I have a puzzle. My classic Mini has rejected its fuel pump and is demanding a new one. But which one?
The car got a hot little 1293 engine in 1999 when it still lived in the UK. I don't know what year the engine came from, although it was out of a Metro. It's fitted with an HIF44 carb.
There are two fuel pumps for classic Minis (well, two that we're interested in here). AZX 1818 would have been the one that came on the car originally, and was used up to 1990. AZX 1817 was used on 1275 engines that have HIF44 carbs.
I have no idea what the difference is. The vendors use the exact same pictures for both pumps. I can't find any actual tech information on them, so I don't know if the difference is fundamental or trivial. I have the old pump disassembled and there are no part numbers that would indicate one or the other. My documentation for the engine includes all sorts of specifics but nothing about the pump. And no, you can't get rebuild kits.
Who knows Mini pumps?
https://www.minimania.com/Search_Results/azx1818/Parts
They look different, as far as I can tell. The 1817 info says it's installed with a spacer. This suggests the arm lengths may be different.
In David Vizard's book he suggests that mechanical pumps should not be used if the engine is above 90-95 HP.
Mechanical pump or the electric variety?
If electric pretty much any 3 psi pump will do the job. Im running a cheapo Napa sourced Facet pump but I do like the SU electric "thumper" pumps in a mini and they were factory installed in some cars and mounted on the rear subframe.
If mechanical then I would get the one for the 1275 block. Either of them will supply enough fuel. I know the 1275 block is taller but I don't think there are any differences below the deck.
Both the 1818 and the 1817 may require a spacer. Mini Mania doesn’t say that, but some of the others do. Skunk, that’s an older pump in that pic. Mine has the two separate towers.
Thanks, Jumper. I figured you might have some input. This is a mechanical pump. I’ll pick up one of the 1275 units.
Update from Mini Mania’s tech department: if the engine is an A+, you want the 1817 pump. Luckily, that’s really easy to ID visually.
