So, I changed my thermostat and put new wires on today. On the whole a success. So I start Project Valiant to make sure it's running...starts fine.

I look down, I see something sort of spritzing intermittently out of the side of the fuel pump. I put my hand onto the side of the ignition coil that it's hitting and smell it...yay, gasoline. So, I climb underneath to see if I can tell where it's leaking from. It looks like it's coming either from or from near a little hole facing the grill, but I get gas in my hair, I get angry and decide to come inside to look at Napa's website for new fuel pumps. Luckily, I find out that they're WAY cheaper than I thought they'd be.

So, finally, to the question...is at easy job as it looks? Looked pretty simple to me, but is there anything to be aware of going in? Any pitfalls or special tricks?

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65 4 dr. Valiant 200

The hardest part of the job these days is finding a fuel pump made well enough not to fail again in short order. Be picky -- call ahead and find out where the fuel pump any particular parts store wants to sell you was made. Just about anything except China is okeh.

After that, the only real tricks are making sure the old gasket is completely scraped and cleaned off the block, and making sure the camshaft is rotated all the way "low" out of the way of the new pump's arm. You'll know immediately; if it's "high" (close to the pump) the old pump will want to spring away off the side of the block as you unbolt it. Problem there is you'll never get the new pump installed against that spring pressure, so rotate the engine til the cam is "low" and out of the way. Might be a good time to do the Fuel line mod if you haven't yet.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

So a NAPA pump will be ok or no? Ugh, rotating the crankshaft sounds easy but I'm not sure how to do that. Spin the pulley by hand? Stupid question I know, but I'm not a mechanic by trade...

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65 4 dr. Valiant 200

Grasp the fan blade and fan belt and give a heave-ho!

Not sure where NAPA's pumps are coming from these days.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Grabbing and heave-ho I can do. For $23 or whatever it was, i can chance it. My last vehicle was an 88 F150...slightly more expensive fuel pump.

When I told the missus "the fuel pump's leaking, need a new one..." she was , but then I told her "less than $25, no worries..." and she smiled and made me lunch.

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65 4 dr. Valiant 200

Do I need to have the gas tank empty for removing it? Shouldn't have to since it's not in the tank, right?

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65 4 dr. Valiant 200

Nope, you don't have to worry about or mess with the gas tank. Whether or not you do the Fuel line mod, you will want to put new flex hose from frame line to pump.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Fuel pump conquered and no gas spraying when it runs now. I didnt do the fuel line mod...thatll be another day. I did however find out that, under 47 years of gunk, my ignition coil is blue.

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65 4 dr. Valiant 200