Fuel Pressure Gauge

... a little advice on gauges and not to get to complex. Liquid filled gauge absorbs vibration the best on an engine and a snubber will stabilize the needle for a more consistent reading.

Ron

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How did you think that one up?

Be prepared to buy a regulator. You'll find the stock replacements push a higher pressure than recommended, from 8psi to 11psi. Without anything to regulate the pressure, you will eventually experience flooding.

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Hey Marlin, who's throttle cable is that on your car?...

So now the hunt is on for a fuel pressure regulator!!! I saw a holly one that wasnt bad looking. Long as it works. Just have to buy some fittings for it.

Was out and about and stopped at 3 different auto part stores. None had a 0-15 psi fuel pressure gauge. South orange county has nothing. Go figure?? Not driving to santa ana in the rain. Guess I just order one online. Think there would be a speed shop somewhere down here that had it.

How about a Plumbing supply for a hydraulic hose supplier ?

http://www.summitracing.com/se...essure%20gauge&dds=1

Jegs should have them as well as Moon.

Edit: If you are running an electric pump you should use a regulator w/ a return. Mechanical pump should not need this. (experienced opinion)

Yeap ordered reg and gauge from jegs. Price wasnt bad. I did find one at an auto parts and it was 60 bucks for a filled 0-15 psi gauge. Plus the reg was not there so I just ordered of jegs. How bad can they be. If I have any trouble with them I can junk them. But Im guessing it will all turn out fine and I will have it set up like it should be. Just stopped raining so kinda wishing parts would come in so I can do some late night repairs.

So I received the parts. Gauge was good. No problem with that. I did not like the regulator too much. It was one of the round dial ones that you click into place for the amount of pressure you want. I had everything on so I could check the pressure. Pressure was good, but, after a while it dropped and ran bad. I messed with it for a while, clicked it up a notch and it ran better. But then after a bit it ran bad again. I took the reg off thinking maybe its just a POS, basically did the same thing. I have a clear plastic fuel filter that I replaced inline. I like the metals ones but I wanted to see what the fuel was doing. The filter never fills up all the way and it doesnt really look like a lot of fuel is pumping into it. It stays the same (about half full) the entire time even when running so it looks like the pumps pumping gas. I get some backfires out of the carb so Im thinking lean. Not enough fuel. The fuel pump is new but that could be a POS too. Im kind stumped on what to do or check. I did all the electrical checks, to make sure distrib and alternator were ok. Seams to me the pump is not pumping enough fuel. Am I crazy or what? I drive it down the street not too far in case I had trouble. It bogged whenever I gave too much gas. Any ideas whould help, I have time to check things out this month. Please help!!!

What year car do you have? The early models had a fuel pickup that extended to near the bottom of the tank. It tends to rust and the pin holes let the fuel pump suck air.

...If The Pump can't Build and HOLD Pressure!
The Pump is BAD! As Husker said..The Pump Suction May be Blocked(Would explain the Air Bubble in the Filter) OR The Pressure is Leaking past Bad Fuel FLOAT 'Needle and Seats'! Might Explain the Backfire-ing!
What kind of carb are You running?
Have You Observed the 'Pump-Shot' Down the Throats?? Use a Flashlight a Mirror and a Helper! While Your there You can Verify that the Throttles Open FULLY!...

I'll bet there is NO Pumpshot because the Pump ain't pumpin! Find the Reason Why!...

Its a 75. The pump I just replaced 3 weeks ago and yes I know that means nothing. I have an edelbrock carb. I could rebuild the carb. I will look into that. Can do the PUMP-SHOT check with the wife, if that doesnt kill me its a good start. The car sat for a almost a year. I checked inside the carb and it had some corrosion. Yeah I know yuck. Some kind of salty looking junk. I bet its inside too of course it is. Rebuild then I will see what it does. Then the pump again. I have a warranty on the carter pump I bought. I can exchange it for another dud. Guess I know what Im going this weekend. Thanks Jack and Husker

...I Don't know anything about Edelbrock Carbs!!
But if You have Corrosion on/in the Carb; You can bet that if there ARE 'Air Bleed' Orifices, They WOULD Be Blocked!!
WD-40 will Desolve Corrosion! And a Thin Piece of Wire will clear a Blockage!
In Fact, Clean and Lubricate The Entire Carburator!...

Did the carb clean and came out great. That was 2 months ago. Went to start it today and of course the fuel pump doesnt want to do its job. I can see no fuel pumping through my clear plastic inline filter. What a bummer, that fuel pump I only used the car 2 times since I put it in 3 months ago? Oh well guess I can take it out and do another one. Least I think its the only thing holding up the car now. Everything else is ok for now. Too bad that pump is not in a easy spot to get to. Thanks for all the previous help.

...Is the Fuel Tank Venting?? This may sound stupid...there's gas in the tank right? Just touching all the bases...

On that Edelbrock Carb!...Check for a 'Fuel Inlet' Filter, in the form of a fine screen. That could be clogged! Also Stuck Float(Closed position) and/or Clogged Needle and Seat...

IMHO "clear plastic inline filter" is a fire waiting to happen. Buy something better that can't melt...

I think you need to replace the fuel pick up assembly in the tank.

This sounds like a very similar situation to what I had?

The tube developes pososity in line in the tank. They are steel and this just happens with time and will all do this eventually.

Wilkinson has new ones for $170.

Yes I know about the plastic fuel filter but it has served its purpose for right now being able to see the fuel. I will change it forthright. Ok. I did change the pump anyway, I have become an expert I think at this one part replacement. No leaks, took the hose off the carb and turned it over and plenty of fuel. Before I did that I did crank it over a few times. I have a pressure gauge inline and it was reading 7. It stayed there even when I shut it off for 30 minutes. When I took the hose off the carb, yeap released the pressure. Im thinking now I have a blockage in the carb. Thats what it looks like to me. I get plenty of fuel and it pumps good. So Im guessing since Im no expert that its not the fuel pump or lines. I am taking off the carb and going to open it up and see if I can figure out what its doing. Sounds like a plan? Thanks btw. I never know if I should just take it somewhere but I rather have the torture to figure out what it is.

Just read your whole post...

To summarize, you have fuel in the bowls, right? But it backfires and bogs? I would check ignition timing (too late gives backfires and slight bogs) and accelerator pump/cam/shooter. Maybe start by looking down the carb with engine off, open the throttles, do you have two solid sprays of fuel?

Backfires and bogs are not caused by bad fuel pumps, bad fuel pumps either leave you stranded or makes you lose power at continuous high speed driving. Depending on how bad the pump is.

If I've misunderstood what your current symptoms are, please clarify.

Yes you are exactly right. I opened up the carb and the Carburetor Float Needle Valves were stuck in the closed position. So I had no fuel in the bowls and no fuel shot. Fixed it, put it back on and had the wife try to start it for better luck (sound crazy?). Fired up pretty easy. So my test run down the street was not as good. Yes some backfires and bog. Took it back and played with the timing some. Got it to where its running pretty good with no backfire and the bog seems gone. Wishful thinking? I was freaking scared to take it around the block since if I got stuck it would be kinda hard to get it home. Its a holiday weekend here. Feel much better about the whole thing until tomorrow when I attempt to take it around the block and a bit more. I am hopeful that putting a few miles on it will make it happy and get everything to work that much better. I should have drove it more after I rebuilt the carb months ago. Right now I have a smile and it will last at least till tomorrow.

Good luck!

Thanks much. The carburetor needle valves were stuck in the closed position when I took it apart yesterday. Today I went to start it, same thing as before. Pressure on the gauge but no fuel. I know the carburetor needle valve is stuck again. At least one of them. Have to take it apart again, clean the passage they go in really well and try again.

Sounds like that old carb is more trouble than it is worth. A good Holley is not that expensive. Might be worth peace of mind to solve that issue once and for all.

I was thinking about it until I remembered I bought this edelbrock last year. When I opened it up months ago to rebuild it since it sat for over 6 months, it was sticky inside. Lots of green. I cleaned it up pretty good except for the float valves sticking. Good thing about it is I know whats wrong. 90% of my worries gone since I know what it is. I cleaned the needle valves and the sleeves they go in today again and if fired right up. Ran good, so I will try it again tomorrow and the next day. If one of them sticks again I will go buy just the new sleeves and needle valves hopefully they sell them that way. I do feel pretty good about the whole thing. Just dont want to get stuck going arounf the block. So its testing for a few days and trying to get the new ones. Think its the best way to go for now. Next small project is troubleshooting the fuel gauge. Doesnt read anything. Will look up right now to get some help.

Sometimes you can spend too much time trying to fix a carb. Tried it many times. In the end I bought a new Summit carb, all problems gone, best street carb out there IMHO. They don't cost much more than a tank of gas does (over here)