Reply to "STRIP DOMINATOR INTAKE"

HERE'S A QUESTION! SINCE MY 13.0 MILES PER GALLON SEEMS TO BE KIND OF ON THE LOW SIDE. ON MY 74L CLEVELAND WITH STOCK CAM (.480/.490 LIFT), AFTERMARKET HEADERS AND WITH THE ABOVE MENTIONED TORKER II AND HOLLEY 750 VAC, SEC. HERE GOES: I INSTALLED THE HOLLEY MECHANICAL (STREET) FUEL PUMP. NOW THE LITERATURE CLAIMS A MAXIMUM OUTPUT OF NO MORE THAN 7.0 PSI, AND THAT A PRESSURE REGULATER IS NOT NEEDED. NOW IN THE PAST I HAVE READ THAT THE HOLLEY NEEDLE AND SEAT ARE ONLY GOOD TO HOLD BACK 6.0 PSI! MY QUESTION IS THIS; IS THE PUMP PUSHING/WASTING EXTRA FUEL PAST THE NEEDLE SEAT CAUSING AN OVER-RICH CONDITION AND THEREFORE KEEPING ME FROM OBTAINING A HIGHER MPG? THERE IS NO BLACK SMOKE AT ALL, COMING FROM THE EXHAUST, AT FULL ACCELERATION OR AT ANY OTHER TIME!! BUT IT DOES FEEL LIKE IT COULD BE "DOWN" ON POWER. I DO HEAR A SLIGHT "BURBLE" DURING HIGHWAY CRUISING, AND AT IDLE (1000 RPM, AS PER THE "SMOG PLATE" INSTRUCTIONS). THE ENGINE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE AT A "MILD LOPE", BUT PERHAPS AN INCONSISTANT "RICH MISS", THIS SOUND IS ALMOST UNDETECTABLE. WOULD INSTALLING A HOLLEY REGULATER SET FOR 5.5 TO 6.0 POUNDS MAXIMUM, HELP IMPROVE HERE. I HAVE NOT AS YET OPENED UP THE CARB TO SEE IF THE PRIMARY JETS MAY BE TOO LEAN. I HAVE ADJUSTED THE IDLE SCREWS FOR THE BEST "POSSIBLE" IDLE. PERHAPS I WILL JUST HAVE TO TRY IT OUT AND REPORT BACK WITH MY FINDINGS! ANY IMPUT IS CERTAINLY APPRECIATED! THANKS LOADS, MARLIN.

[This message has been edited by MARLIN JACK (edited 08-14-2002).]