition is on?
One of the reasons i got it was to inprove cold starting.
NOW- the pump pumps away but the wiring is configured so if the engine stops the pump stops- a safety feature.
The pump only runs if the starter is turning OR the alternator is charging.
This means that the pump won't start pumping until the engine is turning so the fuel won't be at the carb when the engine starts moving on the starter. I expect the electic pump gets the fuel up there quicker than the mechanical one did but it still takes a while to fire when it hasn't been used for a while.
SO- it looks like I have a choice: the safety way detailed above or just a straight "the igntion is on, the pump is on" which may solve the slow starting. I am sticking with safety (partly because it took me so long to understand the wiring and get it working! Adrian was very helpful BTW)
perhaps your is wired up the same as mine- does it tick when the ignition is on?
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