Pump Restoration Comparison
Not EVERY RESTORATION IS EQUAL

We may not be the only pump restoration option but we're pretty comfortable saying we're one of the best. From testing to plating to calibration, not a single part of the pump escapes our process.
It's not going to cost you an arm or a leg either. Our pumps come in equal-to or less-than the cost of most other options, even the one in the comparison pictures below.​
Take a look at our pump versus the results you'll get from the other guys.

CORRECT
INCORRECT

On the front of the pump we can see six screws highlighted in the circles. On the left they have been meticulously cleaned so they have the same finish as the pump body. On the right you can see they've been left as is. The front window plate should not be plated in the same material as the injectors. The plating material and color is also incorrect overall. Lastly, copper seals were used with the window plate screws instead of lock-washers. This changes the torque specs of the screws and does not provide the correct resistance which will lead to leakages in the future.

Here we can see the difference between the bright, light color of the zing-oxide on the left compared to the incorrect yellow plating on the right. We also can see the pump on the right has the screws plated where they should be left with their original finish seen on the left. The pump on the right is also missing washers which results in the ends of the screws extending further than intended which can be seen in an image further down the page.

Similar to the first image, you can see the screws on the left have been individually cleaned leaving them bright and looking new. We've also hand-installed new lead plugs. On the right the bolts are dirty with visible residue on the surface of the pump body. The lead plugs also have visible wear leading us to believe these bolts were never removed during the "restoration" process.

Here you can once again see uncleaned bolts and even some missing parts. It's possible the client kept this on purpose but a quality restoration should have replaced the old parts or requested the original to be restored alongside the pump. On the left you can also see copper seals used while the one seal present on the right appears to be a different material. Copper seals should be used where fluid is moving due to its elasticity and compression.

Above we have another example of incorrect yellow plating on the right. If you look on the interior of the openings, you can see very clear rust which has not been removed. Any rust from this area will contaminate the pump and engine, not to mention that rust in this area implies a lack of cleaning which we can only assume means we'd find the same in other hard-to-reach areas. This is a sign that the restoration did not necessarily ensure the interior of the pump was in good working condition and, at the very least, indicates a less-than-thorough cleaning process.

Here we see a number of examples of the incorrect color of the plating on the right. If you look closely you can also see that the gold color is more pronounced along the edges than in the center of the lever meaning the plating process was rushed and did not provide a consistent coating. We can also see the pins were not plated by their different coloring from the lever. Lastly, as you'll see in the next photos, the spring has not been plated and is missing its cover.

As stated before, we can see the missing spring cover on the right along with a gritty spring. The bolt, pin and nut have also not been plated.

On the left of the image you can see a bolt that hasn't been plated and is missing it's paint marking. You can also see the wax seal at the base of the cylindrical port has been replaced on the left while the old, worn-out seal remains on the right. You can also see different plating between the head, pin and shaft of the port on the left while the entire unit is plated on the right. These images also display the difference in plating well. On the left you have a shiny, reflective finish with subtle coloring while the pump on the right is yellow, relatively dull and rough, almost looking like spray paint in certain areas.

Here we see a number of plating inconsistencies. The hex bolt should not be plated while the lever pin should be. There are erroneous paint markings on the bolts holding the lever restrictor and incorrect large washers were used as well.

Once again we have some erroneous plating and lack of cleaning. The mounting plate appears to have surface rust and the screws are plated with zinc-oxide where they should be black-oxide. The large bolt on the end has also been plated in the past and shows wear indicating they did not strip or thoroughly clean this part. You can also see how rough and inconsistent the surface of the pump body is in the upper right of the righthand image.
These images show the altitude capsule as well as the cap and bolt. The altitude capsule on the right is actually spray painted and peeling which indicates it was not restored in any way. To see the extensive process our altitude capsules go through click the image above. The cap is painted red for some reason, shows wear and is not plated underneath the paint. The bolt on the rear side is also incorrectly plated.

Here you can see general surface wear indicating a lack of restoration. A layer of paint is peeling while the overall surface is stained and inconsistent. Markers also show this is an aftermarket part and not OEM.

This is another good depiction of the incorrect plating and surface debris found throughout the pump. You can also see the screw extends farther on the pump on the right due to missing washers on the front of the pump. It's unclear if these were removed during the restoration process or were missing previously but these should be replaced. You can also get a good idea of the pump surface in these images. The pump on the left is a consistent grey with regular texture and minor imperfections while the pump on the left has more inconsistent cavities packed with grime and even some surface scratches.

Here is a close up of the lever and lever assembly displaying incorrect plating, undesirable surface texture, inconsistent plating and the missing spring cover.

Here we see the solenoid. There is visible wear on the surface as well as rust on the end. Not only does this indicate a lack of cleaning but the rust could impact the function of the pump and the vehicle. You can also see the new gasket in between the solenoid and governor on the image to the left. On the right the gasket is worn and dirty meaning this was not replaced. It is likely the solenoid was not even removed during the "restoration".
The altitude capsule has multiple issues. It is spray painted rather than plated, shows extensive wear, and lacks paint markings from installation. It appears the altitude capsule hasn't been cleaned or restored and likely wasn't tested at all. Click the image above to see our extensive process for restoring altitude capsules.

This close-up reveals wear on the bolt. These can be easily replaced at low cost and exemplifies the lack of detail and cost-cutting commonly encountered.

Lastly we have another example of an old gasket left in place. Not only will this eventually lead to leaks and less-than-ideal running conditions but it indicates the governor was not removed during the service. This essentially means that the condition of the interior of the governor is unknown and any cleaning or calibration of the pump will be largely futile. There's no reason to go through this process without addressing the interior of the pump. Not only do you not know the condition of essential parts but calibrating a pump without ensuring correct operation leads to a wide array of potential problems, confusion and will lead to poor running conditions overall. Unfortunately there's no quick fix when it comes to fuel injection pumps and anyone that tries to calibrate a pump without ensuring correct operation is basically putting lipstick on a pig if not causing additional problems.
Overall the comparison pump was poorly plated and is aesthetically incorrect. Various parts are missing or incorrect and worn-out parts that should have been replaced remain. It seems that parts of the interior were completely unaddressed and despite never being installed on the vehicle following restoration, surface grime covers the majority of the pump.
Despite paying a premium, it's questionable this client's pump got any more than a quick clean and some calibration. Issues were evident enough that it was sent to us without even trying to run the vehicle. This is not to call anyone's work out but we think owners should know what they should expect and what it means for their classic. A "restoration" of this kind could leave you with a poorly running vehicle or worse, possible contamination from debris and rust could actually damage the engine. Further, if the pump is incorrectly calibrated, operation can lead to premature wear of essential parts in the pump and engine, meaning your meticulously restored classic will be back in the shop long before it should be if it ever runs well in the first place.