Oil Line Burst, Now Feul Pump Quit.

[ShieldWolf]

First Hello. New Here.
I have a 51 M37 and recently got it running after sitting for a year or so. It required rebuilding the distributer and the ignition switch wich appeared to be only main problems with getting it going.
Abt 3 weeks ago while timing the engine the oil line feeding the filter burst , stopped motor and didn't do any damage. Put in new line and of course new oil and filter, since then the feul pump dosen't seem to want to pump and when it does there are usually bubbles in the fuel filter. Needless to say it refuses to start.
Me thinks its time for a pump rebuild. Has this happened to anyone before of cou'ld it be something else. I have a pump from a derelict 53, 37 that i cou'ld send off.
Tnx

[Lifer]

It's very likely that your fuel pump gave up the ghost. They can be perfectly good one minute and totally shot the next. When the diaphragm lets go, it won't pump a drop of gas, and they often let go all at once. If you were getting bubbles, that means the diaphragm was only partly ruptured. Now, it's probably ruptured to the point that it can't pump gas at all. Time for a rebuild. At least you have a spare to send off. Charles can do it for you, or you can send it to Then & Now. Either way, you'll get back a perfect fuel pump.

[ShieldWolf]

Tnx Lifer. I thought thats what it might be.
Also tnx for the heads up on the rebuild options. I'll look into both.

[knattrass]

Tony at T&N are great - $95 and quick turn around.

[Nickathome]

Wouldn't a ruptured diaphram also cause gas to get into the crankcase? I have heard this is such. I had seen bubbles in my fuel filter not long ago, and thought it was due to the heat and location of my fuel pump near the exhaust down tube. I wonder if that was my problem when I had the starting issue I mentioned in another thread. I have checked oil since then though and not smelled fuel in it but will check again. My fuel pump is only about two years old though(was bought new, civilian Carter model 847).

[g741]

I have been recommending to my customers that, unless doing an absolutely perfect original repro, that they install a fuel pump as used on the late WC WWII Dodges. These fuel pumps use the same six valve fuel section as used on the M37. They are a direct bolt in, including the fuel lines and heat shield and they look the same from the top. They do have a hand primer but they do not have the troublesome vacuum section. You just hook your wipers directly to the manifold like we always did way back and they work about as well as they ever did. I am not a real fan of the vacuum section on the M37 pump. In addition, the WWII style pump can be re-built in about 15 minutes since the diaphragm is attached to the pull rod with a nut which is removeable. Probably the most reliable and inexpensive way to go. I still have a limited supply of these pumps. Sid

[pfrederi]

I took Sid's advice and installed one of his non vacuum pump units. works great. The wipers work as good(or as poorly) as they did before...the vacuum part my pump was shot and actually reduced the vacuum ...

I have been working sporadically on rebuilding my old pump...but it ain't easy....

[Lifer]

My '55 Pontiac had a fuel pump with a vacuum pump built in, just like the M37. When the fuel pump "died," I replaced it with an electric pump and routed the vacuum line for the wipers to the intake manifold as suggested. The wipers then ran like crazy...unless you were accelerating or pulling a long hill. This is typical of vacuum wipers, as vacuum drops when the engine is under a heavy load. I solved the problem by pllumbing a vacuum reservoir into the system. That way, I still had a steady vacuum while going uphill.