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Posted by David Sherman on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 14:38:21 :
In Reply to: Fuel pump question, WM300 posted by NjJosh on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 13:43:14 :
I've seen a lot of very different fuel pumps on 230s. I would think a competent NAPA counter man (one who knows what a 230 is, rather than one who can't do anything unless you tell him "make, model, and year" so he can tell you it's not in the computer) should be able to find one that would fit. That said, if you have an old one that screws together, you might want to rebuild it. I haven't been able to find rebuild kits in the parts stores for years, but Then & Now Automotive (781-335-8860) makes them and sells them for around $30-$50 depending on the complexity. If you talk to Tom there, he'll tell you where to find the right numbers on the housing to make sure you get the right pump. In my experience every old fuel pump fails quickly when you start running modern gas through it, but all the ones I've rebuilt have held up find so far. The only new part you really need is the diaphragm, but nobody sells them by themselves.
Another advantage of rebuilding your own is that the fuel lines and the heat shield will fit. A modern "equivalent" is likely to be smaller and flimsier, with the top and bottom crimped permanently together, and without a stud for the heat shield to attach to, and you'll probably have to bend the fuel lines around to fit. Rebuilding a fuel pump is similar to rebuilding a carburetor, but simpler and with fewer tiny parts to get lots and tiny holes to clog up.