Fuel pump question

[howie123]

Has anyone installed an in-line fuel pump? I just purchased one from one of the major Model-A suppliers. The directions say to connect the ground wire to the negative terminal on the pump. Is this assuming that the vehicle is negative ground? Since I am running positive ground should the ground wire go to the positive terminal? On another note, does anyone use the Ampco top cylinder lubricator. I remember seeing these advertised for use on older cars back in the 70's. What kind of oil is recommended to be used in them? Thanks for the information. This is a great site and I have learned a ton here. Howie

[1931 flamingo]

Is your system 6 or 12V ? I would connect to positive terminal if pos ground. Did't a lot of the top oilers use marvel mystery oil?
Paul in CT

[Mike V. Florida]

Did you also post this on the HAMB site, more modified car owners there?

[Kurt in NJ]

I like the original pump, there has never been a failure.

Have you ever followed a car with a top oiler in a parade??

If you install an electric pump you need to have it wired to stop if the engine stops running --even if the key is still on --for safety and fire prevention reasons.

Without knowing what make and type of pump it is hard to say about polarity, I would think that if you have +ground the + wire of the pump should be grounded.
An electronic pump will have problems with the wrong polarity, a points type of pump usually doesn't care.

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by howie123

Has anyone installed an in-line fuel pump? I just purchased one from one of the major Model-A suppliers. The directions say to connect the ground wire to the negative terminal on the pump. Is this assuming that the vehicle is negative ground? Since I am running positive ground should the ground wire go to the positive terminal? On another note, does anyone use the Ampco top cylinder lubricator. I remember seeing these advertised for use on older cars back in the 70's. What kind of oil is recommended to be used in them? Thanks for the information. This is a great site and I have learned a ton here. Howie

There were TWO brands of oilers, the Ampco and the "Marvel Inverse Oiler". The Marvel is quite superior to the Ampco in engineering design and theory of operation. I have a collection of new and used Marvel oilers.

The Ampco sucks oil based on engine vacuum, the higher the vac, like idle or decelerating, the more oil. Under load, with low vac, little or no oil is delivered! Overall oil feed is controlled by a simple screw valve.

The Marvel Inverse Oiler feeds oil inversely to the engine vacuum. Low vacuum (heavy engine load) more oil, high vac, much less feed. The early supercharger guys couldn't live without this thing! Perfect also for trucks and A's, which are subject to lots of lugging and heavy throttle, low vacuum operation. The oil flow is regulated by a calibrated, adjustable inverse regulator, not a simple screw valve.

One design of the Marvel "Inverse" oiler. LINK about Marvel Inverse Oilers
Note the regulation adjustment on top and the glass sight window to monitor the rate.

[1931 flamingo]

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MikeK: I understand the theory of operation and in the 60's remember seeing many installed. Where and how do you "feed" it into the A enggine? Thanks in advance as I'm sure you can educate me. Happy Thanksgiving.
Paul in CT

[MikeK]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

MikeK: I understand the theory of operation and in the 60's remember seeing many installed. Where and how do you "feed" it into the A enggine? Thanks in advance as I'm sure you can educate me. Happy Thanksgiving.
Paul in CT

For an A, the best feed is a small tube that projects into the manifold air stream, permitting the oil to spray off. A metal adapter plate can be made that looks like a carb gasket, about 3/16 thick. Drill a cross hole for a football/ basketball filler needle and extend it in about 1/4" in. You must put it on the side where the throttle butterfly goes down so the throttle plate does not hit it. Use two carb gaskets and 1/4" longer bolts.

There were carb adapter plates made by Ampco, but their "A" plates did not have a tube into the airflow. A feed that does not have that tube extension will just dribble oil along the side of the manifold in an updraft application. You really want the oil to spray.