A couple of V8 VK questions

**MitchM** · 21-05-2011, 09:39 PM

Hi all, got a bit stuck and wondered if you could help.

Just restoring a VK and can't find the fuel pump. Not on the block just a blanking plate and fuel line. Does that mean it was switched to an electric in the tank?

Couldn't get it to start when plumbed to the tank. I re-installed the original pump on the block and it runs now. I still can't get it to draw from the tank though, I'd assume because there is a fouled electric in there..? :S

So was just wondering what my best/easiest option was. Get a original tank to replace it, or can I open the tank and remove the electric to still use it? Just read I need to tap the grommet anti clockwise to get in there, I couldn't figure that out, I'll open it tomorrow.

Secondarily all the emission controls seem to have been ripped off, is there a good source online for replacing them. As I would assume they need to be there for a blue slip inspection.

Any help would be appreciated as these are the last things I need to get done, before going for rego.

Thanks for your time.

Mitch

**75hjprem** · 21-05-2011, 09:59 PM

Is it a calais or just a berlina ?

**n8dzy** · 21-05-2011, 10:04 PM

hey mate , idont know if this can help at all but i was trying to find the fuel pump on my vh and found the same block off plate and assumed it had an electric pump,ended up finding it tucked up behind the drivers kick panel but with no fuel hoses though.So im still confused but any way you could check there.

**75hjprem** · 21-05-2011, 11:00 PM

I'm not sure but i think the calais has an in tank fuel pump ?
feel free to correct me if im wrong.

**VK SL 3800** · 22-05-2011, 01:12 AM

Its a sketchy topic some say they all have block mounted and other say calais and other say all intank ect but my 84 VK 308 is all original (been in family since new) and its got an intank pump, its a berlina. Its only a low pressure unit and it easy to replace, you may have to jack up the rear of the car and put stands under the chassis to get clearance to remove it. I also recommend fitting a prime switch to the pump so you can switch on manually to fill the carbie with fuel. Mine rarely gets driven and this makes it really easy to start. Yes it is removable and replaceable as my uncle replaced the one in mine a couple of months before i got it, your has probably done the same as its- seized from lack of use.

For your emissions information for when you hook it all back use this site:
VK Berlina Project

Its another forum members site.
As for getting parts you may have to visit a wrecker or ebay. As long as your EGR valve is plumed up and the few vacuum switches ect all looks legit you shouldn't have a problem unless your blue slip bloke decides to be a pain.

**MitchM** · 22-05-2011, 01:59 AM

75hjprem- Berlina.

n8dzy- Have traced the lines from the block to the tank with my finger. No pump there inline.

VK SL 3800- Thanks for the info. So I take it the tank is not salvageable? I can't bypass the in tank pump some how and use the block mount one?

**VK SL 3800** · 22-05-2011, 10:26 AM

You can rip the intank one out and just put a straight bit of pipe with the sock on the end in instead i would imagine.

**ari666** · 22-05-2011, 12:33 PM

sigh. all V8's have an intank pump which is low rated to help deliver fuel to the mechanical. a lot of people block off the mechanical and just run with the intank pump, but its not advisable as its only rated at about 3.5psi and your quaddy needs 6.5

if you take your sender out its attached to the pick up.

**SL/ENUT** · 22-05-2011, 01:00 PM

All V8s? I only know of the VK V8 range having the intank pump

**VK SL 3800** · 22-05-2011, 01:34 PM

Well my 308 has never had a block mounted pump just the one in the tank, never had any problems with it leaning out, its completely stock. It had from new a cutting out problem though, warranty never fixed it. After about 20yrs of cutting out one of my uncles cracked the S**ts and found the fuse box was melted on the underside surprise surprise.

**ari666** · 22-05-2011, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by SL/ENUT

All V8s? I only know of the VK V8 range having the intank pump

quoted for the truth

**n8dzy** · 22-05-2011, 03:45 PM

is that the same for the vh? cos i cant figure it all out, it looks like the pump is in behind my kick panel but it has no fuel hoses coming off it,and to top it off ive got an efi regulator.

**VK SL 3800** · 22-05-2011, 03:47 PM

Its by no means factory if its behind the kickpanel, you sure its a fuel pump?, its illegal and plain stupid to have fuel lines inside the cab anyways.

**ari666** · 22-05-2011, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by VK SL 3800

its illegal and plain stupid to have fuel lines inside the cab anyways.

LOL, carn man, whats a few petrol fumes on a long trip? makes for more fun doesnt it?

**SL/ENUT** · 22-05-2011, 05:28 PM

WTF? fuel pump in the front kick panel? Never would fit in there. Perhaps n8dzy your car should be looked over by a mechanic.

**n8dzy** · 22-05-2011, 09:17 PM

like i said previously,there are no hoses coming off it,so i am not 100% sure that it is the fuel pump.It is the only thing i can find that looks a bit like an elec pump,thats why i was also wondering if they were fitted in tank from the factory.

**Darren_L** · 22-05-2011, 09:44 PM

I didn't think that VK 5L's had an intank pump (not 100% sure, maybe only the later models ?).... You can usually tell by the sender unit. If it's the old twist on type sender (no bolts) than it won't have an intank pump. If it has the later type sender that clamps to the tank with about 8 small bolts, then it's got the in tank pickup pump.

I know that all VL 5L's had an intank pickup/primer pump that then fed the mechanical pump attached to the r/h/s of the timing cover
as said, some people disconnect the mechanical pump, not realising that the intank pump isn't up to the task as a primary pump.

But I'm figuring that if your VK has the mechanical fuel pump removed, and you can't find any external electric pump, then it has to have some sort of in-tank pump.

**ari666** · 23-05-2011, 08:13 AM

edit* nvm .

**MitchM** · 23-05-2011, 09:40 AM

Thanks for the input guys.
Darren, the tank only has a twist lock sender unit in it no bolts. That's where I got stuck about 3 years ago and gave up. If it had bolts I would have got it open. Now that I know how to open the twist grommet (thought it may have been welded in as I did attempt the screwdriver hammer method of turning it but it must be fused) I'll pop it and have a look.

Still leads me to the point of, where is the frikin pump then? I know the car was running on the day the owner died, it was left to the daughter whom drove it to her house, it sat there in the same spot un-worked/undriven/covered in a (3 sizes too small) tarp ever since.

By the way, is this the normal dash insert or the more incremental one?

**ari666** · 23-05-2011, 10:13 AM

the pump is on the sender. but as darren said its not a pump in the traditional sense. just a low pressure unit to assist the mechanical.

**SL/ENUT** · 23-05-2011, 04:25 PM

That speedo, looks BT1 police spec type.

With fuel tank sender unit, i think you hit it anti clock wise. Can't remember which way you go

**ari666** · 23-05-2011, 04:54 PM

yeah anti clockwise is right.

here is one without the pump:

**kane_coro** · 25-05-2011, 06:08 PM

I agree with SLE NuT that speedo isnt the normal one

**tuckerbag** · 27-05-2011, 08:05 PM

I have an october 85 134 pack vk with only 80000 ks and everything as it left the factory and it has the mechanical pump on the rh side where they usually are but in the fuse box it has a fuse for a fuel pump(7.5amp for efi and 5amp for v8 it says). On the tank the sender unit/pickup is the knock off variety, no bolts. So, beats the crap outa me.

**jpetrou** · 27-05-2011, 09:26 PM

All VK V8 5 litres had an electric low pressure pump in the tank, however some versions like Police specials and Brocks had a mechanical pump as well. Tuckerbag your 134 pack had the V5H option which was police/brock spec motor. Usually that was teamed up with manual transmissions. I have also uploaded some info from GMH workshop manual and parts catalogue.