Stupid fuel pump question

[MadRiver]

Ok, I'm the first to admit that my knowledge of a variety of basic automotive matters is lacking -- if it wasn't standard equipment on a Healey or Triumph, I'm a bit lost. Soooo, in playing around with my Sunbeam Tiger, I've discovered that the venerable old SU fuel pump was replaced with a fairly modern looking electronic fuel pump, that looks like a little cube of metal. I know nothing about these sorts of things, and I'm not even sure if its working properly.

Here's my question. On my Healey's SU unit, I turn on the key, the thing starts clicking, and then the clicking stops once the float bowls on my HD8s are filled up. Then I fire up the car, and as I drive, I hear an occasional "tick" from the fuel pump as it sends fuel forward on an as-needed basis. This little electronic cube on my Sunbeam starts clicking wildly and with much vigor the moment I turn on the car, and continues clicking at the same furious rate as I drive.

Is that how these little suckers work? Or has it been somehow fried from being way to close to the Tiger's exhaust?

Could it be that the real culprit is the float in my Edelbrock carb?

Any reason I can't just take that modern monstrosity and replace it with a new SU unit I have lying around?

Advice is most welcome.

 

[tony barnhill]

I've sween aftermarket electric pumps that clicked (or whirred) the entire time they were on.

 

[GB1]

I have just installed one in my BE. It is a solid state one that does click alot till the bowls are full, then still clicks slower with a quieter sound afterwards, Once the monster starts, I can barely even hear it. It cost only $40 and I wanted the reliability of a ss pump.

Pat

 

[DrEntropy]

If it's a Facett pump it'll click near-continuously, just a bit less loud when the pressure is being bled off as the engine uses fuel. The ones i've fitted to various cars have been very reliable. I mount them in the little rubber and studs 'baby-buggy-bumpers' used on VW Rabbits for radiator mounts. Benz diesels use 'em for air cleaner mounts too.

 

[Steve_S]

That's the way facet pumps are. They are noisy. You can install them on isolation mounts, which should get rid of most of the noise. Or go back to an SU pump.