Fuel System: Airtex fuel pumps

[curt]

This was posted today on the Corvair chat: Airtex, as promised, has moved their fuel pump production back to Illinois. They have removed old inventory from the O'Reilly's warehouse and replaced them with pumps that have been properly seated and staked. The part number and lot number is now stamped on the bottom of the pump, instead of using a tag on top. So Airtex pumps with made in Mexico printed on the box (they are stamped made in USA on the top of the pump) and a tag attached need to be checked

[BobPalma]

Thats' good news indeed. BP

[Mike Sal]

I work for Airtex. After 20 years as an engineer in our water pump group, the company gave that part of the business to a newly aquired sister company that gets all their parts from china (the Champ pumps we used to sell to SASCO were made in mexico for a short while....not sure if they are still being made yet or not). For the last 4 years I've been working as a supplier quality engineer with our fuel pump group (for some reason the fuel pump group was not held to the same hi standards our water pump group were used to).

We brought all of the mechanical fuel pumps back from mexico (Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Tx) about 3 months ago. Those Corvair pumps are odd ducks & our engineers haven't done a very good job in keeping them to spec over the years. Either the castings have porosity in the O-ring groove, or the stem that runs the diaphram isn't built right.....it's always something. I keep nagging them & thing have slowly improved.

Unfortunately, our sales guys aren't too interested in the antique car market & will obsolete a part at the drop of a hat. If you want us to keep making Stude V8 pumps (or corvair pumps), you gotta get the word out & let your parts stores now that you need them to carry the old stuff. They in turn will tell their jobbers who will tell us.
Mike Sal

[StudeRich]

That is a bit encouraging news Mike, but I am sure you know before we can do that, they have to install oil seals internally on the actuating lever, and stake and seal the lever PIN on the V-8 units to prevent the current Oil pouring situation.

They apparently do not know it, but the V-8 is their biggest seller, I would not be surprised if it exceeds Corvair.

Do you know if they also sell them to Carter or if Carter also has the rights, tooling etc. to make these old AC (GM) patent/design pumps? They ARE sold as Carter Brand also.
Years ago Carter abandoned their own Corp. design OEM Studebaker pumps which were so good they would last 20-30 years and never leak a drop of Oil, so we are stuck with these leaky Airtex ones.

[CHAMP]

My Airtex Fuel Pump started leaking oil about 3 weeks. Is there any way to fix this?

[StudeRich]

Leaking Airtex

Yes, I can't guarantee that it will be 100% but, you can slow it down a lot if you remove it, take a center punch and peen the housing near the end of the actuator lever PIN boss on each end of the Pin and put Permatex RTV Hi-Temp. Silicone Gasket maker (Red or Black) over both ends.
This works on all Fuel Pumps with a Pin driven through the case, as it should NOT be.

Option #2 for all Stude. '55-'64 V-8's is as it always has been; save those old Carter/Studebaker originals with the Filter on the bottom, get the Rebuild Kit and Rebuild them.
If you are over 50, you should not outlive it!

[CHAMP]

Would J-B Weld work?

[mbstude]

Yes, I can't guarantee that it will be 100% but, you can slow it down a lot if you remove it, take a center punch and peen the housing near the end of the actuator lever PIN boss on each end of the Pin and put Permatex RTV Hi-Temp. Silicone Gasket maker (Red or Black) over both ends.
This works on all Fuel Pumps with a Pin driven through the case, as it should NOT be.

Option #2 for all Stude. '55-'64 V-8's is as it always has been; save those old Carter/Studebaker originals with the Filter on the bottom, get the Rebuild Kit and Rebuild them.
If you are over 50, you should not outlive it!

Are rebuild kits available? I was thinking they were NLA not long ago.

[StudeRich]

Would J-B Weld work?

I do not know, never tried it, I don't see a problem though. The cost of experimenting, is low enough to try anything, it's a cheap Pump.

Matt, the last I heard or ordered "The Cellar" (Antique Auto Parts) still had them.

[Bud]

I'm with you Rich, I'm rebuilding the original Carter pumps with great results as I've had nothing but trouble with the new generation pumps leaking oil and I even had one several years ago that the arm split at the pivot pin. Fortunately I heard what I thought was a valve noise and shut down the engine before the arm broke completely which could have caused major engine damage. Bud

[jimmijim8]

shucks

I was hoping for a good bolt on reliable aftermarket. jimmijim

I'm with you Rich, I'm rebuilding the original Carter pumps with great results as I've had nothing but trouble with the new generation pumps leaking oil and I even had one several years ago that the arm split at the pivot pin. Fortunately I heard what I thought was a valve noise and shut down the engine before the arm broke completely which could have caused major engine damage. Bud

[jimmijim8]

Can you tell the company through an online petition via this forum?jimmijim

Thanks--------------------------------

I work for Airtex. After 20 years as an engineer in our water pump group, the company gave that part of the business to a newly aquired sister company that gets all their parts from china (the Champ pumps we used to sell to SASCO were made in mexico for a short while....not sure if they are still being made yet or not). For the last 4 years I've been working as a supplier quality engineer with our fuel pump group (for some reason the fuel pump group was not held to the same hi standards our water pump group were used to).

We brought all of the mechanical fuel pumps back from mexico (Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Tx) about 3 months ago. Those Corvair pumps are odd ducks & our engineers haven't done a very good job in keeping them to spec over the years. Either the castings have porosity in the O-ring groove, or the stem that runs the diaphram isn't built right.....it's always something. I keep nagging them & thing have slowly improved.

Unfortunately, our sales guys aren't too interested in the antique car market & will obsolete a part at the drop of a hat. If you want us to keep making Stude V8 pumps (or corvair pumps), you gotta get the word out & let your parts stores now that you need them to carry the old stuff. They in turn will tell their jobbers who will tell us.
Mike Sal

[Mike Sal]

A few months ago there was some chatter on this forum about our v8 pumps problems with oil leaks. I copied the string of messages & shared them with management. They sent a note to the release engineer & asked him to investigate. He said our warranty returns and the number of calls to our tech line center were so low, it didn't warrant any effort (I'm not crazy about this guy....).

So, those of you who have leaky pumps shouild return them to the parts stores so they can return them to us & get onto the radar screen. Also, call or email our tech line to complain. The number is 1-800-424-7839. The website is www.airtexproducts.com.

On another note....our solenoid pumps 8011 & 8012 (12 & 6 volt) are built pretty good & are usually trouble free.
Mike Sal

[1962larksedan]

I work for Airtex. After 20 years as an engineer in our water pump group, the company gave that part of the business to a newly aquired sister company that gets all their parts from china (the Champ pumps we used to sell to SASCO were made in mexico for a short while....not sure if they are still being made yet or not). For the last 4 years I've been working as a supplier quality engineer with our fuel pump group (for some reason the fuel pump group was not held to the same hi standards our water pump group were used to).

We brought all of the mechanical fuel pumps back from mexico (Reynosa, across the border from McAllen, Tx) about 3 months ago. Those Corvair pumps are odd ducks & our engineers haven't done a very good job in keeping them to spec over the years. Either the castings have porosity in the O-ring groove, or the stem that runs the diaphram isn't built right.....it's always something. I keep nagging them & thing have slowly improved.

Unfortunately, our sales guys aren't too interested in the antique car market & will obsolete a part at the drop of a hat. If you want us to keep making Stude V8 pumps (or corvair pumps), you gotta get the word out & let your parts stores now that you need them to carry the old stuff. They in turn will tell their jobbers who will tell us.
Mike Sal

f you don't mind me asking; what caused Airtex to return production to the USA?

[silverhawk]

On this subject, I believe the previous owner put on a older Airtex onto my car. I haven't changed it, but I DO leak oil. He did the oil pan at the same time, but this leak kept getting worse until a couple months ago. I thought it was the front of the oil pan leaking; but now I'm curious. Just how much are these things leaking for you guys? Maybe I got a easier solution than taking that pan off.......