Alfa Romeo Forums banner

79 Alfetta fuel pump question

2.1K views 6 replies 5 participants last post by  slowcreek  
#1 ·
I know this is old news for many, but just checking- I just bought a two port electric pump (the original three port pumps are not available any more), and according to most, just blocking the return hose-to-pump line and installing will do the trick. I wonder what the idea with the original pump was, if this will work as simply as that.. the engineers who designed the original system must have had something in mind, maybe compatibility with the Spica injection pump? Of course, others things about the car make me think that the engineers were'nt so sharp (the location of the tank filter is beyond ridiculous, for example).
Anyone who has done this swap have any ideas?
 
#2 ·
Fuel filter location? It has to be located someplace before the fuel pump. I think it’s in a good location. I’ve messed with many a 70’s american car and most fuel filters were always not accessible to people without jack stands. I’d drive two wheels up on the curb and get at it.

Three ports worked fine until they didn’t. I suspect the return was to bring the pressurized fuel back I tot he pump and make it move along.

There s probably a more official explanation in Braden’s Alfa Owners bible but I’m too lazy to get up and look for it. Beautiful evening in Reno drinking wine and on Craigslist Always Looking For Another.
 
#4 ·
Thanks yeah, I have two three port pumps, what apparently happens to them is that they spring leaks in the aluminum cap, which is hard to fix. Still running, though! Good idea to have a spare on board... I'll try the two port and see what happens, pressure at the fuel injector pump should spec properly.
Sounds nice in Reno..
 
#6 ·
That pdf was awesome! I wish I could write like that. I have a european Alfetta GT (I live in the UK so you'd expect that). But the fuel here is so bad it is barely compatible with carburetors these days. In order to address a few problems I am planning to convert from a mechanical pump dead head to an electric pump with return line. My fuel tank is under the boot floor, so I thought I may have cavitation issues to the main pump. Now I previouslyh owned a 75 TS and it also had a similar under floor tank (on the otherside of the boot) but it had a lift pump. I am going to fit a different fuel level/pickup assembly that has a fuel line return in it. I have a special low pressure bypass regulator, made by malpassi, that just happens to bolt on where the old fuel filter was!

My question to roadtrip would be can an L-Jet style EFI pump be relied upon to pull the fuel from the tank without cavitation?



-Hazel