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The Old Technology Of Mechanical Fuel Pumps Is Still The Best
In NASCAR racing, knowing which parts need to be redesigned and which ones can be reused is a skill in keeping costs down. The most successful crew chiefs know when to apply the philosophy of "if it isn't broke, don't fix it.' A perfect example of this is the mechanical fuel pump that bolts to the side of the engine.
The same basic fuel pump has supplied gas to NASCAR carburetors since the earliest days of the sport. Before mandating a part change, NASCAR must have a good reason for making that change. When it is decided a change must be made, the new part must be dependable, cost effective, and not affect track competition or safety. When it comes to the new electric
fuel pumps, they cannot meet the criteria and they provide no advantage over the old reliable mechanical pump. For these reasons, the NASCAR Winston Cup Series rule book, as it pertains to fuel pumps, has remained unchanged for years.
"NASCAR Officials check the fuel pumps on NASCAR Winston Cup Series cars during tech inspection," said Gary Nelson, NASCAR Winston Cup Series director. "They're not allowed to use an electric pump, the pump must be located in a stock place on the engine block, and it must be mechanically driven. Beyond that we don't take them apart and look inside."
The mechanical fuel pump has not changed much over the years. Basic function and design are the same today as 30 years ago. Some of the metal alloys and diaphragm materials have been improved but the pump is basically the same.
Fuel pumps are brand specific to the engine manufacturer. The Ford pump is different from the Chevrolet pump. They may be different in terms of lever length, positioning, or input and output tube location. But in theory they both perform in an...