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MG MGB Technical - Fuel Pump Location Suggestions

I'm closing in on 4 weeks of owning my 1st MG, and am discovering the wisdom of past owners as I go through the car. Like the door mirror mounts facing backwards, etc.

Now I'm concerned about where the replacement fuel pump (little electric brass box style) is located. It is mounted under the hood on the ledge next to the heater motor. The fuel lines run along the bottom of the heater box, so someone thought mounting the fuel pump there was a good safe place.

My concern is in the name fuel "pump" - in this location the "pump" is sucking gas from the tank all the way forward to within 1-2' of the carbs; instead of pumping gas from the tank to the engine.

I think the original fuel pump was back by the battery boxes, or just outside the passenger side box compartment.

Should I consider moving the pump back by the battery boxes so it can actually pump gas to the engine compartment OR is it fine having the pump suck gas this distance only to have it pump it 1-2' to the carbs?

Again, thanks for all your help.
BobA

I suspect it will be OK. I found a similar set up in my roadster when I bought it in '97, but with an SU pump under the bonnet/hood. I left it there and it's worked fine apart from once when it needed a tap with an "Abingdon spanner" after a couple of months lay up. That convinced me I'd made the right decision; I had to do the same with my GT one dark and rainy night and felt deeply uncomfortable lying under the car at the side of a busy road.
Steve Postins

I had my replacement pump (out of a '82 Subaru wagon) stashed in that small compartment at the back passenger side corner of the engine compartment. It worked great there and was very easy to install, change fuel filters and get at generally. The traditional spot is up between the rear axle and the petrol tank. To get at the pump you must jack up the car and take off the rear RH wheel. Doing anything to them there almost always involves petrol running down your arm and soaking your armpit (yummy). As Steve says, you can take a wack at an SU with a spanner without jacking etc, but it isn't pleasant and pretty much involves lying flat on your back (usually in the mud) with your face pressed up against the tyre and flailing away blindly. All the while keeping a warey eye out for traffic.
Some people put those replacement box style pumps in the back of the boot, just above where the pump would normally be, just allot more accessible. Accessibility is the theme here.

Peter

This thread was discussed between 02/06/2006 and 03/06/2006

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