Fuel pump "fix"

["Mark E. Woodland" <mwoodland@program4.com>]

Alex,
On my first 5KTQW, the previous owner had a new fuel pump installed, on the 
advice of his mechanic.  After purchace, within 500 miles, the pump got 
loud, and the car started to die on the highway.  It would lose power over 
a few miles, then die beside the road.  The first time it happened, I was 
in the "country"-at night, thinking boy, am I screwed now.  No house lights 
in sight, no traffic.  I sat there like a zombie, running the possibilities 
through my head, then finally said "screw it" and hit the key. It started 
so fast, it scared me.  So, I started to drive again, full power, full 
boost, everything was cool.  Within 5 miles, it happened again... Damn!  I 
got the previous owners mechanic to replace the pump, (it was a week old) 
and it happened again!!!  Once more into the tank (PIA) I removed the pump 
AND the pump holder this time.  With the aid of a small flashlight (leave 
the matches at home) I saw a good sized pile of dirt, crap and corruption, 
UNDER the pump holder.  Since there is no drain plug (that I could find) I 
rigged up a siphon with a piece of clear hose and a plastic "kerosene 
pump", with a manual squeeze bulb and a built in check valve.  With the 
flashlight, it was no problem to find the dirt and suck it out.  I ran the 
polluted gas through a paint strainer, into a funnel stuck into the 
(lawnmower) gas can.  Got out a small handfull of rusty looking crap and a 
quantity of semi opaque gunk, probably from some previous storage tanks or 
trucks.  That was the end of the problem.
It was sucking all this crap up against the pump screen and killing the 
engine.  Once the car died and the pump was off, it would fall down to the 
bottom of the tank, the car wouls start and run fine, until it picked up 
all the crap and died again...in about 5 miles.
Its a pain in the butt, but its the only way I know of.  Best of luck.
Best regards
Mark Woodland