Hello from Vancouver Island, 1978 Spider

[mikedion]

I bought a 1978 Fiat Spider from my Brother in law 5 years ago and have never driven it but have kept it in a heated dry garage for the whole time. Every once and a while I would start it up and drive around the block. About a year a go the brakes got really mushy and I stopped driving it around the block but continued to start it up every month. The problem starting it up only every month is that the mechanical fuel pump takes forever to reintroduce fuel into the carburetor. I have been trying to replace the mechanical fuel pump with an electric one and noticed that all the on line info on this subject instructs the fuel pump be mounted in the trunk, next to the fuel tank. I tried a dry fit mounting the fuel pump in the engine bay compartment and it seems to draw the fuel well enough to start the engine but not enough to keep it running for very long. Is there a stronger pump that I could buy that would work better or is the problem of drawing the fuel from the tank in the rear of the car ? Pushing the fuel from the tank in the rear involves running a wire the length of the car. I will also post this inquiry in the General Discussion forum, as that may have more readership. Thank you. Mike Dion

[18Fiatsandcounting]

I tried a dry fit mounting the fuel pump in the engine bay compartment and it seems to draw the fuel well enough to start the engine but not enough to keep it running for very long.

Have you replaced the 12" or so rubber fuel hose from the gas tank to the metal fuel line that runs up to the front? If this hose has a slight leak (a common occurrence over time), the fuel pump will draw air into the line, along with some fuel depending on the size of the leak. If this is the case, you might get enough gas to the carb to get the car started, but not to keep it running.

Another possibility is that the fuel inlet in the gas tank is partially plugged up, another common occurrence.

-Bryan

[dinghyguy]

Hi Mike,

If you do not have powered antenna you may already have wires from under the dash to the trunk. Many people repurpose that run to power the retrofitted fuel pump in the trunk. Check your schematic, then perhaps go sleuthing.

cheers
dinghyguy in N.Van

[courtenay]

Welcome, Mike. Nice to see another Islander Spider owner here. There's a few of ux. Where on the Island are you. We might have to try and plan a post Covid get together!

[seawood]

Well hello from Naramata. Used to be narfire, but quit the department some time ago and left this amazing Fiat forum.
Regarding parts, there was a fellow in Victoria that's on Used Victoria from time to time That had a few parts.

If it's been sitting for a while, drain all the brake fluid, blow out the lines and replace the fluid. Likely find some water in the lines.
Just in the process of doing that to my car.

Hi Bruce

[mikedion]

I tried a dry fit mounting the fuel pump in the engine bay compartment and it seems to draw the fuel well enough to start the engine but not enough to keep it running for very long.

Have you replaced the 12" or so rubber fuel hose from the gas tank to the metal fuel line that runs up to the front? If this hose has a slight leak (a common occurrence over time), the fuel pump will draw air into the line, along with some fuel depending on the size of the leak. If this is the case, you might get enough gas to the carb to get the car started, but not to keep it running.

Another possibility is that the fuel inlet in the gas tank is partially plugged up, another common occurrence.

-Bryan

Hello Bryan (18 Fiats & counting)
Thanks for your help. I found a siphon fuel check valve that was restricting fuel flow. Once it was replaced the fuel pump worked fine but I still moved the pump to the trunk anyway.

[mikedion]

Hi Mike,

If you do not have powered antenna you may already have wires from under the dash to the trunk. Many people repurpose that run to power the retrofitted fuel pump in the trunk. Check your schematic, then perhaps go sleuthing.

cheers
dinghyguy in N.Van

Hello dingyguy in N.Van
I did run a new single wire to the retrofitted electric fuel pump in the trunk. Although I could not find any unused power antenna wires, I did use the existing antenna reception wire as a fuse wire.
Cheers

[mikedion]

Welcome, Mike. Nice to see another Islander Spider owner here. There's a few of ux. Where on the Island are you. We might have to try and plan a post Covid get together!

Hello Bruce
Yes post Co-vid get together would be great. I am in North Cowichan
mike_dion101@hotmail.com
Cheers

[mikedion]

Hi Mike,

If you do not have powered antenna you may already have wires from under the dash to the trunk. Many people repurpose that run to power the retrofitted fuel pump in the trunk. Check your schematic, then perhaps go sleuthing.

cheers
dinghyguy in N.Van

Hello dingyguy in N.Van
I did run a new single wire to the retrofitted electric fuel pump in the trunk. Although I could not find any unused power antenna wires, I did use the existing antenna reception wire as a fish wire.
Cheers