Home › Forums › KCW Completed Projects › Pete's 58 Lowlight Karmann Ghia
-
AuthorPosts
-
What fuel pump is there now?
The one from my old engine. I’ve not given up on the Porsche pump, looking into how to get it up from 1.5 psi to 2.5-ish.
I’m not an expert at resurfacing the valves. That guy you found probably will do a better job.
Glad to here you got it going Pete!
I’m not an expert at resurfacing the valves. That guy you found probably will do a better job.
I’m not convinced there’s a problem with the pump. I’ll snap a photo of the bottle of gas (if I still have it) that was in the vacuum pump after using it to open up the pan fuel line; fine, rust colored stuff. There is a chance there’s some crap in the pump not allowing the suction/discharge valves to seat properly, and if it’s possible to flush that out it may work just fine. Keep in mind the fuel delivery did seem to work well right out of the gate initially…I’m not sure it would have done that if the pump valves weren’t seating from the get-go.
Just reading over some of your thread. Your car and engine look great. As Franz said I ran into the same sort of problem. I messed with my car for weeks and weeks. I couldn’t get it sorted. It would lose fuel pressure under load. Especially climbing a hill and getting on it a little bit. I finally threw in the towel after trying everything I could think of and took it down to Franz. It was good. He helped sort the problems, like an arc in my fancy spark plug wires. He resurface my fuel pump valve and we took off a fuel filter as well. I thought we got it all sorted. I got it home, and went to take it on a long drive, when the weather was really hot. Sure enough I lost fuel pressure climbing a big hill. Took the exit fuel line off of the pump and could see there was fuel bubbling in there. Cooled the pump down a bit with a soaked rag and some quality me time, sitting on the side of the road looking like a dip shit wondering why I am in this hobby. I popped off the input side of the fuel line going to the pump and blew with a good breath. A big air bubble came out. Hooked it all back up, started it up and drove it home.
I would try checking the pan line as you said and put some air pressure to it at one end and blow it into a rag at the other. See what comes out. Then add some fuel, blow again and see what comes out again. If it cleans your line take it for a cruise. If it happens again, pull the outgoing line on the fuel pump, put down a rag and see what comes out. Then if that is good check the fuel line at the carb and see what comes out. If that is fine check your float bowl height.
Those fuel pumps are adjusted by gasket spacers, also check for the correct push rod for the pump you are using. Mine seemed to pump fine, but I feel the stroker engines with higher compression my run hot enough to get the fuel pump hot enough to boil the fuel, creating the bubble that won’t make it through the fuel pump valves. Or maybe at load it just can’t pump enough fuel to those bigger carbs. I don’t know.
So if the pump is not pumping due to a bubble maybe try what I did. I went on ebay, purchased a 6 volt electric fuel pump that pumps up to 2.5 PSI. Mounted it on a fuse under the tank. I Attached it to the toggle ignition lock on my steering column. Now I can run on just the mechanical or with the electric pushing the mechanical and it is out of site. I usually just turn it on at start up and turn it off when I shut down the engine. I tested the mechanical and could still notice it failing, so I would flip on the electric and it would push cool fuel through the pump and keep the fuel from bubbling. Works great. I just wish I would have set my car up for 12 volt now instead of 6. I sometimes have issues starting it after it is warmed up and has set. Maybe I have a bad battery or a draw at the starter or generator. Hope that helps.
Thanks for that, Josh! It sounds like your car had many of the same symptoms as mine. So far I *think* my issues have been caused by foreign debris and a lack of fuel pressure. I’m not sure I’m getting hot enough to boil fuel; engine issues would emerge shortly after start no more than a few minutes into a drive, all while under load. Fuel pump has been cool enough to touch as well.
When we towed my car to the body shop it had about a 1/4 tank of gas in it. Engine was pulled so fuel line was plugged. At the body shop we noticed the smell of gas and saw a constant drip and the clamp was tightened down. However when I got it back it was empty, and fuel wouldn’t flow through the line…I guess it slowly leaked out until it got to the bottom, pulling whatever sediment into the line in the process. Using a vacuum bleeder I think I’ve pulled the fuel line clear.
On Franz’s recommendation I did pick up a 6v fuel pump, but for now holding off on installing it. I’d like to exhaust my options with mechanical pumps, though I like how yours is more of a backup….something worth considering. I’ll see how it performs over the next few weeks.
I’ve driven the Ghia to work every day except Monday his week; it’s performed perfectly. Really a blast to drive. It makes a good bit of power, probably more than I expected from a hot rod 36’er, and the carbs/exhaust have a great sound to them. I need to get some GoPro video of it.
You going to Park Circle in the am?
VWs, food, music, and food
VW Drag Night
July 14-15, 2023
www.vwdragnight.com
Germanaire Drag Day and Social
November 17-18, 2023
www.germanaire.comNo can do; on daddy duty since wife is working.
Who builds your transmissions? NC shop?
I think baldy has all his trannys from NC. His transmissions too
Pete, I was here reading and had a thought. I have a contact that I met about 5-6 yrs ago that may be able to help you. He has been restoring 356’s for over 35 yrs. I was talking to him through email about your fuel pressure . He said I could forward his email to you and he may have a few pointers on your pump. Just send me an email at M-Mscrapmetal@live.com and I will send his address back to you if your interested.
Yes I use Mike Gagnier in NC.
VWs, food, music, and food
VW Drag Night
July 14-15, 2023
www.vwdragnight.com
Germanaire Drag Day and Social
November 17-18, 2023
www.germanaire.comDrove it to Neeses, South Carolina on Saturday for Scott’s Germanaire Drag Day & Social. Really fun time, and absolutely perfect weather. A little shy of 200 miles round trip.
The Ghia did great! No problems whatsoever. It was a great drive to feel it out with all of the jetting trial and error. Based on how it performed Saturday (it felt a little starved cruising between 2500-3000) I made two small changes yesterday – up to a 125 main from 122, and up to a 200 air correction from a 190. It feels perfect to me now…no flat spots, pulls hard up to 4000 rpms, cruises at 1/4 throttle without bucking or popping. Final carb setup is 26mm vents, 52.5 idle, 125 main, 200 air.
Got lots of great feedback on the engine, Franz…..people really seem to dig it!
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.