[Malcolm Towrie]

John,
Congratulations on getting the old girl running!
Sounds like the fuel pump you were using to prime is a bit dodgy. If it gets worse, check out the fit/gap between the check valves and the pump housing. I removed the check valves and messed around lapping the disk 25 onto the seat 27 to no avail. I could only get about 2" Hg vacuum to pull fuel. Then I realized the valve could leak between the seat 27 and the fuel pump body since there is no gasket. I'm used to seeing a gasket here on other vehicles. Using some Aviation Gasket goop to glue the seat to the body increased the suck to 5" Hg, a big improvement. Hope it lasts.

Malcolm