MK.II fuel pumps

[CraigB]

Another thechy question:

I have seen many photos of the Mk.II SW240A fuel pump arrangment on the MK.II but would like to know why there are 3 pumps??? Are these 1 from each tank + booster or 1 from each tank + backup or what???

[John W]

Craig,

the arrangements of the pumps varies from car to car, especially between 2a and 2B, so there is no real right or wrong.

initially the cars had a pair of pumps on the left side, and a single on the right side. Both the left pumps were in parallel plumbing and electrical wise, so it was simply for redundancy in case one failed.
Some info says the second pump was for a 'reserve' tank, to get back to the pits in case they ran too low, but I cannot find any info to support this except on the road cars (the wiring diagram definitely shows them connected together), and the pictures of the pipework do not support this either.

The right side one was for the right side tank.

When the oil tank got moved to the rear (2B style), the pumps got shuffled about, generally all put across to the right side of the car.

On later cars (67 lemans on I think) the cars only had a single filler, so the pair of tanks were joined by a pipe infront of the seats. Some of these cars still have three pumps, but most pics show only two, one for each side of the tank. Note that there was then only one 'electric pump' switch on the dashes of these cars, and no change over switch to select tank side.

'The ford that beat ferrari' has several good pics of the rear of mk2s.
I guess it really depends on which car your trying to replicate

I hope that helps.

Cheers,
John.

[CraigB]

Thanks for that Just the detail I was looking for.

Am planning to base the car around 1046 (LM#2 winner from 1966), I'm pretty sure I've seem pics of this with 3 pumps on RHS but this might just be the restored car (which I think finally tested - and crashed as a Mk.IIB in 1967), any aditional pics of the engine compartment (or interior) of this car would be greatly appreciated if anybody has some (craig.boon@racezone.co.uk)

Cheers again

[John W]

Craig, if it does have three pumps then the organisation on this car in 66 is most likely a pair of main pumps, with the third as a reserve, using two seperate electrical switches.

It was the 67 season that the cars had the single filler and cross pipe between tanks. I'm not sure without checking whether this car ever had the pipe fitted & 2nd filler blanked off, but that's irrelevant for what your after.