Racetronix Fuel Pump issues

I'm trying to install my new racetronix fuel pump, but the bottom of it where the o-ring is at is larger than the racetronix pump I pulled out. It won't fit down into the bucket because of it. The old pump fits just fine. I'm talking to Racetronix / Thunderracing to see what they want to do, but so far not having any luck with them. My buddy put one in about 1.5 years ago and didn't have any issues, plus my old one fit. Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem, I'm getting frustrated with them.

Man, things don't get much attention in this section. Thought I would give an update. Between talking to Thunderracing & Racetronix, Thunderracing is sending me out a new pump. Racetronix is thinking it's a tolerance issue that happened out of the ordinary. I'll update when I get the new pump. P.S. Angie @ Thunderracing has been very helpful in trying to get this resolved for me. I've done business there for a while and will continue.

There's been a lot of issues of Racetronix pumps not fitting the buckets. For one thing, they sent pumps that had a center outlet and not an offset one and a lot of people had issues getting this to work. There's some history to this. Not sure if you have a different problem - There is a new Walbro pump that is offset like the original, and if you didn't get that pump in your kit, then you got an old one.

No, that wasn't the problem, it just wouldn't fit down in there because of the diameter of where the o-ring fits. They sent me a new one, but even that one had to be modified a touch. Diameter was right, but had to dremel the lip from the mold, I assume. We'll see if it works now.

There's been a lot of issues of Racetronix pumps not fitting the buckets. For one thing, they sent pumps that had a center outlet and not an offset one and a lot of people had issues getting this to work. There's some history to this. Not sure if you have a different problem - There is a new Walbro pump that is offset like the original, and if you didn't get that pump in your kit, then you got an old one.

That is odd. Do you have any pics or anything of the non-fitting pump?

Rich

That is odd. Do you have any pics or anything of the non-fitting pump?

Rich

It's the one with the hole in the middle and not offset like the stocker. It can be made to fit, which I did with mine - basically jammed in there, but it was always crooked and I never had the confidence that it was in there right. I'll look to see if I have pics when I get home. At the time that I did mine, it was on a Saturday and I was practically in a panic about the way it was fitting, worried that I would have top put it all back together again with the original pump.

I have a whole different system now, and I was glad to get that one out of there.

I sent mine back and got another one, it had some minor fitment issues but nothing that wasn't fixable. It ended up fitting in there correctly.

Here's pics of when I did the install the first time

This stock pump with the offset fit great in the corner of the bucket
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/kevinblownta/fp2.jpg

This replacement one with the center inlet had to be jammed in there crooked to get the inlet in the hole in the bottom of the bucket and I was never happy about that. It did work with it in there like that for several years.
http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/kevinblownta/fp3.jpg

He're's the home made setup I have now

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc158/kevinblownta/100_0858.jpg

I just got a Racetronix Fuel Pump and had the same problem. when i tried to put the pump into the bucket, Where the the Bottom on the White O ring and the Small round whole with a Screen it, The size of the new pump is bigger then the stock one, The pump does sit in there straight, but i only could push it down in the whole maybe 1/8" of in inch, also when i got the kit it was missing the filter and the harness was missing the pnp connectors and body ground kit. So now i am waiting for the new parts to come in. am hoping the is pushed in fair enough on the bucket, if it is not will it cause any problems? I have the bucket all glued up and i can not pull up on the pump and it does not move.

I couldn't say whether it will all right or not, but I wanted mine to fit down in there right.

Seems to me that ought to be something the instructions address. If they don't, it wouldn't surprise me, though I still think it's something that should be covered IF the pump is intended as application specific replacement. If it's sold as a generic kit, maybe not. How do they pitch it, as something which is 4th gen specific or just a generic pump? Most parts seem to need various kinds of massaging. This is sometimes disappointing but unless they are marketed as "bolt-on" or something like that I guess it's to be expected. At times, I feel like I could have built the whole thing from scratch as easily as buying.

Rich

Racetronix pitches it as a OEM replacement, bolt on and go. Not quite.

holy cow! "also when i got the kit it was missing the filter and the harness was missing the pnp connectors and body ground kit."
mine was missing filter also yet they said they never saw that. got filter in 2 days.

go to install pump and NOPE! without oring it fit...with oring it would not! had tons of silicone and i man handled it to much and piushed it in and it cracked the hole where it mounts in..... now what?!?!

i called them and waiting for response back

I did my own pump conversion (purchased the pumps from Summit - Dual in-tank conversion) Those "kits" never do work out very good in my opinion. Do it yourself. You will be glad with self gratification of problem solving. Then you can post solutions on this site. B.

im disputing this on my visa, im out time, and a bucket since the pump broke it.

I just received my racetronix fuel pump kit from thunder racing and I got the walbro fuel pump with the center inlet. This has to be incorrect. I called and spoke with Gene and he says they have not had an issue with this. This has to be BS. How do I get the correct fuel pump with the proper offset? I can't even drive my fricken car.

I just received my kit and the pump has the center inlet as well???? Maybe with all of us calling and addressing this, they'll realize the snafu.

I just received my kit and the pump has the center inlet as well???? Maybe with all of us calling and addressing this, they'll realize the snafu.

Dream on. I called them back in 01 or whenever it was that I first did mine. They've had 8 years to figure it out. Go look at the APE web site under LT1 fuel pumps - there is some pictures of them there all lined up.

Wow, so the direct fit Walbro pump came out back in '04? I'm buying A.P.E.'s LT1 kit and sending the Thunder kit back.

Sure enough, A.P.E. sent a Walbro with the off-center inlet. wtf Racetronix?

I will be interested to see what one i get, since mine will be arriving today.....

So i put my racetronix pump in the other and had no problems with the install. Overall i am pleased with the kit!!:D

Just to clarify what is going on here...

There has not been any change at our end with regards to the FLT1 pump assembly which thousands of other customers have bought and used successfully over the past 7 years. Please do not let misinformation from forum members or other vendors cloud the issue here.

We recently had a small production run of pumps which are having issues with seating in the bucket. We believe this has something to do with the o-rings and possibly the age of some plastic sender buckets which may have shrunk slightly with age due to immersion in fuel. So far we have only had TWO customers send their buckets in so we do not have a wide field of data to draw from yet.

If you have an issue with your pump seating properly, do not force it in place. Please contact support@racetronix.com with as much info as possible listed in our support link: http://www.racetronix.com/support.html

All pumps being shipped from Racetronix for the past few weeks are being double-checked for tolerance before they ship and we have NOT had any reoccurrences of this problem since.
New production pumps will be changed to allow for a wider variation in the bucket's inlet ID so that a good seal can be guaranteed with both new and old units.

Please be patient with us as we try to isolate and deal with this problem. Everybody will be taken care of and I am sure this will not be a problem again.

Our pumps have always sat on a SLIGHT angle in the bucket but the o-ring provides a perfect seal which prevents unfiltered fuel from shortening the life of your pump. We have done this for years with 100% success.
The F20000169 pump with the offset inlet forces one to use the old factory rubber seal which in most cases DOES NOT seal anymore because it is dry and shrunken.

We have had a number of customers e-mail us about having melted in-tank wiring at the pump or bulkhead connector. Due to the age of these cars it was only a matter of time this would start to happen. B-body and G-Body owners have been dealing with this issue on an increasing basis for a number of years now. To address this age-related issue we will be releasing a new bulkhead connector assembly just like our B and G-body units (http://www.racetronix.biz/itemdesc.asp?ic=BTL1-BCA&eq=&Tp=). This in combination with our new 14 gauge in-tank harnesses (supplied with all FLT1 pump assemblies) will replace ALL the potentially problematic factory wiring.

Thank you,

Jack :cool:

I wish I had read this email before the I tried to install the pump into the bucket. I have cracked the inlet to the bucket. How will this effect the operation of the pump? I can still feel the pump seat into the inlet when I place it into the bucket. It still has somewhat of a snug feel. I emailed Racetronix so I am waiting on a reply from them. This is my only car. Please chime in.

only way to get a fast response. i had to send my bucket in....this was 2 weeks ago and still waiting for it back...i was promised by friday and it is sunday now...

call them, i finally got there number. only way to get a fast response. i had to send my bucket in....this was 2 weeks ago and still waiting for it back...i was promised by friday and it is sunday now...

Were they going to fix the bucket? When you cracked your bucket, did your pump still fit snug? What happens if the inlet is cracked?

it will suck unfiltered gas...so defeats purpose of a filter at all. and yes it fit snug

it will suck unfiltered gas...so defeats purpose of a filter at all. and yes it fit snug

I am trying to understand how? Since the bucket is sealed where would it get the unfiltered gas from?

the pump sucks from a HIGH pressure. the returned gas goes into the bucket and would suck it

the pump sucks from a HIGH pressure. the returned gas goes into the bucket and would suck it

Oh, I see. Are they going to replace your bucket?

waiting for racetronix to fix it. since you can not buy a bucket new

I may just put seal all where the crack is and put the pump inside the bucket. I cannot wait as this is the only car that i have. Man, this **** sucks.

for your reference this is a known problem. the pump fits in the bucket fine. its the oring that cracks it because its to thick. i told them they need to use a smaller oring and they said they might have to start including 2 o-rings because some fit..some dont

the pump sucks from a HIGH pressure. the returned gas goes into the bucket and would suck it

Doesn't the return line have a filter that fits inside the bucket that filters the returned fuel? I just noticed this looking at the bucket. Also, the inlet has a screen around it also. I am not doubting what you have said, I am just trying to see what my options are because I have to get my car back on the road.

fuel can still swoosh around in the tank into the bucket...id be safe

Racetronix.....Hello?

did you not call them?

Yeah, I finally got in contact with them. I did not know today was a holiday in Canada so most of the people were out of the office/shop. They are going to take care of the situation. Thank you Racetronix!

Well, I received my new pump from Racetronix today. It does not fit! I had to pay for a used fuel pump assembly just to get another bucket. I don't know if I got a pump from a new batch that they were supposed to be shipping out but the date on my pump says 3-9-09. Racetronix, I am in a desperate situation here as this is my only transportation.

Sean Jones

Well, I received my new pump from Racetronix today. It does not fit! I had to pay for a used fuel pump assembly just to get another bucket. I don't know if I got a pump from a new batch that they were supposed to be shipping out but the date on my pump says 3-9-09. Racetronix, I am in a desperate situation here as this is my only transportation.

Sean Jones

This pump was machined and checked before it was sent out to you. We have a few test buckets here and all was OK. Perhaps we can give you a call tomorrow to find out what is going on. Perhaps there is something missing from the picture here?

How much pressure do I have to put on the pump to get it to seat? Should it just slide in place? If I take the o-ring off, the pump fits into the inlet.

How much pressure do I have to put on the pump to get it to seat? Should it just slide in place? If I take the o-ring off, the pump fits into the inlet.

A VERY small amount of pressure is required. Just enough interference to make sure the o-ring makes a seal.