Priming Bulb for 356C

[Wyatt Blankingship]

I am planning to install a priming bulb to speed up starting my engine after the car has been sitting for a while. Every brand I have looked at has plastic hose barbs. I would prefer a bulb that has metal barbs for strength reasons since it will be located in the engine compartment. Is such a bulb available? If not, what is a recommendation for a good brand to obtain.
Thanks, Wyatt Blankingship

[Gary Carriveau]

post deleted

[Jeffrey Leeds]

That's a reasonable concern, but you could also extend the same concern to the rubber squeeze bulb as well. Having said that these are commonplace in the marine arena and, for one, West Marine carries these as kits in several line diameters. Most importantly, make sure that the hose and bulb is rated for use with ethanol gasoline.

[Dick Weiss]

Wyatt,

I've never added such a unit as I always prime the oil thru the engine 1st vs a dry startup! Just make sure the carbs are set to specs (injections), fuel pump works w/proper output, engine tuned to specs, and a good battery. Even w/an electric pump, I wouldn't start the engine (my 4-cam) w/o oil priming for about a minute before a 'fire-up'.
On Saturday--after a 2-week 'sit', the '58 N Speedster I was servicing (w/outside temp @ 28F--47F in the garage, tho) was started w/in 35 seconds; the owner said after a 1/2 year's sit, it took a little longer, but it started OK.

Dick

[Dave Wildrick]

I am planning to install a priming bulb to speed up starting my engine after the car has been sitting for a while. Every brand I have looked at has plastic hose barbs. I would prefer a bulb that has metal barbs for strength reasons since it will be located in the engine compartment. Is such a bulb available? If not, what is a recommendation for a good brand to obtain.
Thanks, Wyatt Blankingship

I've been using these bulbs for about 12 years now in both of my C coupes. I've tried Attwood, Moeller, and SeaSense brands. I have not noticed much difference in how they work or their longevity, so I would not say one brand is better than another. They seem to last for around 3-4 years before they harden up and get tough to squeeze, which is when I replace them. Current ones are alcohol resistant, if you read the fine print. Wal-Mart used to sell the SeaSense bulb for about $6 or $8, but I believe prices have gone up on all brands.

I just checked on Amazon, and I find the Attwood bulb (5/16 inch fittings), which specifies alcohol-resistance, for $13.57 (with Amazon Prime, free 2-day shipping if you are a member).
See: http://www.amazon.com/Attwood-Universal ... ulb+5%2F16

I locate the bulb at the rear of the engine compartment and suspend it off the "deck" with wire ties, to keep it further from any hot sheet metal parts. I have never experienced any softening of the plastic bulb fittings or any fuel leaks from them.
Unlike professional mechanics, some of whom seem to experience no evaporation of fuel from the carb bowls when the car sits for weeks and whose cars are always in tune, both of my coupes (with the unorthodox and unloved by many, Weber IDF40s) seem to require lots of cranking that runs the battery down if I don't use the squeeze bulbs to refill the carb bowls prior to starting. So, I will continue to use them because they work for me.

[Jeffrey Leeds]

I also sourced my priming bulb from Walmart's sporting goods section for my previous '65C which, if it wasn't driven almost daily, would suffer from dry carburetors. My 6V system would run out of cranking boost quickly, even with a fresh battery, and the priming bulb just made everything easier.

[Martin Benade]

It is nice that Amazon has set up Amazon Prime , I am guessing it is specifically for selling priming bulbs. That is real service.

[Ron LaDow]

It is nice that Amazon has set up Amazon Prime , I am guessing it is specifically for selling priming bulbs. That is real service.

http://instantrimshot.com/

[Martin Benade]

That is great- I selected an appropriate one to razz myself, from you.

[Wyatt Blankingship]

Thanks to all for you input on priming bulbs. You have all been a real help.
Wyatt Blankingship

[Dennis ODonnell]

It's not a boat. How about something that looks like it belongs there?

<http://www.precisionmatters.biz/primer-reservoir.php>

Never one to beat his own drum.

[Gary Carriveau]

When will these be back in production???

Gary
'64 C Coupe

[Fred Gruendig]

I would like to see an integrated shut off valve on the output side. If I don't use my car for several weeks I let the carbs run dry before I shut it down.
Fred

[Jeffrey Leeds]

Dennis, the nice thing about Ron's primer is that even though it "looks like it should be there" most observers cant see it's being there.

[Mickey Murfee]

Wyatt,

Here's a picture of the bulb instillation on my C coupe. Origionally it had a loop of new fuel line, but I recently fabricated a new line out of truck steel brake line as recommended by Ken Dougherty. The new line before the bulb attach point is shorter and more elevated than factory line. So far it works well, doesn't get hot, and no fuel leakage.