The Ford Barn

leon bee · 04-11-2026, 08:54 PM

I see vendor illustrations of pumps which look just like ones I have on a couple 8BAs. Except the glass bowl is upside down, what's that about?

hueyhoolihan · 04-12-2026, 02:07 AM

are you sure that the pump wasn't simply inverted when the pic was taken?

leon bee · 04-12-2026, 02:22 AM

I went and looked at some again, I guess you're right. The whole picture is downside up, might need thicker reading glasses.

pistonbroke · 04-12-2026, 08:37 AM

Some vendors are salesman and not car guys. They see other pumps with the glass bowl up like some GM stuff and think thats how they all are. So thats how they display theirs. I see it all the time.

RalphG · 04-12-2026, 08:42 AM

Actually I had one of those pumps, might still have, and it was claimed to be for a flathead Ford engine. I thnk that was why my dad bought it. I don't remember if it worked or not. Might have to check the inventory to see if I still have it.

tubman · 04-12-2026, 09:37 AM

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I think I've seen them also. They were invented by the same guys who developed the spin-on oil filter the goes on the side of the engine in a horizonal. position.

hueyhoolihan · 04-12-2026, 10:47 AM

the bottom line is that traditional sediment bowls were/are dependent on gravity to separate debris from the fuel. and in order to do that the fuel must enter AND EXIT from the top. giving it time as it travels from the entry point to the exit point, if only a second or two, for the heavier debris to settle toward, if not reach, the bottom before the clean fuel it reaches the exit point on the other side of the bowl.

and if one thinks that the distance to travel from the entry point to the exit point and the amount of time that that would take determines just how how effective it would be, then they would be right. IOW the diameter of the bowl is of some consequence.

RalphG · 04-12-2026, 01:14 PM

I could never see the logic of having an upside down sediment bowl on a fuel pump but that is how this one is set up. You can see the typical Ford mounting base with the lever to engage the push rod. Wish I could remember the history on this one but it was sold to my dad as a means of eliminating "vapour lock" which was a concern back in the 1960s hot summer days. He didn't leave it on the engine so I"m thinking it wasn't too successful.

petehoovie · 04-12-2026, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RalphG

I could never see the logic of having an upside down sediment bowl on a fuel pump but that is how this one is set up. You can see the typical Ford mounting base with the lever to engage the push rod. Wish I could remember the history on this one but it was sold to my dad as a means of eliminating "vapour lock" which was a concern back in the 1960s hot summer days. He didn't leave it on the engine so I"m thinking it wasn't too successful.

ford38v8 · 04-12-2026, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RalphG

I could never see the logic of having an upside down sediment bowl on a fuel pump but that is how this one is set up. You can see the typical Ford mounting base with the lever to engage the push rod. Wish I could remember the history on this one but it was sold to my dad as a means of eliminating "vapour lock" which was a concern back in the 1960s hot summer days. He didn't leave it on the engine so I"m thinking it wasn't too successful.

Ralph, it’s fairly obvious that your dad wasn’t experiencing any vapor lock in his wallet ‘cause he bought it, didn’t he? 😉

RalphG · 04-12-2026, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford38v8

Ralph, it’s fairly obvious that your dad wasn’t experiencing any vapor lock in his wallet ‘cause he bought it, didn’t he? 😉

I guess after being stalled a few times on the road and having to pour a jug of water over the fuel pump on the Merc he was willing to try anything. I don't recall it being a big problem but it was a long time ago. There were always people looking to make a quick buck by selling some "snake oil" solution. Like the spark increaser that was supposed to eliminate the problem of stalling out after drivng through water and soaking the old divers helmet distributors.

leon bee · 04-13-2026, 10:50 AM

Hafta pull the pump off to clean the bowl, or make a big mess. Do that outside in the gravel.

04-11-2026, 08:54 PM	#1
leon bee Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 768	Fuel Pump?Sediment Bowl Question I see vendor illustrations of pumps which look just like ones I have on a couple 8BAs. Except the glass bowl is upside down, what's that about?

04-12-2026, 02:07 AM	#2
hueyhoolihan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2024 Location: central coast california Posts: 594	Re: Fuel Pump?Sediment Bowl Question are you sure that the pump wasn't simply inverted when the pic was taken? Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 04-12-2026 at 04:15 AM. Reason: corrected word "was" to contraction "wasn't"

04-12-2026, 02:22 AM	#3
leon bee Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 768	Re: Fuel Pump?Sediment Bowl Question I went and looked at some again, I guess you're right. The whole picture is downside up, might need thicker reading glasses.

04-12-2026, 08:37 AM	#4
pistonbroke Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Perry Mo. Posts: 838	Re: Fuel Pump?Sediment Bowl Question Some vendors are salesman and not car guys. They see other pumps with the glass bowl up like some GM stuff and think thats how they all are. So thats how they display theirs. I see it all the time.

04-12-2026, 08:42 AM	#5
RalphG Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Sask. Canada Posts: 2,619	Re: Fuel Pump?Sediment Bowl Question Actually I had one of those pumps, might still have, and it was claimed to be for a flathead Ford engine. I thnk that was why my dad bought it. I don't remember if it worked or not. Might have to check the inventory to see if I still have it. __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/roosty6/videos

04-12-2026, 09:37 AM	#6
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 12,138	Re: Fuel Pump?Sediment Bowl Question Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I think I've seen them also. They were invented by the same guys who developed the spin-on oil filter the goes on the side of the engine in a horizonal. position.

04-12-2026, 10:47 AM	#7
hueyhoolihan Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2024 Location: central coast california Posts: 594	Re: Fuel Pump?Sediment Bowl Question the bottom line is that traditional sediment bowls were/are dependent on gravity to separate debris from the fuel. and in order to do that the fuel must enter AND EXIT from the top. giving it time as it travels from the entry point to the exit point, if only a second or two, for the heavier debris to settle toward, if not reach, the bottom before the clean fuel it reaches the exit point on the other side of the bowl. and if one thinks that the distance to travel from the entry point to the exit point and the amount of time that that would take determines just how how effective it would be, then they would be right. IOW the diameter of the bowl is of some consequence. Last edited by hueyhoolihan; 04-12-2026 at 10:54 AM.

04-13-2026, 10:50 AM	#12
leon bee Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 768	Re: Fuel Pump?Sediment Bowl Question Hafta pull the pump off to clean the bowl, or make a big mess. Do that outside in the gravel.