Kugelfischer Specialist Smackdown - who to go to for rebuild

[Rooncicle]

I've decided to get my kfish pump rebuilt while the pros are still open for business. my choices are Gus Pfister and Jerry Fairchild. Fairchild pros:

significantly less expensive - $800 for pump and test/clean injectors

fast-ish turnaround time - maybe a month and a half?

 

Gus pros:

Seems to be considered the best by members of this forum, knows the pumps inside and out, and has been doing this for decades

 

From what I've found online, it seems like Gus produces showroom (or as close as possible depending on the pump) quality and cuts no corners, but that comes with the ~$1400 pricetag. Honestly, I just want to get the pump into fighting form so it'll run for another 40 years, no need to be showroom worthy. Both are open to coming down on the price a bit in exchange for a spare pump that I have.

 

All that being said, thoughts/experiences/insight?

[markmac]

Do you know for sure that your pump needs to be completely re-built?  Just thinking that maybe you need a test to see what it is/isn't doing and go from there (maybe i missed that part of it?).  I had Fairchild rebuild a '73 tii pump a long long LONG time ago (when he was in Socal still), nice job, worked just as it was supposed to.  I live in the SF Bay area now and about 20 mins from Gus' place so I use him now, and had him test my Schnitzer race pump (didn't need to be rebuilt, just sealed.....), injectors and some new fabricated fuel lines.  It may not be as bad as you think, maybe just a test and a seal/clean.  I don't think you can go wrong with either.  Good luck

 

 

[PaulTWinterton]

Third alternative: Wes Ingram.  $1125.00  www.wesingram.com

 

Complete dismantle, rebuild and calibration.

 

Also been doing it for decades.  75 day turnaround.  Also has intimate knowledge of KFish street and race pumps.

 

My pump before and after:

 

 

 

Short vid of bench test:

 

 

 

 

Edited February 22, 2017 by PaulTWinterton

[Rooncicle]

37 minutes ago, markmac said:

Do you know for sure that your pump needs to be completely re-built?  Just thinking that maybe you need a test to see what it is/isn't doing and go from there (maybe i missed that part of it?).  I had Fairchild rebuild a '73 tii pump a long long LONG time ago (when he was in Socal still), nice job, worked just as it was supposed to.  I live in the SF Bay area now and about 20 mins from Gus' place so I use him now, and had him test my Schnitzer race pump (didn't need to be rebuilt, just sealed.....), injectors and some new fabricated fuel lines.  It may not be as bad as you think, maybe just a test and a seal/clean.  I don't think you can go wrong with either.  Good luck

 

 

 

That would be great if it only needed some minor servicing, but I've not had it looked at or bench tested yet so I can't say. My car has very little known history, so I've been wanting to get the pump serviced - and rebuilt if warranted - to establish sort of a clean slate in the pump department. And really, since there's a limited supply of KF pros, I would feel better about getting the work done - whatever it may be - sooner than later. 

 

Are the fabricated fuel lines from Roger's tii? I forget the other shop that sell a fabricated set.

[Rooncicle]

5 minutes ago, PaulTWinterton said:

Third alternative: Wes Ingram.  $1125.00  www.wesingram.com

 

Complete dismantle, rebuild and calibration.

 

Also been doing it for decades.  75 day turnaround.  Also has intimate knowledge of KFish street and race pumps.

 

My pump before and after:

 

 

 

Short vid of bench test:

 

 

 

 

dang that pump looks nice. was it not necessary to send in the KF gear wheel in with the pump?

[PaulTWinterton]

1 minute ago, Rooncicle said:

dang that pump looks nice. was it not necessary to send in the KF gear wheel in with the pump?

 

Picture really doesn't do it justice.  No, no need to send sprocket.

Another pic on engine:

 

[jgerock]

Whatever you decide to do, do NOT remove that side pinch bolt and lever.  It is indexed to the KF pump cam.  My 73 KF pump was rebuilt by Jerry Fairchild about 2008 (via Rob Torres). Pump was perfectly fine - just needed new gaskets. 

[ray_]

Here's another choice. They did mine.

 

In 1987.

 

 

http://www.precisionautoresearch.com/PERF_ENGINEERING_SRVCS/PAR-KFpromoposter.pdf

 

Cheers,

[Rooncicle]

Anyone have before/after pics of Fairchild's work? 

[lilmo]

41 minutes ago, ray_ said:

Here's another choice. They did mine.

 

In 1987.

 

 

http://www.precisionautoresearch.com/PERF_ENGINEERING_SRVCS/PAR-KFpromoposter.pdf

 

Cheers,

Yep.

[Son of Marty]

I'll second Wes Ingram's work I think all three mentioned will do a great job.

[ColinK]

I'll third Wes and agree that the others will do a great job. These are guys that have been in the business for years and know their art and trade. 

I choose Wes since he's local-ish to me and I love his clean shop. He's mainly an Alfa/Spica man though. 

Good luck

[OriginalOwner]

I recommend a full-on rebuild, just because right now it is simple to accomplish.  When I had my engine rebuilt a couple of years ago I did not rebuild the KF, after all, it had been working just fine for 240,000 miles ..... what could possibly go wrong.

 

2,000 miles later, "wrong" happened and I'm on the side of the freeway calling a tow truck.

 

Fairchild did the work.   And I've seen it written somewhere (here on the FAQ perhaps) that some folk(s) recommend a rebuild at 100,000 miles "just because" ...... so I was well over double that distance, perhaps in some "KF danger zone" ??

 

Cheers,

 

Carl

 

[JerryC]

Jerry Fairchild serviced my injection pump and tested the injectors two years ago. I haven't yet installed it, the rest of the engine still needs work. I have never been satisfied with the performance of my tii, so I had the pump and injectors tested and calibrated. It also leaked, so all the seals were replaced. I degreased the pump myself before sending it, and it came back looking pretty much the same, but cleaner. The oxidation and permanent discoloration are still there, but it now looks like it came out of a 45 year old regularly-driven, well-cared-for engine. You won't get the replated parts that the more costly shops provide. The pump and injectors were returned to me in about 4 weeks with test results graphs and some notes. The entire process was easy and confidence inspiring. Jerry answered all my questions, phone communication seems to be best with him.

[gracer]

I had my street car's pump done by Gus back in 87.  It is still working great.  My race car's pump was done by Wes back in 97.  I no longer use that pump but it worked as advertised.

Be sure to send the injectors with the pump as they are part of the system.  G