Anything and everything Spitfire.

Hi anyone help with this one please. I have just bought a new fuel pump for my 1500 spit, it is the late model which has the long arm and 13mm spacer block. Just opened it up this morning from Rimmers and it says "do not use with original 13mm spacer block"... Bit of a problem now because I cant get a 13mm spacer from anywhere... so I only have the one on the car.

Any suggestions..... please!....

Debbie,
I hope that a Spitfire guru will help you, but it may be that the Rimmers leaflet needs interpreting.
If their's is a short arm pump, then my reading is that you don't need a block at all.
Not that you need a different block.
John

Thanks for reply John, I did order the long arm pump which is direct replacement for the one on the car thinking I could use the spacer block that I already have.
Does anyone know if its possible to remove the spacer block and buy the short arm pump? would this cause any problem?

Hi
Yes the short arm is for the 1300 but works just as well because I have bought that one and fits on my new 1500 engine
&163;16.00 from my local stockist

Mike

So I could take off the 13mm block and use a short arm pump and this wont damage the cam shaft in any way?
Please see pic of set up at the moment.

Looking at Rimmers diagrams, the short arm pump is for engine numbers up to 93xxxxx and long arm for numbers after this. I dont want to damage my engine .... also you cant get this 13mm block which is just a huge gasket between pump and engine.

Thanks

I get the impression that you need short arm and no spacer, or long arm WITH spacer. Pretty sure the eccentric on the camshaft is the same.
So I suggest you ring Rimmers and ask whether the pump they have supplied is meant to be used with a spacer; I expect the answer will be yes. If so, fit it to your engine with your existing spacer. The only possible reason I can see for not re-using a spacer is that it may not seal so well as a gasket, in which case you could either use a thin paper gasket each side of the spacer, or more easily, apply a smear of gasket sealant (eg Blue Hylomar) to each face of the spacer.
I rather suspect that a long arm will not fit the block without a spacer. If it does bolt up, there is a risk that the arm will jam when pushed by the camshaft, or the non-machined part of the arm will press on the camshaft. This is not a good idea.
On the other hand, if you have a pump designed for use WITHOUT a spacer, the worst that can happen if you inadvertently use it WITH a spacer is that the arm won't reach far enough and the pump won't pump effectively, but I can't see how any damage can occur.
It would be worth checking, as far as you can, that the machined part of the operating arm will be bearing evenly on the camshaft eccentric when bolted up, and try visually comparing the arm of your new pump with the arm of the old one.
If in doubt, fit the new pump WITH old spacer (with a smear of sealant). To check it pumps properly, disconnect the fuel line, arrange a container to collect the fuel, and turn the engine over on the starter with the coil disconnected. You should get a decent squirt of fuel on every 2nd engine revolution.

Thanks Chris, I think you have all been quite helpful today, appreciate the input...

Went to fit pump to car this afternoon and Rimmers have sent wrong pump... (Doh!) I have the short one (but i did order the long one)... (honest)....
I was going to take the spacer off and fit the short pump with the short gasket, but not sure if I'd do any damage so will ring up Rimmers and get it swapped.

Thanks again

Do you think the Pump & Gasket would be a good name for a pub...

As I tried to make clear before, if the machined part of the arm will contact squarely on the camshaft eccentric (which you will be able to see through the side of the engine block), it is highly unlikely you can do any damage to the engine. It should be pretty obvious if there is going to be a problem. Even if any damage were to be caused, it is far more likely to be to the arm, rather than the camshaft. My advice would be to fit the new pump without spacer. Before doing so, take all the spark plugs out and see how easy it is to turn the engine round by hand (pulling on the fanbelt is the usual way. Turn it in its normal direction of travel.
After fitting the new pump, turn the engine round a few times and make sure it does not feel any stiffer (you will need at least two full turns of the engine to ensure you have turned the camshaft through one complete revolution. Then turn the engine over on the starter motor and check the pump squirts petrol out. If all OK, in the immortal words of replacement parts, "fit it and forget it!"

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