There are two different types of fuel pumps mechanical and electrical but mechanical is quickly dying out. Mechanical fuel pumps were a part of many earlier cars typically the ones that were built before the 1970s.
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Electric or mechanical fuel pump. The pump is mechanically driven by a lobe on the engines camshaft by the pump being bolted to the engine block or head. In some applications there may even be clearance issues where a mechanical pump cannot be used. Usually a mechanical pump is preferred over an aftermarket electric fuel pump. The obvious advantages of a mechanical pump are that they dont make any noise and they dont require any additional plumbing or wiring. Upgrading to an electric pump is needed when higher fuel pressures are required like boosted applications nitrous and fuel injection. However sometimes that wont work.
They tend to be more reliable. Often carbureted engines use low pressure mechanical pumps that are mounted outside the fuel tank whereas fuel injected engines often use electric fuel pumps that are mounted inside the fuel tank and some fuel injected engines have two fuel pumps. Electric pumps offer a larger variety of flow rates and pressure outputs in comparison to mechanical pumps. Thats a big plus zach baker of quick fuel technology explains. One low pressurehigh volume supply pump in the tank and one high pressurelow volume pump on or near the engine. How should you wire an electric fuel pump when do you need an electric fuel pump.
The cross member was in the way of the mechanical fuel pump. In my old 47 chevy the engine i had swapped in had an issue. Although mechanical and electric fuel pumps each have their share of pros and cons sometimes it all comes down to practicality.