Electric fuel pump on '55 Bird

[zuburg]

So, can you install an in-line electric fuel pump near the gas tank, and not have to do anything to the mechanical fuel pump? Should the electric fuel pump be powered off the ignition key so it runs anytime the engine is running?

My 56 T-bird (with a new Chinese fuel pump) would not start after sitting just a couple of days. We could pour gas into the carb to get it to start but had to do that a few times to finally get the pump to pump enough gas up to the glass fuel filter. We suspect a bad check valve is letting the fuel drain back into the line or tank. Or should we wire in a toggle switch to just run the electric pump long enough to get the car started?