quick question... i bought an all original 1980 and i will change all fluids/filter everywhere but will it be a good idea to replace the fuel pump as prevention as it is 30 years old and i want to keep the trouble out of the way for next summer

 

So do I slide the pushrod in through the opening where the fuel pump bolts to or is there a different way to get it in? Is it pretty obvious where the rod is supposed to go? Once in, do you just hold it up with your finger and then put in the longer bolt far enough until it stays up?

 

Correct, You will have to remove the cover plate to insert the rod, after inserting rod, just finger tighten the longer bolt from the front and that will hold the rod in place, after that put the plate back on using the 2 lower bolts to hold the plate, do not tighten these bolts completly until you have the pump bolts in place, usually the pump bolts are 12 point, just make sure they are in position and then tighten everything down, You should be good to go.

 

The only cover plate I'm familiar with is the one that covers the opening that the fuel pump eventually covers. Thus, you would never put that plate back on (b/c the fuel pump takes its place). I'm guessing there's another plate you're talking about. Where is that one?

 

Not sure on a big block, but that is a blind(does not go all the way thru) hole on my small block.

 

check this out

http://www.classiccarauto.com/impala...uel_pump.shtml

 

Got it all installed fine. For future people in my situation...on the BB there is no cover plate (except the one that fully covers the fuel pump opening for storage/if you use an electric fuel pump). There is a pipe plug just below the opening if you were looking at it from the passenger side. Unlike the pipe plugs on the intake, they are not 3/8" square. What I ended up doing was taking a 3/8" socket extension and grinding down each side of the square part until it was small enough (not too small) to fit into the square. That sucker was on tight, but once I used my "modified" tool, it worked fine. If I had to guess, it's probably 5/16" or so, but either way, I didn't have a tool for it.

Once that pipe plug is off, just insert the rod through there as far as it will go (I used a screwdriver to get it all the way up since I couldn't fit a finger all the way into the hole)...it stayed stuck up there with the grease I lubed up the rod with. There was about 1/2" of it sticking out (you can feel where it might sit flush up in the block, but b/c of the cam position it didn't). I slipped the fuel pump in there and while holding pressure against it was able to get both bolts started. From there, I just used the wrench to get them tightened. Voila, fuel pump works!