Budget fuel pump option?

iamdub · Oct 1, 2022

+1 to all the above. The fuel pump, especially on a GM product, is just one of those things that should not be cheaped out. If she was selling the truck- sure. But if it's her daily driver and she depends on it to get her to work and wherever else and back home, then it'll pay off to invest in a quality pump. I'm a fan of Delphi.

ScottyBoy · Oct 1, 2022

I replaced my fuel pump back in 2017 with an AC Delco unit from Rockauto. Yes, it took 3 days to arrive, but while waiting on it to arrive, I dropped the fuel tank, cleaned off the top of it and got the lock ring loose and everything. The day FedEx dropped off my new pump around 10am, I had it installed and driving before 3pm. But I just happened to luck out and be off work that day.
I've heard TONS of stories about people buying AutoZone fuel pumps or Advance Auto parts fuel pumps, and they fail again within 6 months or a year. Yeah sure they might be covered under "warranty" but you still have all the hassle of breaking down, possibly having to get towed, then having to drop the fuel tank and pull the pump all over again. Some people have replaced it so many times, they cut an access panel under the rear seat so they don't have to keep dropping the fuel tank. But even with cutting an access panel, you STILL have to deal with breaking down somewhere and possibly being stranded.
To me, it's not worth all the hassle, I just paid the extra hundred bucks for an OEM Delco fuel pump. If my original pump lasted 16 years, hopefully this replacement will last that long as well.

swathdiver · Oct 2, 2022

Hey @Caddylack , if your neighbor is truly hard up and not just being penny wise and pound foolish, I'll chip in $25 for the good pump.

Fless · Oct 2, 2022

swathdiver said:
Hey @Caddylack , if your neighbor is truly hard up and not just being penny wise and pound foolish, I'll chip in $25 for the good pump.

x2 and we definitely want to see pics.

If you order from RA be sure to use the 5% discount code.

Caddylack · Oct 2, 2022

I suppose I should have been more specific...

This thread is not about choosing between GM/Delco and the cheaper brands. I would agree with all of the posts on that topic.

I'm wondering if there are any pumps listed for other vehicles that would drop in. For example, on Rock Auto, if I switch from 4.8L to 5.3L, the price drops from $84 to $59 for the cheapest. I know you have to be careful on a flex fuel car, but couldn't I use the flex fuel pump on a 4.8? There are just so many LS-powered vehicles, and people use all sorts of pumps for LS swaps.

The problem actually turned out to not be the fuel pump. Fuel pressure was good, and I ended up realizing that my dumb ass forgot to plug the crank sensor back in when I did the starter. Random thought: Rigging the crank sensor to a switch might be a stealthy anti-theft tactic.

I appreciate the generosity towards my neighbor; that's really nice of you guys. She is a single mom, and her son just graduated from a really rough high school where a lot of kids don't graduate. She has worked a steady airport security job forever, but she is paying for the entire household by herself. She doesn't have much left over after bills.

What's really sad is that this woman has been taken advantage of really badly in the past by shady "mechanics"...

She had a problem with her Tahoe running rough and stalling out. She went to a local shop and they told her the throttle body was bad. She paid cash for a brand new GM throttle body + labor, the problem still wasn't fixed, and the shop ignored her. It only took me about 3 or 4 minutes to find the problem. I noticed there was electrical tape on the air intake, so I pulled it off. The bottom of the tube had a massive hole in it, that had just been taped with regular electrical tape. And this shop just sold her a brand new throttle body!!!

I've been doing my best to help her out and teach her what I can. She has been buying parts from Rock Auto and I have been installing them. So far it has been 4 shocks, 2 ignition coils, a starter, an air filter, and a coolant temp sensor. Up next is more coils, sway bar end links, and then pitman & idler arms.

iamdub · Oct 2, 2022

Caddylack said:
I suppose I should have been more specific...

This thread is not about choosing between GM/Delco and the cheaper brands. I would agree with all of the posts on that topic.

I'm wondering if there are any pumps listed for other vehicles that would drop in. For example, on Rock Auto, if I switch from 4.8L to 5.3L, the price drops from $84 to $59 for the cheapest. I know you have to be careful on a flex fuel car, but couldn't I use the flex fuel pump on a 4.8? There are just so many LS-powered vehicles, and people use all sorts of pumps for LS swaps.

The problem actually turned out to not be the fuel pump. Fuel pressure was good, and I ended up realizing that my dumb ass forgot to plug the crank sensor back in when I did the starter. Random thought: Rigging the crank sensor to a switch might be a stealthy anti-theft tactic.

I appreciate the generosity towards my neighbor; that's really nice of you guys. She is a single mom, and her son just graduated from a really rough high school where a lot of kids don't graduate. She has worked a steady airport security job forever, but she is paying for the entire household by herself. She doesn't have much left over after bills.

What's really sad is that this woman has been taken advantage of really badly in the past by shady "mechanics"...

She had a problem with her Tahoe running rough and stalling out. She went to a local shop and they told her the throttle body was bad. She paid cash for a brand new GM throttle body + labor, the problem still wasn't fixed, and the shop ignored her. It only took me about 3 or 4 minutes to find the problem. I noticed there was electrical tape on the air intake, so I pulled it off. The bottom of the tube had a massive hole in it, that had just been taped with regular electrical tape. And this shop just sold her a brand new throttle body!!!

I've been doing my best to help her out and teach her what I can. She has been buying parts from Rock Auto and I have been installing them. So far it has been 4 shocks, 2 ignition coils, a starter, an air filter, and a coolant temp sensor. Up next is more coils, sway bar end links, and then pitman & idler arms.

I know the FlexFuel pumps are capable of more LPH. I don't know how the FF trucks control this, though. My '08 has a separate controller for the fuel pump- the FPCM (Fuel Pump Control Module). Maybe the FF system modulates the pump speed to reduce or increase the volume in relation to the measured alcohol content? Or maybe it's achieved by a difference in the impeller design. Or both. My thoughts are that, if the FF pump is different and, by default, it puts put more volume that is modulated down, then the non-FF fuel system (namely the regulator) could be overpowered by the excessive volume.

Or, like other parts, they are identical and it's simply a part number availability thing affecting the price. For instance, a commonly failing part for a Tahoe is $***.XX. The exact same part is used on another GM-based brand of vehicle but has a different part number so it goes unnoticed. The "non-Tahoe" vehicle isn't as popular so there are more of its parts available and, therefore, they are priced lower. But, inside the box is the exact same part made to the exact same specifications at the exact same factory as the "Tahoe" part.

Caddylack · Oct 2, 2022

iamdub said:
For instance, a commonly failing part for a Tahoe is $***.XX. The exact same part is used on another GM-based brand of vehicle but has a different part number so it goes unnoticed. The "non-Tahoe" vehicle isn't as popular so there are more of its parts available and, therefore, they are priced lower. But, inside the box is the exact same part made to the exact same specifications at the exact same factory as the "Tahoe" part.

Yep.

OR VietVet · Oct 2, 2022

If I remember right, not gonna take the time to go look, I think the line attachments at top of each pump is different as well.

89Suburban · Oct 2, 2022

OR VietVet said:
If I remember right, not gonna take the time to go look, I think the line attachments at top of each pump is different as well.

FF has 2 hose connections, non FF has 1.

Fless · Oct 2, 2022

89Suburban said:
FF has 2 hose connections, non FF has 1.

^^^ THIS, except that the non-FF pump for this year has THREE fuel lines. FF pump is not interchangeable. The 4.8L fuel pump for that vehicle is the same as the one for the non-FF 5.3L.

Good for you for helping her out, @Caddylack!

EDIT: The non-FF pump uses an O-ring to seal; the FF pump has a much bulkier gasket to mate to the tank, and I think a different lock ring.

Budget fuel pump option?

iamdub

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ScottyBoy

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swathdiver

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Fless

Caddylack

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iamdub

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Caddylack

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OR VietVet

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89Suburban

Bull in the china shop

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