andrew340

i just put in a new mechanical fuel pump and when i started the car i got this loud clashing sound. i too the fuel pump out and the arm seems fine. I didn't grease it before i put it in so i'm going to do that. My question is on a 65 mustang is there a push rod that i need to fit the arm against? Or do i not have to worry about that

jcthorne

On a V8 it rides on an eccentric on the front of the crank shaft, inside the timing cover. No pushrod.

Starfury

Check the spring on the pump arm. It should be very stiff. It's not uncommon for these springs to wear out/break and cause a very loud tap.

andrew340

when i first put it in i was having a hard time getting it in flush with the opening, when the arm is as far in as it will go there is about a 1/4 inch of space. can i just bolt it up and it will work itself out or what?

andrew340

alright got it in but something is still making a loud noise when it starts. it almost sounds like a band saw when you run something through it. when it's cranking the starter sounds great, it's just happening as soon as the car starts running. things i've recently done are new battery, coil, starter, and fuel pump.

gothand

Make sure you have the arm UNDERNEATH the eccentric on the cam. I'm not even sure if it is possible to get it in over the cam, but I imagine that it may make a racket. If it is really hard to get it in, bump the engine over a few times and try again (such that the eccentric is at or near the low spot).

andrew340

when i first put the arm in it wouldn't quite allign right so i did bump the engine like you said but i hand cranked it a few turns till it fit in better. i thought i had it in good for sure this time but it's still screeching

Aussie66Fastback

are you sure its the fuel pump that's making the noise?

from what you describe it sounds like it could be the starter to me.
if you have the wrong offset it can jam the starter gear into the flywheel ring gear and so the motor is turning the starter.

there is an inspection plate on the front lower part of the bell housing you can pull off to check

andrew340

hey aussie your good! before i read your message i pulled the starter to make sure it wasn't that and the gearing inside is f*cked up, it looks like the flywheel is still alright though. i got a remanufactured one at mustangs unlimited, should i just get a new one? the two remanufactured ones they had both look like they'd been dropped so that might be part of the problem.

Aussie66Fastback

assume you are talking about the flywheel not the starter.

the flywheel should be fine if no teeth on the ring gear are broken. if teeth are busted you can get the ring gear replaced if you want or get another flywheel.

the bigger issue is the starter - has it just broken teeth or is it jamming? If its jamming, it may be because there should be a spacer between starter and bell housing. My Falcon has one. My Mustang doesnt. Someone smarter than me will chime in with the differences

good luck