Milodon 14600 Gear Drive and Mechanical Fuel Pump Details/Specifics? 10-2020

I could not find anything recent on this. There is an old reply that pertains to the question, but no specifics are given.

I have a Milodon gear drive that I want to re-install using a mechanical fuel pump. There are no warnings about not being able to use a mechanical fuel pump with the gear drive in question on their web page or installation instructions. Yes, I plan to call them.

The timing cover has been clearanced to fit and a one piece fuel pump eccentric has been modified to fit.

I have an Edelbrock 1726 Performer RPM fuel pump.

There is very little clearance between the cam gear and the fuel pump arm. I can't clearly see the area in question so I used some modeling clay to get an idea of clearances. With a non-compressed (hand tight) timing cover gasket in place, the clay ends up being about the thickness of a razor blade. Not much.

As far as I can tell from pictures online, most of the 429/460 fuel pumps are using the same pump arm, and may in fact be the same fuel pump with different stickers on them. At least the "performance" pumps and some of the stock ones.

So, would anyone happen to know which mechanical fuel pump will work on a 429/460 with a Milodon 14600 gear drive?

The only other option running through my mind is to have something like 0.040" taken off of the fuel pump side of the cam gear assembly. Not sure of the consequences of this operation.

Thanks.

Maybe elongate the mounting holes in the pump and move it forward?

pmrphil wrote:Maybe elongate the mounting holes in the pump and move it forward?

That thought crossed my mind. Sure seems like a hokey fix though (with "fix" being used loosely).

It's also possible that if the gear is hardened, the incidental contact is OK. The fuel pump arm rides on the eccentric...

I am going to call Milodon today. Hopefully I can get an answer. If I get an answer, I'll update this thread with it.

So, I spoke with Steve at Milodon yesterday.

His answer was to oblong the bolt holes on the fuel pump.

The gear drive has been the same since it was introduced, I was hoping that maybe the newer ones were different from mine. It's also possible that the fuel pump arm has changed over the years.

I modified the bolt holes (took off maybe 1/16"- the thickness of a Sharpie marker line) and now have plenty of clearance.