Please help I am stumped ! Engine surging high rpm

Guitarhead

Seaman Apprentice
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Jun 28, 2021
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Well boat got over heated water pump belt broke didn’t know it . Smoking , pegged out on temp gauge .

took boat home and worked on it . I have changed the oil and filter . Put a new electronic fuel pump , new lines and filter . Installed new spark plugs and ignition coil .

the boat will start fine and idle fine . When it hits 2000 rpm under load the boat will surge and miss .

it is a 1973 454 bbc
Please help, do you think it’s internal ?
 

Guitarhead

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Jun 28, 2021
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Ok I put a new eldebrock micro electric fuel pump rated for 3-7 psi . Gauge is before it goes in carb . It was getting same reading with mechanical pump . You think line is clogged ?
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Why not just get a new mechanical fuel pump?
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Trying to modernize boat
A mechanical fuel pump is $45 and is going to last decades, where an electric fuel pump will cost you $85 and requires $15 worth of relay, oil switch and wiring to be compliant and lasts about 5-7 years

You want to modernize, thats fine, but be smart about it. Electric fuel pumps should be used only when you have a block without a fuel pump mounting boss
 

Guitarhead

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I’m still stuck on what the problem is . Should I check compression ? Or could it be issue in carb ?92ED49E0-4671-4012-A13D-2B93E27A5625.jpeg
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Check compression

measure fuel pressure when under load, not just at idle.

Not sure that fuel pump is marine rated
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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If a fuel pump on a truck leaks fuel vapors, they drop and are dissipated. If a fuel pump on a boat leaks fuel, it sits in the bilge. And if that fuel pump isnt SAE J1171 compliant, you meet god
 

Nextelbuddy

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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I’m still stuck on what the problem is . Should I check compression ? Or could it be issue in carb ?View attachment 346265
I'm not gonna repeat anything about is this or that marine rated, there's enough others that that do that.

1st get rid of that second fuel filter on the inlet of the Edelbrock micro pump. You don't need it you already have the fuel water separator.. extra fuel filter isn't helping.

The fittings on the mercruiser fuel water separator filter is 3/8 hose barb.. the Edelbrock micro filter unfortunately has 5/16 hose barb. You need to get a 1/8npt to 3/8 hose barb fitting for the inlet side and for the outlet you need a 5/16 hose barb to 3/8 hose barb fitting to adapt from 5/16 to 3/8 hose to the carb.


2nd I just installed a "marine" Carter fuel pump and it's garbage. Only 3 psi at idle and at 2500 RPMs struggles.

I installed the same pump as you and now I get 4 PSI at idle and 5-5.5 psi at 2500 RPMs. Make sure you do wire in a relay and oil pressure safety switch..if you just wire the fuel pump to ignition 12v then your fuel pump will just run all the time even with the engine off and we don't have fuel return to tank so that's bad for the carb and can flood the system.

3rd make sure your fuel pump isnt more than 24 inches above the top of your fuel tank..it can struggle to pull fuel through 2 filters and against gravity if it's too high.

4. I think it's your carb... I had the same problem in my old boat where under load it would break up or die and I had to ease through the throttle to get it on plane .. sometimes that didn't help. I ended up replacing the carb and problem was solved.


The only difference between the "Marine" Carter fuel pump and the Edelbrock micro pump besides the fact that the Edelbrock one just works...is that the Carter one had rubber boots that insulated the electric connection to the posts...

The Edelbrock one has the wires coming through the body and it's a sealed unit so I have no issues running this non marine fuel pump. There is no spark risk with this pump since I made sure to use marine heat shrink male/female bullet style connectors with sleeves and as long as you run it with a relay and oil safety switch.

For starter and alternators that is something I do recommend making sure you get marine grade
 
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