While I have the engine out of the Rogers this winter I'm gonna switch from mechanical to electric. My plan is to get a Holley Red Marine pump and mount it in the same location as the mechanical pump via a bracket that I found thru CP Perfomance. This bracket will allow me to mount the pump directly onto the block (passenger side on a BBC where the mechanical pump would be located) I told a friend about my plan (he is very vocal) and he says that this won't work. According to him, Holley Red pumps move fuel not suck fuel and since the tanks would be sitting higher than the elctric pump, my engine would starve for fuel and I run the risk of burning the pump out. Any thoughts? He suggests mounting the pump to the inside of the transom at either the same level as or higher than the tanks. If I had the room I'd do it, but I don't.

he's right.  they're pushers not suckers.  ideally you want the pump as close to the tanks as possible and LOW.  that way theres a siphoning like effect on the tanks and it always keeps the pump loaded.

14' to 16' from bow tank to pump, always held 6-7 p.s.i, even at 5500 rpm. All 3/8" S.S. hardline.

Daniel
Mash on it

My water seperator is really close to and at the same height as one of my tanks. I'm thinking that there's maybe a 2' hose from the tank to the filter. The supply line from the filter to the pump is pretty long. If the Holley Red is indeed a pusher, then I wonder if it will still work ok on my application. Maybe I should ask Holley?

Holley's are one of the few pumps that will suck fuel.  The red will support about 400hp...maybe a bit less.  I've always run the Chinese eBay 110gph Holley clones in my boats and just carry a spare, because water kills them before the fail for Chinese reasons. 

Mallory pumps won't self prime for shit IME,  haven't used many others. If one Chinese Holley won't run it, I just use 2.  A Holley type pump would work fine for your application.

I have used a Holley electric fuel pump to suck oil out through the dipstick before. If it will suck 12 quarts of cold 40 weight oil out through a dipstick tube I have a hard time believing that they don't suck.

While I have the engine out of the Rogers this winter I'm gonna switch from mechanical to electric. My plan is to get a Holley Red Marine pump and mount it in the same location as the mechanical pump via a bracket that I found thru CP Perfomance. This bracket will allow me to mount the pump directly onto the block (passenger side on a BBC where the mechanical pump would be located) I told a friend about my plan (he is very vocal) and he says that this won't work. According to him, Holley Red pumps move fuel not suck fuel and since the tanks would be sitting higher than the elctric pump, my engine would starve for fuel and I run the risk of burning the pump out. Any thoughts? He suggests mounting the pump to the inside of the transom at either the same level as or higher than the tanks. If I had the room I'd do it, but I don't.

Why do you want to change from a simple, reliable mechanical pump? 

Upgrade is a relative term, not to be confused with "change it cuz I want to"

You'll find that manufacturers are going to recommend mounting an electric pump as close as possible to the fuel source. 

Most electric pumps will not have a problem pulling enough fuel to supply a moderate big block even if the pump is not very close, because it should be receiving plenty of fuel through the siphon effect.  If you start trying to run a large amount of fuel on a regular basis you might see a problem (very big inch, multi-carb, high RPM, ect...).

I do agree with Barry, that there is no good reason to replace a mechanical pump just because it's mechanical.  I currently run an electric pump because the boat came with one and when it needed replaced I didn't want to have to replumb everything.