Little Red Express, Carb and mechanical fuel pump advice?

[Tuesdak]

Hardcore Dodge buddy of mine just picked up a 1979 "Little Red Express" in near mint condition. Other than the oil pressure wire that got hot and melted there were no real major concerns.

It started hard and taking a close look:

Original carb gone and replaced with a Edelbrock with an electric choke. I am told the original setup was a manual choke. Carb is under the air cleaner and out of sight, eh? So poked fun at him on the major item that wasn't original while nearly everything else is.

Made in China mechanical fuel pump. YUCK!

Had just changed the fuel filter and no start when I arrived. No fuel at carb fuel line. Pulled the fuel pump after verifying, yes, there was gas in the tank. I hand pumped the fuel pump a lot and it didn't feel right let alone still no fuel, but, I have very limited experience with them. Later after looking at the service manual it showed the fuel filter after, not before, the mechanical fuel pump. Putting the fuel filter after the mechanical fuel pump solved the problem and it's now turn key startup. The pump the pedal to start drama is gone that it came home with.

The above said what do the old timers on here recommend for a good mechanical fuel pump for the 360 in it? Stock? Aftermarket? Red China that's on it now?

Edelbrock for a carb isn't my first choice as I am a Holly fan from running one on a Jet Boat 454 Chevy. Jet boat was set for 3 modes: Idle, 1/2 power, and WOT: with quick throttle changes without any bog. Idle, big accelerator pump squirters, 1/2 power cruise, vac gauge readings to set up to open power valve over 1/2 power, and WOT w/ vac secondaries.

Back on track (Hope I just didn't start an "Oil Brand War" over carbs.) what would be some interesting carbs to use on this considering "car shows" and IMO back in the day carb swaps on hot-rods were the norm. "Do you have a carb that can drain the fuel tank any faster?"

 

[jgillott]

Factory Carb was a Carter Thermo Quad correct?

 

[ofelas]

Correct.

Ah, the fond memories of removing the 360/drivetrain from my once & forgotten Lil Red & force fugging a Koffel with a Barry Grant 1150 into it.

As far as mechanical pump, the MP units are made by Carter, hard to to go wrong with these on a gasser.

Oil wars notwithstanding, I heartily endorse the outstanding Amsoil Z-Rod 10w30 in this 360.

 

[DavidC]

I always had good luck with the thermoquad and they made a kit if you wanted to experiment with metering rods and jetting. I was always repairing the accelerator pump diaphrams on Holleys as they would dry up and get brittle. My vote would be to put the Thermoquad back on it if it is the stock manifold that was made for that carb. Holley made a very good mechanical pump. I don't know if any of this stuff is still available.

 

[Wayne M.]

If that’s a real Lil Red- looks to be. It would have a 360 with a ThermoQuad (had a plastic body). They can be gotten, but I understand there is a aftermarket replacement out there.
An Edelbrock carb is basically a Carter AFB OR AVS made under license by Weber, and is not a bad unit. I’m a Holley guy myself, but it’s a good chance that that one can be made to run good. There was no hand choke. They were “divorced” chokes in the manifold connected with a rod. An electric choke is perfect, provided it’s connected to a good source, and adjusted properly.
This is the best fuel pump. Period.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/crt-m5902p/overview/
It’s not cheap, but it’s the real deal, and rebuildable. There are quality OEM pumps out there if you search.

 

[Wayne M.]

I always had good luck with the thermoquad and they made a kit if you wanted to experiment with metering rods and jetting. I was always repairing the accelerator pump diaphrams on Holleys as they would dry up and get brittle. My vote would be to put the Thermoquad back on it if it is the stock manifold that was made for that carb. Holley made a very good mechanical pump. I don't know if any of this stuff is still available.

Dave, you’re talking about a “strip kit” for those carbs. Lol. The NHRA stock class guys would yank their teeth for a complete kit nowadays

 

[DavidC]

That's it, I had one just do not know where it's at now.

 

[DavidC]

If that’s a real Lil Red- looks to be. It would have a 360 with a ThermoQuad (had a plastic body). They can be gotten, but I understand there is a aftermarket replacement out there.
An Edelbrock carb is basically a Carter AFB OR AVS made under license by Weber, and is not a bad unit. I’m a Holley guy myself, but it’s a good chance that that one can be made to run good. There was no hand choke. They were “divorced” chokes in the manifold connected with a rod. An electric choke is perfect, provided it’s connected to a good source, and adjusted properly.
This is the best fuel pump. Period.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/crt-m5902p/overview/
It’s not cheap, but it’s the real deal, and rebuildable. There are quality OEM pumps out there if you search.

That looks exactly like the Holley only it was chrome, either way you can't go wrong with either.

 

[moparguy]

If your friend isn't a purist and insisting on a proper original number ThermoQuad (a most excellent carb by the way) I'd go with this https://www.summitracing.com/parts/DEM-1901.

To the younger generation Mopar crowd it'll look like a ThermoQuad with the black composite body plus it's compatible with today's ethanol contaminated gas.

I do have the original AVS for my '70 340 Duster but modern gas caused me to the the linked unit and it's great. I ran Thermoquads for many thousands of miles back in the day and this is as close as one can get to Good Thermoquad.

 

[Tuesdak]

Thanks for the info on carbs and fuel pumps. He does run Amsoil so I will suggest that as well.

Stopped by and my buddy pulled the heater core to have it repaired. The radiator had to be recored/repaired so figured to check out the heater core to be sure. Seats getting a little TLC before the minor cracks get worse.

 

[DavidC]

The days of the piston air conditioning compressor and R12.

 

[Wayne M.]

That looks like it has all the right stuff and looks quite honestly to be a survivor. Nice.

 

[Tuesdak]

The days of the large displacement heavy cast iron piston air conditioning compressor and R12 that merely turning on would likely stall out most modern small car engines.

Fixed it for you. After all there was "Economy" printed on HVAC control settings in the 80's that didn't run the AC compressor. Cut your MPG, what, in half? No really: there are two (2) belts driving the compressor! Can we say it takes two belts?

The conversion fitting to less efficient R134A you are looking at IMO had to have hurt the value. Especially as the Factory Air Option was rare. R12 is still available, for a price, today. Perhaps we take standard equipment of AC for granted on new vehicles today. Even radios were not standard equipment and FM radio buttons were also a 'option' to base AM only radios into the 1990's.

Don't touch the AM button to "see if AM radio still exists": the AM button may stick and leave the radio stuck in AM!

You also reminded me that I need to take a closer look at the AC system for my buddy as this system isn't a 'easy button conversion' fixed orface tube system. I need to see if the expansion device needs adjustment (or was adjusted) for R134A. I will have him look in the service manual to see what kind of OEM expansion device was used. Some system parts may need to be sent out for a conversion like the Ford/GM POA (Pilot Operated Absolute) systems do.

 

[ofelas]

Some of us still run R12 in every vehicle that requires it