photos by: Quick Fuel Technology
They both move fuel from the tank to the carb, but choosing the correct style of pump depends on the needs of each application. Â
In simpler times, carburetors relied on mechanical fuel pumps, and EFI engines required high-pressure electric pumps. Things arenât so simple anymore because times have definitely changed. Even the most beastly of electric pumps can struggle to keep pace with todayâs crop of 3,000-plus horsepower Outlaw and Pro Mod-style forced induction EFI engines.
At this level, belt-driven mechanical pumps are very much the norm. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the rise of late-model engine swaps has increased the popularity of electric fuel pumps at modest horsepower levels more typically associated with mechanical pumps. In between these two extremes, a typical street/strip application can make do with either an electric or a mechanical pump. So which is right for your car?