2 strom. 97s and new electric pump and regulator

R

rozroost

Junior Member
Old electric pump quit. Installed new carter 2 to 4 lb pump and holley 1 to 4 lb regulator from mac's. Pressure guage only reads 2 lbs at idle with reg. wide open. TRY to go over 50 mph, engine starts missing and dieing out unless i back off and let the pump refill the carbs bowls. I have to limp back home. I again check pressure guage at idle, now pressure only reads 1 lb. It keeps changing. Is it the pump. the reg., fuel filter before carbs, gas tank plugged, or something else. Thanks! Rozroost.
 
I've got the same set up as you. There has been recent discussion of seeing variations in pressure so please search that out. Are you checking the pressure with the engine running?
 
If you are talking about the little chrome regulator with numbers to indicate pressure I was never able to get mine to work. I bought a Holly regulator-much bigger and more expesive-and mounted it on the frame rail. You can set it to what ever pressure you need and it maintains that pressure. You have to use a guage to set the pressure-no marks on the Holly. It is big thing-but it has worked for me. Hope this helps.
 
There is absolutely no need to run an electric fuel pump with any 2 carb set up, the mechanical fuel pump works very well.
 
roz,
Be sure both carbs are venting....the vent in a Stromberg is
the hole the accelerator pump rod goes thru. On dual setups I have
found the best pump is 4 to 7 psi. When both carbs are drawing fuel
the lowest pressure pumps cannot keep up. If you are running 12 volts
you cannot do better than a POSI FLO electronic pump available from
Carquest pt # 41-510 4 to 7 psi or 41-509 1 1/2 to 4 psi. Either of
these little gems are so accurate I no longer use the reducing valve
and the pressure holds steady. JMHO !
Charlie ny
 
roz,
I absolutely agree with Dick on mechanical pumps....however in my experience
if the customer wants an electric pump that is what he shall get !!
Charlie ny
 
The little regulators are not stable, pressure fluctuates. I replaced mine with a low pressure Holley. After that no problem.
 
Maybe I don't understand?? You said you have a Holley low pressure regulator yet several postings seem to indicate you do not have that?? What do they know that isn't in your question?

When you said you have the regulator "wide open" did you realize the adjustment is screwed inward for more pressure and outward for less pressure?

Remove the fuel line from the carbs and allow the electric pump to fill a bucket. You need about 1 gallon filled in 5 minutes. If less than that is coming through the regulator, remove it and test output ahead of the regulator. Continue the diagnosis regimen until you find the problem. Be sure to have fire extenguishers and all the non-sparling devices in place when performing tests.

Finally, there are MANY fuel and carb problems that are solved when the ignition system is fixed.
 
The fuel pump should be close to tank,no other pumps just electric.
I have mine set 2 1/2 lbs with 2 97s runs good 3/8 gas line new and clean.
 
JWL-my bad-I misread his post-I thought he was talking about the little chrome regulator. I have the holly and it has worked great for 10 years. I am thinking about installing the original mechanical pump.
 
from a luker. Just had basically the same problem. only one carb. If your carbs are new or different. it could be the float level in the carb. mine was. had used the wrong specs.
 
I have eliminated the coil. after tinkering with the holley press. guage she idles better and runs good until I ease it up to 55 mph and she starts missing and I have to back off on gas pedal to get back home. I have a glass inline filter in front of the carbs. I will remove it as soon as I can get the right fittings. I will let you no how I make out. Thanks for all advice! Rozroost
 
I'm back following what has transpired, so after today's posting it seems more like you dont have a fuel problem but more if an ignition problem as JWL alluded to. If you engine starts and runs well up to a higher speed then stumbles and runs again at a lower Rpm my next step would be to check the igniton system. Its hard to give suggestions when you don't give the specifics of the engine in your ride but here is a start, Clean and correctly set point and spark plug gaps, check vacuuum setting making sure it works and is not stuck and then check the advance plate setting. Before cleaning the plugs identify if they are running rich (sooty) or lean (dry white brown) this might direct you in a place to start.
 
Rozroost testing for the 3rd. time. I'v typed a reply for the 6th time and it tells me I'm not allowed yet these tests messages go thru. I give up.
 
I am running a 51 truck engine in my 1949 ford custom club coupe with 2 Strom. chromeplated 97s on top of an Edmunds custom polished aluminum intake manifold. 12 volt system with a mallory electronic distributor. Car ran great until my 10 yr. old electric fuel pump died, or so I thought. Installed a Carter 2 to 4 lb. elec. pump and a 1 to 4 lb. Holley fuel regulator from Mac's. With engine running and the reg. set screw turned all the way in (clockwise ) the guage only reads 2 lbs, even when revving. I assume the pump is not putting out 4 lbs. as advertised. I then pulled the plugs and cleaned them, they were black. With the engine running I set the reg. to 1 1/2 lbs. and took a ride. same result, ran good up to 55 mph , started to fumble and I backed down. When I back down she still fumbles and will not smooth out and I head home. I pull the plugs and they are black again. Acts like its starving but maybe its flooding. The coil is good, could it be electrical? Also when I pull the vacuum line from the intake mani. which operates my Vintage air heater/def., the engine revs up. I have run with this line on and off but engine still runs the same. I'm puzzled. I hope that makes my problem clearer. Thanks again! rozroost
 
Well, did you test for overall fuel volume as I described earlier?

The black, sooty plugs can be caused by either mis-firing as a result of ignition problems or over-rich mixture, or exhaust encroachment from a defective intake manifold. You will have to start somewhere with a diagnosis scenario. I suggest the fuel output test because it is easy.
 
If you got 10 miles per gallon should pump out of gas line 1 gallon in 60 sec. min.
With these electric ign best to keep the old dist handy.
I think its dist.
 
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