This all changed when I fitted the Zenith 14991 carby. Around town at 35 miles per hour it ran beautiful, and on the open road I could cruise at 50 to 55 MPH with no drama, except after about 15 miles of high speed driving I would out strip the rate of fuel supply, and suffer fuel starvation until I backed off and let the fuel supply back into the carby. On hills the problem was a bit more severe. It was not a Vac Tank problem but the 14991 carby requiring fuel pressure to run at its ultimate level of performance.
I was advised by a Chev guy in the States before I fitted the 14991 that I would need an electric fuel pump.
I took a gamble and lost.
You are never too old to learn. For years I thought the standard Carter carby was fine, did not know any better. Changed to the Zenith, very happy. Similar experience to when I changed over to 3077 spark plugs. So fitting an electric fuel pump was viewed in a similar way. Not to make the Red Chev a racer, just a bit more respectable on the open road.
A 6 volt in line fuel pump was ordered from the Filling Station in the USA, and has just been fitted. Some people hide these under the chassis or inside a stripped out vac tank, but hey I am not ashamed or it.
I have mounted it on the firewall, right next to the vac tank, and by installing a tap in the vacuum line from the manifold to the vac tank, I can convert back to the original system in about 10 minutes. Will probably never need to, but lets be on the safe side, plus it allows me to maintain my faith and reliance in vac tanks.
The fuel pump makes a bit of noise before the engine fires up, but once running you don't hear it. I will do a shake down run up to Trafalgar to see Monty and Grant in the next week or so, which should be a good test, and if something happens 1 of my 2 fuel systems will get me home.
A few pictures of the installation are below.
