OT: Chevy V8 Fuel pump

Slowpoke

Well-known Member
I am replacing the mechanical fuel pump on my 1976 Chevy van G20 350 V8. It's almost impossible to get a finger in to move the push rod up and really
impossible to have it stay up. I notice there are 2 bolts holding what looks like a plate that may stop the push rod from coming out. There are two identical
gaskets in the box with the new pump. It does not look like one will fit under the plate as the plate is longer than the pump mounting casting. Should I remove
the plate, let the rod out and put heavy grease on the top end and replace it? Is the additional gasket for the plate or do I need a different one between the
plate and pump mount casting?
Any help appreciated.
Thanks,
Slowpoke.
 
There is a bolt in the front of the block that is directly in line with the fuel pump push rod. Remove that bolt and temporarily replace it with a longer one that will pinch the push rod in place. Small blocks been that way forever.
 
use an old hack saw blade bent about 45 on one end. You can hold the rod up with that and pull it out when you get the pump lever under it. Some times if you turn the engine over a little bit it helps to so the cam eccentric is all the way up and not pushing the rod down.
 
There's a bolt on the front of engine that lines up with the fuel pump pushrod. Take it out and install a longer bolt (3/8" NC X 1-1/2", IIRC) finger-tight ONLY to hold pushrod in/up until you get the fuel pump bolted on, then remove long bolt and replace with original bolt.

Install the "holding bolt" BEFORE removing the oild pump so the rod can't slide "down" against the cover. If it already has, push the pushrod "up" with a hacksaw blade or similar thin object while snugging the bolt against it.

<img src = "https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/attachment.php?s=dbcdda8ae0f1a9a4af88ce3c37bfc14a&attachmentid=1556364&d=1469646628">
 
Scott's post will be the most accurate one there will be on this subject. Yes, it's been there forever (or since the beginning of the small block Chevy) because this threaded hole was used for the motor mount for the '55 or '57 Chevy, or sometime around then.
 
For years I had a piece of stiff wire with a finger loop on one end and a bend on the other to get behind the pushrod and hold it up while you slip a hacksaw blade under it.
 

When the hold'em bolt is hard to get at I bump the starter till the pump shaft is on the low spot of the cam. Then I sharpen the end of the fuel pump lever on my bench grinder insert the pump in the hole again the pump drive shaft and flip the shaft up quickly its worked for me every time over the years...

I understand what you are dealing with they are a beach but not impossible not any of it... Yours is not the run of the mill EZ one : (
 
Vans are notoriously hard to work on, I feel for you!

If you can't get under the rod to push it up, you can take the 2 bottom bolts out and push the rod up.

With the cover off you can hold the rod up and turn the engine through to get the rod in the full up position. This will make life much easier getting the pump in place and the bolts started.

Some engines did not have the bolt in front. If yours doesn't, the grease trick will work.

The gaskets are different. You can clean it up, scrape the gasket, and put it back with hi-temp silicone.
 
The only bolt in the side is the battery ground cable.
From under the van I can't tell if it lines up with the rod.
But I will remove it and put in a longer bolt and see if it contacts the rod.
Thanks
 
I can only get my left arm down to the mount and only one finger to push the rod up. It may take a half dozen tries and it falls right back. But I have to get
under the engine to turn the crank with a socket and ratchet to try and find the low on the cam. I think it's a two man job!
 
I tried the hacksaw blade but can't get two hands in there to remove the blade and slip the pump in at the same time.
I'll try to remove the inner plate and pull the rod out and grease it with heavy grease. I just wonder why there are two identical gaskets in the box. All ads I see for the pump show two gaskets. They would not have two unless there was a reason for the extra one.
Thanks,
Slowpoke
 
(quoted from post at 21:25:15 02/23/21) The only bolt in the side is the battery ground cable.
From under the van I can't tell if it lines up with the rod.
But I will remove it and put in a longer bolt and see if it contacts the rod.
Thanks

Yep, you got it, that's the bolt you are looking for!
 

"They would not have two unless there was a reason for the extra one."

There is NO reason or use for the second/identical gasket 'cept "The Land of Almost Right" NOT getting it right (again).
 
Yup, that bolt has been in the blocks for ever. In fact there were 2 bolts on most of the small blocks clear back in 1955. The 55 had motor mounts in the front and one of the mount bolt holes would give you axces to the fuel pump push rod. Back in the day we use to have a 55 chevy 4 door sleeper with close to 500 hp. This would allow us to put a custom 350 in the 55 using the original 55 motor mounts.
 
(quoted from post at 16:34:36 02/23/21) I am replacing the mechanical fuel pump on my 1976 Chevy van G20 350 V8. It's almost impossible to get a finger in to move the push rod up and really
impossible to have it stay up. I notice there are 2 bolts holding what looks like a plate that may stop the push rod from coming out. There are two identical
gaskets in the box with the new pump. It does not look like one will fit under the plate as the plate is longer than the pump mounting casting. Should I remove
the plate, let the rod out and put heavy grease on the top end and replace it? Is the additional gasket for the plate or do I need a different one between the
plate and pump mount casting?
Any help appreciated.
Thanks,
Slowpoke.

I always just covered that push rod with thick grease. Never had one offer to slide back out. If you do the bolt trick, there is a chance you will forget to remove it. Not good.
 
I have seen blocks where that bolt hole is not drilled or threaded. I put a 307 in a 58 suburban and I had to drill and thread the hole. I replaced the 307 with a small journal 327. Ended up with more motor than brakes.
 
I've never gotten one with 2 gaskets.

It's just some error on the part of the company packaging it. Don't be concerned over it.

Maybe they just want to be nice and assume the first one might get torn trying to install it!
 
I found the bolt, but cannot get a socket on it: it's buried behind rad hose and tranny lines.
 

Try my trick it won't cost ya nuttin... BTW a Carter pump is ALL I would install... Try it with the old one first as a test...


mvphoto70753.jpg
 

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