What fuel pump would you guys recommend I go with...completely stock car other than Ls1 maf and translator but I will eventually be getting bigger injectors (nothing huge...42-55) , chip, turbo, etc. and I want to go ahead and get one that will support a setup like that. Thanks
Fuel Pump...
- Thread starter sams86gn
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Just received my pump,wire kit,and sending unit from ractronix. Looks solid. Read everything the vendor you buy from has posted on their sight. Different sending unit for the same year cars. I went with Racetronix and they were very helpful with my order. Will post an update after install is completed.. my 2 cent worth
Boost231 said:no this cant be true, hahahahaa
What? Am i wrong? The op said he will get a reds pump as opposed to a walbro cuz he heard walbro has had "issues". It sounds as though he doesnt know that reds is a walbro. Just letting him know so he can make an informed choice.
If i'm wrong, i'll be glad to take correction, but i've done a crapload of research on this lately. I just bought a couple walbros myself!! I wasnt trying to be negative towards anybody.
Racetronix
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There are no issues with the Walbro pumps we use for Buick apps PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Swap out your old factor sender while you are at it!
He was being sarcastic
you sir are correct. My post was for the people who believe reds pump is better even thou its still a walbro pump.
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Jack, I know you have sold Walbro pumps for years, and many of them had no issues.
But over the years, especially the past 2, I have replaced many Walbro pumps with issues, or completely dead, that were only months old, and no vendor was willing or able to provide any replacement or compensation.
Hopefully the newer pumps are better, but there are a few very good pump alternatives out there for Buick besides Walbro.
Racetronix
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Jack, I know you have sold Walbro pumps for years, and many of them had no issues.
But over the years, especially the past 2, I have replaced many Walbro pumps with issues, or completely dead, that were only months old, and no vendor was willing or able to provide any replacement or compensation.
Hopefully the newer pumps are better, but there are a few very good pump alternatives out there for Buick besides Walbro.
Nick, this is in response to your previous comments.
I know exactly what it costs to have these Chinese pumps land on our shores. Maybe you are only making 8% at your level but I can assure you that the Chinese factory is charging the importer no more than twenty odd USD for them. That being the case it is very easy for these US distributors to offer a warranty when they are making 400-800% margins on these pumps. I have countless samples and Chinese suppliers trying to court my business many of whom I have engaged at AAPEX over the years. Aeromotive Stealth pumps, which are made in China, are scrutinized/tested back in the USA. I am not sure what sort of Walbro numbers you sold but out of the thousands we sell here every year less than 1% fail which includes the ones customers manage to screw up. It does not help that many Buick owners install new pumps in 25 year-old rusty tanks/senders. I do agree that Walbro dropped the ball on the F20000169 pumps and certain heads did roll at Walbro but the damage was already done. Thankfully, Racetronix never sold any of those questionable pumps.
People keep pointing their finger at Walbro for lack of a proper warranty program but there is a bigger picture here. Years ago, Walbro cut off all their small distributors and handed over their HP product line to one master distributor who did not have the resources to support it. Walbro extends a discount to their master distributor factoring in a projected warranty claim rate. It was this MD’s responsibility to deal with warranty claims. This in combination with the lack of scrutinizing dealers has driven the margins down on Walbro pumps to the point where liberal warranty programs cannot be sustained by the distribution channel. Many years ago, Walbro pumps sold for the better part of $200US yet costs have increased and prices have dropped to less than half. Recently MAP pricing was introduced on some new Walbro products but many resellers have no concept of fair market value and the margin it takes to support a product. There are simply too many eBay sellers operating out of daddy’s basement and the horse has long left the barn.
I have no great love for how Walbro runs their business or how they manage their distribution channel. As with many multi-billion dollar US corporations, TI/Walbro is knee-deep in red tape and they treat their HP aftermarket business like an afterthought. That being said we still have great success with their GSS340M and GSS294M pumps. Dollar for dollar they are still a good value and it helps keep Mr. Smith putting bread on his family's table in the good ole' USA. Walbro's new 386LPH and 416LPH E85 turbine pumps, which are variations of OEM models, are much better than these china-made pumps and will eventually gain market acceptance. US-made turbine pump technology has been around for a long time. Turbine fuel pumps tolerate contamination a bit better b/c they do not use tightly meshing gears. The plastic turbine discs are much cheaper to produce than Walbro GSS gear-rotor pumps. This is why we do not see HP gear-rotor pumps made in China.
Nick, I understand your point of view and how you have a bone to pick with Walbro but the Buick market is very small and therefore does not afford its application-specific vendors the scope required to pass global judgment on Walbro product using F20000169 pumps exclusively. On the other hand, if you were to carry our GSS294M pumps and SS senders then we could extend you a warranty. I can guarantee you margins much greater than the 8% you quoted.
As per your previous statement on this board, I have no more blind affection for Walbro pumps than you do for these Chinese pumps. When these Chinese pumps are at the quality level where I do not feel we have to test every one in-house and they are proven on the market for a few years perhaps Racetronix will consider house-branded models. Based on our tests they are still hit and miss and I do not feel dedicating the resources to deal with them is justified given the options available to Racetronix.
Racetronix
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Thanks Jack, your post was very informative, and provided some welcome insight for all concerned.
Also, I could not agree with you more about the 25 year old senders causing issues and even help killing pumps with low voltage because of their marginal connectors and wires.
Also, I could not agree with you more about the 25 year old senders causing issues and even help killing pumps with low voltage because of their marginal connectors and wires.
Howling Mad
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You know it's funny that people on this board bicker nonstop about walbros and dw's and the vendors that sell them don't. Well it made me giggle.
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Thanks for your post.
Jack and I have dealt with each other for years, and we do have mutual respect for each other.
We also share a common goal of supplying our customers the best product available that will suit their needs and budget.
Just because we may provide different products, it does not make one item better or an other one worse, just different in most cases.
We are both open and want to find/develop new and better products and methods that will improve performance and reliability.
This will NOT work if vendors bicker among themselves, we are all trying to help, and hopefully make a few $$$ so we can continue with our business which provide you with products and service.
