Cheap fuel pump option while I get mine rebuilt

[alabbasi]

Not for the 280SL but for my 6.3 which uses the same fuel pump. The motor is toast so I'm going to see if I can find a place rebuild it. In the meanwhile, I'd like to know if I can find a cheap substitute to put in its place. All I really need is pressure and flow rate, but if you guys are using anything that that you know to work. That would be great.

Thanks
 

[Bonnyboy]

Apparently there is a pump designed for the Volkswagon Minibus that works sort of.  Low Pressure and High volume. I never tried it but there is a guy running around town with one.

I went through the same thought pattern and ended up going new. 

check Adsit - I think they had one for a resonable price.

[ja17]

 PM me and I will give you the brand and part number of an easily available, inexpensive domestic unit with correct specs to run the pagoda engine.

[stickandrudderman]

Isn't that counter to Peter's request to avoid using PMs?

[ja17]

Sorry, I did not see read that thread.  I did not know if I should promote a product with pricing. I am not selling these, they are readily available from your local auto parts stores.  Peter?

[Jordan]

Joe, I don't think there is any issue with you providing the name of the product or pricing.  It's not like you are making them.  I would be interested in knowing.  Not that I would use it but knowing there is an easy replacement to be had should a problem arise while on the road, especially when one is far from home.  This would be the case for any part that can fail.  Maybe we should start a thread on easy/quick fixes to issues that might arise while on the road.

[KevinC]

What's cheap...?

[Peter van Es]

Joe, providing pricing and part numbers that could be useful to other members is no problem whatsoever.

And yes, since you'll then help multiple people, I prefer that you do that via a public post rather than by PM...

Peter

[ja17]

Sounds great to me.

A lot of electric fuel  pumps will run your engine. Very few will allow your engine to run properly. The original electric fuel pumps produce a large volume of fuel flow ( approx. 1 liter per 15 seconds) at around 14-18 psi.  Very few aftermarket electric fuel pumps will provide this continuous pressure with the high volume of fuel required. The high volume fuel flow allows the circulating fuel to cool the fuel system preventing hard  hot start vapor lock. Other pumps may not maintain enough pressure to run the injection system as designed causing all sorts of fuel starvation problems.  Some modern premium electric fuel pumps (Bosch etc) produce fuel pressures which can be dangerously too high (100 psi). These units can be regulated down by allowing more fuel to escape to the tank, however these pumps can be expensive also.

If you check the specs on other electric fuel pumps you will find that most conventional domestic units fall short in one or both categories. The Carter electric fuel pump #GP4601HP is nearly identical in specification to the original. Like the original it is gravity feed fuel, so it must be hung level or near level with the bottom of the fuel tank (as is the original). It is a rotary vain type pump (as is the original) also. It is fairly well built and comes with fittings and rubber mountings. It is a bit noisier than the original. The price at your local auto parts stores here in the US is just over $100.00 US.   NAPA, Jegs, Summit Racing all stock these units.  Great to have on board for a road spare or an emergency fix. If originality is not your bag, they seem to perform just fine as an alternative.

Hope this helps. Our friend "Arthur" from the past first tipped me off on this fix. Thanks Arthur!

[Jordan]

Thanks Joe, good to know.  Great inexpensive road spare as you mention.

[Flyair]

Looks as if there were two threads about the same topic run in parallel at the same time, so here is the linking fix...

[stickandrudderman]

Fuel pumps from a 124 are a relatively easy mod and can be had second hand very cheaply.

[George Des]

I have had success rebuilding both the large and small style original pumps, but in the end, it is still a part that has seen service for many years and there are really no guarantees it is going to last as long as it first did. The only real long lasting repair with good assurance it will not leave you stranded is to replace the fuel pump with a brand new Bosch brand designed for the car. These are readily available and the prices are about as variable as the number of sources. Yes, they are expensive, but at least they are available. A rebuilt pump makes sense when you feel more comfortable having a spare in the trunk for that time when your first team pump decides for what ever reason it wants to take a "breather". Now if originality is an issue and you have the long pump, you're pretty much stuck with having to go with a rebuilt one. For all intents and purposes the short and long style are pretty much interchangeable, although I have heard that the big body Benzes with the larger engines tend to run better on the long style pumps