Can I bore or remove plugs for mech fuel pump?

[mpernice]

I converted my 77 FI engine to carb.
I'm using a (low pressure) electric fuel pump as needed.

Is it possible to bore or remove the plugs where the mechanical pumps is installed? I say this because it looks like the case was plugged for the 2 threaded holes and the larger center hole for the pushrod. Years ago, I had a pinhole leak at one of the 'screw plugs'.

Has anyone done this? I know if I pull the engine and split the case it's doable. I'm trying to do this with the engine in the car.

The other question is, if I can do the mechanical pump install, will the pushrod work? Is the camshaft different, will the pushrod actually operate the pump?
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Mel P.

[74 Thing]

They make a fuel pump blockoff. The bolts are 8mx1.25
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php...ton=Search

The fuel pump rod moves up and down as it rides on the distributor drive shaft as it turns (not the camshaft).

[busdaddy]

[mpernice]

Busdaddy,

I was going to tell you that I have FI engine case. When you mentioned the AJ code, went and checked. Apparently, I have an AH case, which is a 73/74. I got this car with the stock FI engine. Now I question if this was original to the car. Take a look at the photos.

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Mel P.

[busdaddy]

Wow, what a lot of work when a block off plate would have worked there, someone must have wanted it to look like a later case. Definitely not original to the car.

Try drilling them and screwing a smaller machine or sheet metal screw in and pulling them, hopefully they are just tapered plugs. I wonder how F'd up the stud holes are?, you might end up doing a whole lot of oversize tapping for step studs.
From here it doesn't look like the angle of the pad has been screwed with too badly from all the grinding to make it flush, you'll find out when you torque down the pump and the bakelight flange snaps I guess....

Have you considered a good electric pump and a quality pressure regulator?, you may be opening a can of worms trying to recommission that pad.
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[Starbucket]

Sounds like a fraud case to me if that was listed as the original engine.

[mpernice]

Busdaddy,

I converted to carb a couple of years ago. I made the mistake of buying cheap electric pumps. I finally bought a Carter fuel pump used or recommended. I do prefer mechanical one since it only relies on the engine cam.
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Mel P.

[Zundfolge1432]

How refreshing to see a positive attitude towards VW engineering. So many of these fellows here install electric pumps because they think it gives em some sort of edge. All I remember is they make noise and once you get pressure set then you need an emergency cutoff to prevent accidental fires. You end up spending more to over complicate a very simple and reliable system.

Just for the record a properly working mechanical pump will feed dual 48 Weber carbs with rpm’s north of 6000 in the 1/4

It’s been at least 30 years ago when Rimco was in original hands they could actually take an AJ case and weld a blob on the case for a stud then locate and install the studs and make the cut out for the phenolic block.

This type of knowledge is being lost by halfassing and taking easy way out😀