300 C fuel pump dramas & battery bracket trap

["christopher beilby" <thelastbestgenius@xxxx>]

These two may help 300 C users.

1. Original fuel pump dramas - my car always lost the fuel if left unused 
for a period, it quicker to tip fuel down the rear carby to hurry it picking 
fuel up.

Then over last few weeks, it got worse. Pulled pump off (AC original I 
believe) - rubber diaphragm looked perfect, put it back on, worked a while 
but still bad.

Pulled it off again, looked closer this time - noticed one of ther valves 
seemed to have a very weak spring, you could push little flat disc in it 
very easily compared to the other.

Found a s/h Cadillac late 50s pump that had same valve body section, 
unsrewed it, swapped it onto 300 guts - works perfectly, sucks fuel quickly 
after standing. I felt pretty pleased. But before this, dramas of my own 
stupidity.

2. Over here in Australia 57 300s are not too common, likewise originasl 
battery retainers.

So in a hurry, I mount an aftermarket single clamp type across the battery. 
The battery dies eventually, and in a hurry, I chuck another battery in, it 
a bit taller, so I do not worry about the retainer.

About three weeks later, crossing a railway line at about 35 mph, the car 
dies, like it has lost ignition. Luckily I can coast into a car wash about 
40 metres ahead. By this time, the cabin is so full of electrical smoke, I 
cannot see. I grab the lead off the Battery, and then see what has caused 
the problem. I have left the upright rod that come out off the fender 
shield (Non original to fit non original retainer), and the bump has seen it 
fall vackwards and it has to be the exact correct length to jam on the front 
terminal of the voltage regulator - instant arc welder!!??

Like in about 15 seconds it had burnt/melted the heavy power wire running to 
the ignition switch via the ammeter, then the other heavy wire across to the 
light switch !!!!! About 3 hours hanging upside down under the dash etc, 
to rebuild/retape the wiring harness ??!!!

But now my 300 sings again, it always great to drive nearly it anywhere.


pps that new 300C in the latest club magazine looks nearly the most ugly 
car ever, talk about using the ugly stick, what are those styling guys 
smoking, taking!!??


aussie christopher

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