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Tue Jan 30, 2024 7:35 am

I was chatting with my buddy who mentioned he has a small 3 psi electric fuel pump in his baja in addition to the mechanical pump. Since his baja might sit for a month or so in the winter, he turns it on for a few minutes if he hasn't driven it in a while and turns it off once it gets going. Seems like an awesome idea.

Anyone else running a similar system?

Thanks!
-Joe

Tue Jan 30, 2024 9:52 am

I do the same in my fibergass buggy. My electric pump sits up front inder the tank, and runs thru the stock mechanical pump. Only uze it when the buggy has sat for a while, and only to fill the carburetor bowl. You can tell when the carb is full, the sound changes.

Tue Jan 30, 2024 9:52 am

On "some" auxiliary fuel pumps (when off), it's not easy to draw through them, as in sucking from the output side with another fuel pump. I'm sure his works okay for him, but my experience with them says it will be hit or miss as to whether they will free flow through them.

I took my mechanical pump off and am running an Edelbrock 2-3.5 psi pump and mine seems to NOT overpower the Weber floats. I would make sure your pump is limited to less than 4 psi. This is just my experience and I'm sure many others here with years of experience with the VW motors can be a lot more accurate with their advice.

A quick story about carbs and hot rods. My buddy had a 350 Chevy in his '32 coupe with dual Edelbrock 4bbl carbs. It ran fairly well down the road, but when we'd stop, the fumes were horrendous around the car at idle, burn your eyes almost. We tried to adjust the floats several times, but to no avail. Finally, he called Edelbrock, and they told him that anything over 4 psi would overpower the floats and cause flooding. He put a fuel pressure regulator on the car and his motor never ran better. AND no more nasty fumes.

So just be mindful as to what your carbs can handle before throwing an electric fuel pump at it.

Good luck!

Dan

Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:11 pm

Thanks all, the weather is not bad enough for me to take on this project yet, more just something to google when I sit in meetings. I appreciate the info.

-Joe

Tue Jan 30, 2024 2:49 pm

I use a Facet fuel pump. Looks like an upright rectangular box. As I remember, there are 2 models. A low pressure 2 1/2 to 4 lbs one, and a higher pressure one. You want the low pressure.

Tue Jan 30, 2024 7:29 pm

Carter also makes a 4PSI rotary fuel pump....

https://carterengineered.com/electric-fuel-pump-p60430

Wed Jan 31, 2024 8:10 am

This is in stock at my local Napa - https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_6101052 . It is 1.5-4.0 PSI

This one https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_6102403 is 2-3.5 PSI and cost more, which one would y'all go for.

Thanks!
-Joe

Wed Jan 31, 2024 10:23 am

indianpeaksjoe wrote: This is in stock at my local Napa - https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_6101052 . It is 1.5-4.0 PSI

This one https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_6102403 is 2-3.5 PSI and cost more, which one would y'all go for.

Thanks!
-Joe

Personally, I'd use the lower pressure one, of those two you've shown.

As stated, I have an Edelbrock electric and I got it from O'Reilly Auto Parts.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/edelbrock/ede...&pos=6

Wed Jan 31, 2024 10:36 am

Ended up with the 2-3.5PSI Facet because the Edelbrock was in fact not in stock at my LPS.

Any chance for sharing a pic of where you mounted your pump JoeMama? If not, no worries at all.

Cheers,
-Joe

Fri Feb 02, 2024 2:29 pm

Wont be near my buggy for a while, but its mounted to the body firewall. This way its out of the way of steering components.

Thu Feb 08, 2024 6:54 am

Well I got the Facet model I linked above, but then I looked at the spec sheet which says it has a positive shut off valve. Meaning gas would not pull through if it is turned off. The local NAPA had this one, which allows for flow through. It came with a 5/16 connector and filter which I don't need... But it was worth it to support the local shop.

I'll get to it this weekend or next.

-Joe

Thu Feb 08, 2024 3:19 pm

Both my cars (class 9 and buggy) run mechanical with a "primer" facet pump. Neither car run on the electric or both pumps, mechanical only.

The electric pump also makes it easier to pump gas out to put in the lawn mower.

Fri May 24, 2024 10:04 pm

Well I finally installed it, so far I like it.

More pics and how I did it here https://robonza.com/beetle/index.php/2024/05/25/auxiliary-fuel-pump-for-the-baja-bug/

-Joe

Sat May 25, 2024 2:09 pm

Yeah… I did something wrong. It stalls with or without the electric pump on. There is gas in the filter, but it seems to not always make it to the carb.
Pump https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_6101051
Flow

Pic, ignore the clamp, I was in the process of taking it out.

I have to admit, I’m sick of smelling like gas!

-Joe

Sun May 26, 2024 8:38 pm

I think I figured it out. I had too much hose causing issues. I got some 90° fittings and shortened the hoses. I drove it a few miles and all is well. I’ve got some more hose and a p-clamp coming this week so I can secure the filter and I’ll be done.

-Joe

Thu May 30, 2024 9:48 am

I'm just curious, is your pump noisy? My baja has a facet that was on it when I bought it. when it's running it sounds like someone tapping very loudly on the firewall. I think I put some rubber under it but it's still loud. Just wondering if that's normal.

Fri May 31, 2024 7:51 am

I'm running this little Harfon pump in my rail; it's audible (with the engine off), but I wouldn't describe it as noisy by any means.

Fri May 31, 2024 8:59 am

It is noisy as heck when there is no fuel in it. Once I plumbed it correctly it is quiet. With the engine off you can hear it, but with the engine on you cannot.

-Joe

Fri May 31, 2024 12:26 pm

Ok, good. That's how mine is too. Lol