57 TBird fuel pump eccentric has come loose

[Freoway]

Hi. I'm fairly new to T-Birds and Y-blocks, although I've had plenty of 1950's V8s. I couldn't get my fuel pump to work. After buying a new one, I discovered the fuel pump eccentric on the camshaft in front of the timing belt is loose. It spins and rattles around. I understand there is a bolt at the front of the shaft that is meant to hold everything on. A few questions to anyone with experience in these things:
(1) Will the bolt work its way out and potentially cause major damage or is it blocked from working itself all the way out?
(2) Is it a big job to fasten this bolt? Is it just a case of removing water pump / timing cover etc. and tightening it up? I've just downloaded a workshop manual, but it's a little unclear how to go about this.
I was going to fit an electric fuel pump until I can get around to fixing the problem, asusuming I won't make matters worse by doing so. i guess the wipers will have problems but then again, it doesn't go out in the rain (if it ever rains!).

Cheers, Lloyd
Fremantle, Western Australia

[paul2748]

I am not sure if it will fall out or not - but if it does it could damage or break the timing change leading to a lot more serious trouble. If I remember correctly, it is not a long bolt so the potential of it to fall out is pretty good.

This is one of those jobs that has to be done to prevent additional damages. The front cover will have to be removed along with the spacer to access the eccentric.

Originally Posted by Freoway

Hi. I'm fairly new to T-Birds and Y-blocks, although I've had plenty of 1950's V8s. I couldn't get my fuel pump to work. After buying a new one, I discovered the fuel pump eccentric on the camshaft in front of the timing belt is loose. It spins and rattles around. I understand there is a bolt at the front of the shaft that is meant to hold everything on. A few questions to anyone with experience in these things:
(1) Will the bolt work its way out and potentially cause major damage or is it blocked from working itself all the way out?
(2) Is it a big job to fasten this bolt? Is it just a case of removing water pump / timing cover etc. and tightening it up? I've just downloaded a workshop manual, but it's a little unclear how to go about this.
I was going to fit an electric fuel pump until I can get around to fixing the problem, asusuming I won't make matters worse by doing so. i guess the wipers will have problems but then again, it doesn't go out in the rain (if it ever rains!).

Cheers, Lloyd
Fremantle, Western Australia

[Freoway]

Thanks Paul. It was my gut feeling that it wasn't good left in that state. A friend said that while I'm in there, I may as well do the timing chain, but then, that becomes a bigger job again. I'll have to order parts from the US to do it all, so it'll be laid up for a while.

I've got the engine out of another car (a '59 Dodge Lancer), so I was hoping not to have two carcasses in the driveway! I might just plug in an electric fuel pump so that I can move it to a safe garage until I fix it properly. Hopefully it won't fall out on this trip.

Cheers, Lloyd

[DreemKiller]

I just had the fuel pump on my 56 start leaking - bad.
Anyway, does anyone have an advice on if I should replace it with an original mechanical pump or go for an electric pump? Would an electric fuel pump make it easier to start?

[paul2748]

Go with the mechanical pump. They are more reliable in my opinion. An electrical pump can be used for initial startup when the car has not been run for while just to fill the carb. Then run the mechanical pump.

Personally, while it make take more than a few cranks to get it started with the mechanical pump, I prefer the mechanical pump.