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Sun May 30, 2010 4:24 pm

Hey Y'all.
New to Samba but referred to this site by a person on the West Coast.
I'm the one and only owner of a 1969 VW Type 3 Squareback, EFI, standard 4-speed tranny, 84,512 miles, 1600cc engine.

The car was always garaged and was a daily driver (in Wisconsin) from October 1969 to 1986. As expected (winter salty roads) some rust appeared. At that time, I bought 4 new/used steel fenders, prepped and painted them the original color. Also repainted all other "removable" parts ... doors, hood, hatch, etc. off of the body and the body was repainted. After reassembly, it was only a summer driver ... May to October. Due to the sale of our home and having a stroke, the car was moved to a dry barn, put on jack stands and sat there until May 1, 2010.

Getting it ready to sell, I wanted it to be "run-able". So I did several things: Four new 165/R15 radials, new battery, had the injectors cleaned and tested for ohms and spray pattern. Before trying to start the car, I wanted to know if the fuel pump was delivering pressure to the fuel ring. It didn't! After unhooking the hi-pressure fuel line at the "T" before the No.1 and No. 2 injectors, running the pump, it only delivers about 2 to 4 ounces of fuel after 10 or 12, 1-second "pumps". When the fuel pump runs, fuel should be pouring out of the hose like water thru a garden hose. Shouldn't it?

Question: Can the Fuel Pump be rebuilt?

I assume there's an obstruction (rust or scale) in one or more of several components: tank, fuel line to filter, filter, fuel line to pump, pump, fuel line to steel lines thru the tunnel, or the fuel line to the "T".

The car was stored (albeit 9 years) with a full tank of fuel with Sta-Bil Gas Stabilizer. Could that have evaporated and left varnish or gunk?

Any suggestions on how to proceed?

FritoBandito

Sun May 30, 2010 5:36 pm

The nipple on the gas tank that the fuel pump attaches to is removable, and behind it is a mesh filter (screen). Clean the in the tank screen, and replace the inline filter.

Sun May 30, 2010 5:59 pm

Jim Adney can rebuild pumps. He also sells a kit you need, whether you realize it or not. Check the fuel filler area of the right front fender, and find your leaky, rotted overflow and vent lines. He ahs a kit to repair those. With that open, driving will throw up dirt and water into your fuel system, and it will settle at the lowest point-- your fuel pump. Might be what ruined yours in the first place.

Sun May 30, 2010 7:11 pm

Try soaking your pump in diesel fuel overnight, then with it still submerged in diesel hook it to a battery and run it forwards, then reverse polarity and run it backwards.

If worst comes to worst, you can just plug the fuel return hose that comes off the pump and run a fuel- injected Bus/ Vanagon pump inline.

Sun May 30, 2010 9:37 pm

Or, the 85 Ford Ranger pump that some of us have been running for years.

Sun May 30, 2010 10:17 pm

Russ Wolfe wrote: Or, the 85 Ford Ranger pump that some of us have been running for years.

I just like to keep it German (or at least Czech...) Some day, someone, somewhere, is going to need a fuel pump for an actual '85 Ford Ranger. And, when he finds out they're NLA, he's probably going to start stealing pumps off of Type 3s. We have you to thank for this. See how you are? :D

Mon May 31, 2010 10:24 am

Thanks to all who replied.

rosevillian -- If my memory is correct, the fuel from the tank goes thru a fuel line to the fuel filter before it enters the fuel pump, doesn't it?

KTPhil -- Being new to Samba, I don't know who Jim Adney is. Member? I know I have to replace the rubber grommet that fits around the fuel filler, in the right-front fender but I didn't realize that the rotted overflow and vent line MAY BE the source of debris, too. I don't know if the fuel pump is ruined. It just doesn't seem to produce the volume of fuel to the fuel ring. Good suggestions, however. I'll check it out.

Tram -- I read your "run the fuel pump in diesel fuel" account. If other sources of blockage don't solve the problem, I may resort to that procedure. Can you run pressurized fuel to the ring WITHOUT having a return fuel line?

Russ Wolfe -- An '85 Ford Ranger Fuel Pump? That's a new idea (to me)! Does that actually work? How much of a job is it to physically make the substitution? Mounting bracket? Or is it a direct bolt-on component?

Thanks again, guys.
FritoBandito

Mon May 31, 2010 10:49 am

You cannot pressurize the fuel loop without a return. That invention did not come about until 1993.
What Tram was referring to, was that the Vanagon pump is only a 2 fitting pump. In, and out. So is the Ranger pump.
The original T-3 pump is a 3 fitting pump. In, out, and return to tank, or bypass.

What I like about the Ranger pump, is that it has the same size fuel fittings. The Vanagon, or FI bug pumps have a 10mm inlet, and has to be adapted to.

Mon May 31, 2010 11:09 am

If you hook up a cheap water pressure gauge from Home Depot to the fuel T you should get 30 lbs pressure.

Sat Jun 05, 2010 9:54 am

Russ, is this the Ford pump you speak of?

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/BTF0/BE24...;ppt=C0025

Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:02 am

No, that is the one that goes in the tank, and is just a lift pump.

This is more what you want.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/ATN0/E844...;ppt=C0128

Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:29 am

thanks russ

Sat Jun 05, 2010 10:33 am

WOW, that's more than the part #E2000 pump (85 ford ranger) I got from Autozone. It was about 92 bucks out the door there. Might pay to shop around. I think someone found the same pump I got from somebody else for around 73 bucks, but I can't remember who they were getting it from.

Actually it was 58 bucks, and here's the link I was given.
http://www.car-stuff.com/carparts/fordranger19851988replacementrepf3145011.html

Sat Jan 01, 2011 10:58 am

Tram wrote: Try soaking your pump in diesel fuel overnight, then with it still submerged in diesel hook it to a battery and run it forwards, then reverse polarity and run it backwards.

If worst comes to worst, you can just plug the fuel return hose that comes off the pump and run a fuel- injected Bus/ Vanagon pump inline.

How do you do that just put a bolt in the end of the hose? wouldn't that cause fuel to build up in it?

Sat Jan 01, 2011 11:49 am

The return fitting on a T-3 pump, is like a pressure relief. It goes into a "T" in the return line coming back from the engine.
When using another pump that does not have that fitting, you eliminate the T and only the engine return has to go back to the tank.

Sat May 03, 2025 3:50 am

Hi,

I am brining a 1969 fastback back to life from a long hibernation since 1988. The links above for the 85 ranger fuel pumps no longer seem to work, so does anyone have an actual part number that might be used as a keyword for a search. So far everything that I can find, seem to be universal pumps, which is fine, but I am trying to find the one with the correct sized fittings like mentioned above. Thanks.

Sat May 03, 2025 12:01 pm

66DustyBug wrote: Hi,

I am brining a 1969 fastback back to life from a long hibernation since 1988. The links above for the 85 ranger fuel pumps no longer seem to work, so does anyone have an actual part number that might be used as a keyword for a search. So far everything that I can find, seem to be universal pumps, which is fine, but I am trying to find the one with the correct sized fittings like mentioned above. Thanks.

The pump in question is for the 85-90 Ford Ranger frame rail pump. Airtex number E2000, from Autozone, or E20160 or E16020 (can't remember which) from O'Reilly's. If you do a search in the type 4 forum, Ray has a long list of pumps that also work, as those cars use the same (basically) FI system that the type 3 uses. I've used both pumps, and they work good as a replacement for the 300+ dollar Bosch pump.
I hope this helps.

Sat May 03, 2025 12:32 pm

As Bob mentioned above, the pump you’re looking for is the Ranger’s secondary in-line pump attached to the frame rail, not to be confused with the primary pump inside the fuel tank.

I grabbed this generic version recently.

Yesterday 9:35 am

Wow, I'd have a lot of fun with 650HP in a VW!
:lol: