Dave M

I am going to replace my mechanical fuel pump on my 454 Mag. It sits on top of the sea water pump. There is a gasket between the two. Do you put any kind of sealent on that gasket like permatex? Is there any other parts of this job that I need to know about?

Jerry B

You can put some sealer on the gasket if you need to. It will help hold the gasket in place during instalation. Dont use very much. Make sure the lube oil in the sea water pump is not containamated by fuel. If the diaphram has gone bad in your mechanical pump it probably will be and will need to cleaned out and new added. It uses the same lube as your outdrive. Also be sure to clean up any spilled fuel. If you have a fuel shut off you might want to turn it off. Sometimes slight pressure can build in the tank which would keep force fuel out of the feed line.
Good luck.

Dave M

Thanks Jerry,

How about the rod or mechanism that drives the fuel pump? I haven't taken the old one off yet and not sure what to expect in there. I do know that the lube in there is contaminated because it is leaking out of the little weep hole.

Dave M.

cooltoys61

It's just a rod that runs off a lobe on your cam. The cold oil usually holds it in place but if it falls out there are no complex springs or anything. Watch when you remove to see the relationship with the lever on the fuel pump,install that way.

z.zuperboat

DAVE WHATZ UP? IS THE FUEL PUMP BELT DRIVEN OR ATTACHED TO THE SIDE OF THE BLOCK?

Jerry B

There is no rod driving this pump. There is a lobe, "Ecentric" made on the shaft that operates the pump. Just make sure the lever on the pump goes under the correct side of the lobe. Not to hard to see how to install it. I'm not sure you could install it incorrectly and be able to tighten the bolts. With the drive belt off you can turn the pulley by hand, Make sure you turn it the proper direction or you could damage the water pump, and you will feal a slight vacume coming from the inlet side of the pump. You might have to wrap a rag around the pulley and grip it with some vise grips to turn it. When you feal the vacume you know it's on right. But like I said. I dont think you can put in on wrong.
This pump is belt driven. Has water pump and fuel pump both driven by same belt.

Pat McPherson

Dave,
May I make a suggestion?
Well I will anyway...
If your sea pump impeller has not been changed this year or last, change it too. They should be changed every two years if used in salt water; can stretch it to three if you run in fresh.
The impeller comes in a kit with a new plastic housing and is a vary easy job.
Good Luck Dave...

Jerry B

Good idea Pat. I should have thought of that.

Dave M

Thanks Guys, I did order a new impeller kit that is going in too.