87 Chevy pickup

notjustair · Feb 7, 2014

I'm looking for a new chore pickup. I like the older Chevy body style. I found an 87 with a good body and decent miles. It has the 454 so it is going to drink fuel. It has what I need other than that.

My concern is that the fuel pump is inoperable. I know the pump is in the tank, but with this fuel injection there could be numerous causes, correct? Could I go in and put a Facet pump in somewhere close to the tank and power it off the key?

JRSutton · Feb 7, 2014

Why not just fix it?

Dropping the tank is a pain, but not all that hard to do.

And once you've got it out swapping the pump is nothing.

But before going that far - are you sure the pump is dead? What makes you say that?

Assuming it's truly not working...

Not sure on that truck if you can get to the pump connector without dropping the tank. If you can -I'd start there. Test it. Could be faulty wiring.

That's a long run of wire on an old truck - lots can go wrong.

Frankmn · Feb 7, 2014

The only down side to that is if you are in a wreck and don't get the key shut off, the pump will continue to run and lay fuel down which could ignite and burn you to death.

Super-H-Mike · Feb 7, 2014

Yes, pump is in the tank. I wouldnt advise doing anything other than replacing it with the same set up. Then you are good for another 100 to 150 thousand. The fuse and relay are the other things to check. You can bang on the tank with someone cranking the engine over, sometimes that will wake it up one last time. That is a low pressure system, like 13-15 psi, but I would be concerned about odd driveability or starting issues by using an add on pump, especially with that powerfull thirst that 454 has ! lol

glennster · Feb 7, 2014

if you are going to change the pump in the tank, pull the bed off, a lot easier than dropping the fuel tank. be sure to get a new o ring gasket and lock ring for the sender/pump asem. remove the 6 to eight bed bolts, the ground strap between the bed and cab, the screws holding the fuel neck to the bedside and unplug the tail lamp harness. if you have a tractor with a loader and a helper, it lifts straight up. watch so you dont bang the bed to the cab.

Revredneck · Feb 7, 2014

This is a myth. The fuel pump will not run if the computer doesn"t get an ignition pulse -- not running - no fuel supply. The redundant circuit depends on oil pressure, so the same thing applies.
Good luck and God bless.

JRSutton · Feb 7, 2014

I find dropping the tank easier overall but I'm more of a ford guy - might be harder on the chevy

- if the tank's full... pulling the bed might be easier. Siphoning a full tank's kind of a pain.

Either way - another good thing about replacing the pump (no matter how you do it) is that you can inspect your tank.

At that age, it wouldn't be uncommon to have some rust holes on top.

(at least around here in the northeast).

Holes in a gas tank are never a good thing.

So - that's further reason to do it right.

Super-H-Mike · Feb 7, 2014

True, but OP was talking about adding an outside pump and powering it off the key, which could be a hazard in a wreck.

MarkB_MI · Feb 7, 2014

Replace the fuel gauge sender while you're in there. Chances are it's bad too. Of course it's much more expensive than the pump.

Angle Iron · Feb 7, 2014

On those early years they have a fuel pump test lead under the hood on the passenger side of the fire wall. Right by the fuel pump relay I think. If I remember you should be able to put a hot jumper to it to test the pump. Red wire I think. Should be just above the AC coil box.
Angle Iron

Sprint 6 · Feb 7, 2014

That body style requires dropping the tank, the cab can be in the way of the sender. Chances are the supports, tank, sender, and fill neck are rusted out anyway.

Dave Sherburne, NY · Feb 7, 2014

I have had several of that generation pickup and have replaced the tank and pump on most of them.Chevy put a piece of plastic on the front and bottom of the tank to catch dirt sand and salt. I found its easier to take the box off to change the pump and tank and throw away that piece of plastic.
As for using a different pump, I don't know, never tried that.

JDJACK · Feb 7, 2014

Remove the box to replace the sending unit and pump. If you don't care about bed of box cut a hole in bed to get to sender.
Replace the fuel filter when you install the new pump.
If reusing sending unit check connection on the under side of the sending unit, where pump and sending unit go to. Have seen a lot of them burnt up.

JimEvans · Feb 7, 2014

Does it have one or two tanks? I assume they have a fuel pump in each tank?

Goose · Feb 7, 2014

Pulling the tank is not that big a deal. Last fall I pulled the tank on my '78 Chev snowplow pickup because the rubber hoses had deteriorated to the point of leaking. Just unbolt the brackets from the frame and drop the tank, brackets and all.

While I was at it, I replaced the tank because the old one wasn't anything to jump up and down about.

The key to re-installing the tank if you've removed the straps that hold the tank to the brackets is the centers of the brackets need to be EXACTLY 24" apart for the bracket bolts to line up with bolt holes in the frame.

The only catch is, you need to make the hoses longer and put a loop in them so you can hook them to the tank before the tank is lifted completely into place. Then, if the hoses don't lie properly on top of the tank you run the risk of pinching them. Never had it happen, but the potential is there.

RandyB(MI) · Feb 7, 2014

So can we assume you hav'nt heard it run or driven it? Unless you know the seller personally , I wouldn't be so fast at buying a non running truck, unless you get it for non-running price or a guarantee that the pump is the only problem.

87 Chevy pickup

notjustair

Well-known Member

JRSutton

Well-known Member

Frankmn

Member

Super-H-Mike

Member

glennster

Well-known Member

Revredneck

Member

JRSutton

Well-known Member

Super-H-Mike

Member

MarkB_MI

Well-known Member

Angle Iron

Member

Sprint 6

Well-known Member

Dave Sherburne, NY

Member

JDJACK

Member

JimEvans

Member

Goose

Well-known Member

RandyB(MI)

Well-known Member

Similar threads