Hey everyone,

I was under my car the other day and noticed that the fuel pump was leaking oil.  Figured that it was a gasket problem, but since I was going through the trouble of replacing the gaskets, figured I would change out the pump. (after all it was only $40).

Here's the problem. I spent a total of 10 hours under the damned car trying to get that pump to mate up, finally got her in...all the gaskets in place..and im STILL LEAKING OIL!!

The leak isn't as bad as it was before, but I hate having fluids dripping from my baby.  Any suggestions on what can be done to seal her up and stop the leaks?  Are there any other gaskets around the fuel pump that frequently leak that I should look into replacing?  

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

There's only two places a fuel pump could leak engine oil...from the gasket area, or the lever pin in the sides of the pump. Since you replaced the pump, that should eliminate that.
Now...are you sure it is leaking from between the pump and the plate, or is it leaking between the plate and the block? You may need to remove the plate, and put a new gasket on it, and then put the new fuel pump on with a new gasket. You can use silicon sealer on both, but a gasket is better.

Are you sure you don't have another oil leak and its running down onto the pump?

[QUOTE=kstyer]Are you sure you don't have another oil leak and its running down onto the pump?[/QUOTE]

I don't think so...definitely looks to be coming from the fuel pump.  Its just aggravating to spend that much time on a project just to be back where you started.  I even put gasket sealer on the bolts.  There is enough gasket sealer on that fuel pump to hold back a typhoon of motor-oil.

On a separate subject...I noticed that there is a black residue accumulating behind my Vette on the garage floor...right where the exhaust hits the floor.  Looks to be a black soot.  I never had that problem with my old mustang (yes...I'm a prior Ford guy)...anyone else have this??  And are there any recommendations for an exhaust system?  Mine is just too tame sounding.

Thanks.

The black poop is soot from the exhaust. When you first start the car, the condensation will wash the soot out, and drip it on the floor....you should see where I park the sneezle Mercedes!

Your car might be running a bit rich, if there's that much poop coming out of the exhaust. Might need to have the carb rebuilt, or adjusted.

Anyone heard of converting from the old mechanical fuel pump to an electric pump?? I would love nothing more than to pull that frikkin mechanical pump off, take it into a field, and smash the crap out of it with a breaker bar!!!

But...would that stop the leak?

You can install an electric fuel pump iffin ya want. Just put it at the rear of the car, by the tank. They push much better than they pull. You can get a "fuel pump block-off plate" to put where the mech. pump was.

Shane, sorry to hear about the fuel pump. Like the others say sounds like a gasket problem. Is the suface of the block where the pump bolts up messed up? Maybe old gasket stuck on surface or dirt, grim, maybe even warped? I have replace two through out the years on my 75 but never had a leak. I would like to know and not being a smart A** but why ten hours? Was it a removal/replaceing bolts or did the old push rod give you trouble? Lot of questions but I may be able to help on the (heven forbid) next one. Let us know thanks.

Guy...I will probably take you up on that advise when I change it out...again 

As far as the 10 hour ordeal...It was my first attempt at changing out a mechanical fuel pump.  I was learning as I went.  The only trick I knew was to thread a longer bolt into the front of the block to hold the push-rod up.  Unfortunately, that didn't work for me...my block isn't drilled all the way through.     SOOOO...after many beers and a few trips to the parts store, i ended up taking the adapter plate off, coating the push-rod with good ol' Vaseline to hold it up, replacing all the gaskets, and then mounting the new pump.    Still leaking though...

Such is life.  I have a 12 pack of South Carolina's finest brew waiting in my fridge in the garage for the next weekend I feel daring enough to tackle that project...for the 2nd time.   In the mean time I am content with pushing a box of cat litter under the Vette every time I park it.