RRC EFI fuel pump fell off.

[POD]

Whilst on an outback trip earlier this month, whilst travelling in remote country on a severely corrugated road, the bracket holding the EFI fuel pump onto the fuel pickup pipe in my 88Rangie broke, resulting in the fuel pump dangling by it’s wires inside the tank and, obviously, the car stopping. My MacGuyver-style outback repair is still insitu, but I’m going to have to drop the tank out again now that I’m home and do a permanent fix. I’m thinking of converting to an external chassis-mounted fuel pump- I have one from a BMW 323i that I think will do the job- as the weight of the pump on the end of the pickup seems a recipe for failure in severe conditions. Wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Also if anyone has converted to an external pump? I’m not exactly sure at this stage how I will rig a pickup filter in the tank, but I don’t think that will be a huge challenge. Also, can anyone tell me exactly what the black gizmo is that goes between the pump and the pickup inside the tank? I assume it is either a non-return valve or a pulse damper or similar. I have noticed no ill effects after removing it when making my bush repair. Do I need it at all?

[softdashclassic]

hi
i have fitted an external pump to a 1987 rangie before, i used a VK commodore pump they pump at a constant 36psi,perfect for range rovers.
i did remove the old pump and extended the pick up to the same length
and refitted the strainer.
i cant remember exactly how i did it but it wasn't to much drama to do
the only thing is that you will probably have to prime the system afterwards
by removing the fuel line going to the cold start injector.
they are a little noisy but not too bad

[Rangier Rover]

Should always have a external spare pump when traveling for this reason.
Ive seen heaps of early EFI with Commodore pumps on them. They seem to run OK. So long as preasure and flow is up to it.;)

[PhilipA]

They are fine. Its just that they are noisy and need to be rubber mounted in a purpose designed bracket.
They also have to be mounted low as they are poor at lifting.
Regard sPhilip A

[POD]

They are fine. Its just that they are noisy and need to be rubber mounted in a purpose designed bracket.
They also have to be mounted low as they are poor at lifting.
Regard sPhilip A

This car has done over 460,000km; the pump will need to shout to make itself heard! So should the pump be mounted at a level close to that of the bottom of the tank, or at a location that minimises the length of hose on the suction side? I think that mounting lower will mean longer suction pipe, whereas mounting as close as possible to the tank outlet will mean higher lift, i.e. no siphon effect, but less physical distance of suction. Which is the lesser evil?

[PhilipA]

I think its all pretty much the same , as the pump only has to lift inside the tank , once over the top gravity takes over.
Just make sure you retain the internal surge tank, or you will have to make up another.
When I installed injection on my 77 I used a Facet to fill an external surge tank, then had the Bosch pump mounted to the side of the chassis. But that is probably overkill.
Remembering that the original bracket lasted almost 500K, why not just replace it. Internal pumps seem cheaper and quieter. I just got a Bosch VR ( made in Brazil LOL but I still think better than Chinese Borgg or whatever) pump for $105, which I intend to replace my internal pump with.
Regards Philip A

[POD]

Mmm, far as I'm aware there is no surge tank in there; the tank is the small LRA one in the right quarter fitted as part of the under-floor LPG conversion 9 years ago.
It would certainly be far simpler just to replace or permanently repair the existing bracket. Wreckers want to sell me the pump along with it, makes it one expensive little bit of metal. Then again, the hose clamps and tent peg that are holding it together at present might well last another 400,000km.
It's only really for peace of mind on outback trips that I'm considering the mod. On the kind of corrugations where you can't hold the steering wheel and the indicators keep switching on by themselves, i'm always thinking that something has to break soon- now I know what it is. Perhaps I should just throw the BMW pump that I have in the shed, into my spares kit for getting me out of trouble.

[PhilipA]

The surge tank is part of the fuel pump assembly on later Rovers.

My 92 has a "cup" at the bottom of the assembly, and the return line exits into a valve, which pulls fuel from the tank under high use and from the return line on light use. The pump sits in the cup, and plastic tank models have springs and columns so that he pump can be deflected upwards if the tank is hit.
If you are just using the petrol as a reserve and keep some fuel in the tank, its not important. I think those wing tanks are upright in shape and so should not have much sloshing at low levels.
Regard sPhilip A