Carter fuel pump question

[SchieberRacing3]

What is the barbed fitting on the top of the pump for? Should a vaccum line be ran up to the carb from there?Don

[car62]

Hard to say without seeing it...but it could be a return line.

[Foghorn]

Those pumps were originally designed for marine applications. That fitting was connected with a line up to a vacuum fitting on the carb. The idea was if the pump diaphram started leaking
the carb would suck up the leaking fuel instead of it dripping into the bilge of the boat and causing a fire or explosion from dangerous fumes collecting in the bilge. 2.3 Fords were used by OMC in their inboard/ outboard applications like Mercruiser and Volvo use the 4 cylinder Chev engine. So to answer your question, you can leave it open or run it up to the carb. What works good is use one of those tiny fuel filters you see inside the tank of your weed whacker. Just shove one of those over the end to keep the dirt out. They are good pumps.

[SchieberRacing3]

Thank you -