Fuel pressure regulator

3

38coop

Senior Member
On my 49 V8 project car I have a 12v electric low pressure fuel pump to use part time as needed. It is mounted on the driver side frame rail ahead of the rear wheel. I bought a Holley 1-4psi low pressure regulator to use. My question is do you think it will be okay to mount this regulator after the fuel pump on the frame? Thanks.
 
I don't think it matters where you mount the regulator between the pump and carburetor. It would probably be a lot easier to adjust the pressure if you needed to, if it was mounted under the hood, but would not look original if that's what your after.

Sal
 
38coop said:
On my 49 V8 project car I have a 12v electric low pressure fuel pump to use part time as needed. It is mounted on the driver side frame rail ahead of the rear wheel. I bought a Holley 1-4psi low pressure regulator to use. My question is do you think it will be okay to mount this regulator after the fuel pump on the frame? Thanks.
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If you have a low pressure pump there is no reason to have a pressure regulator, especially when it's a stand by pump.
 
51 MERC-CT said:
If you have a low pressure pump there is no reason to have a pressure regulator, especially when it's a stand by pump.
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That's what I thought and tried to do without the regulator. Unfortunately, the 1-4 lb pump pumps at 4 lbs and the carburetor float valve only handles 3½ lbs. So, I had to add the regulator, even for very brief use of the pump. Such brief use is usually not enough for me. I need at least a minute or two and usually longer, especially climbing mountains at high altitude, even in cool weather, the pump has to be run continuously.

I mounted my regulator in the frame rail just ahead of the pump.

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Ford Freak said:
So , what happens to the float valve with 4 lbs. of pressure ? Does it make the carb leak ? Float too high ?
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51 MERC-CT said:
If you have a low pressure pump there is no reason to have a pressure regulator, especially when it's a stand by pump.
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Old Henry said:
That's what I thought and tried to do without the regulator. Unfortunately, the 1-4 lb pump pumps at 4 lbs and the carburetor float valve only handles 3½ lbs. So, I had to add the regulator, even for very brief use of the pump. Such brief use is usually not enough for me. I need at least a minute or two and usually longer, especially climbing mountains at high altitude, even in cool weather, the pump has to be run continuously.
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I think a correction to my information may be in order. I know that when I installed the pump in my 51 I didn't need a regulator because the carburetor float valve in that year of car would hold more pressure. I had no problem running the pump continuously.

I don't know what carburetor a 49 has in it and whether it will hold 4 lbs. pressure. You would need to check the specs and see. You may not need a regulator. One good way to know is try it without and see what happens. If the carburetor doesn't flood you don't need a regulator.
 
Well , mine doesn't flood , and runs fine , so I guess I'm ok . ( 1.5 - 4 lb. pump ) It does however leak a bit , but I think that is an unrelated issue . Thanks for the reply .
 
I have the Holley low pressure regulator and it works fine MOST OF THE TIME. But, every so often I have to re-adjust that thing as it seems to have a mind of its own occasionally. Therefore, I would recommend that you put it somewhere easily accessible.
 
36bird: If your Holley regulator has a fluid filled gauge, empty the fluid from the gauge and it will read accurately all the time. At least that's what I found to be true.
 
36tbird said:
I have the Holley low pressure regulator and it works fine MOST OF THE TIME. But, every so often I have to re-adjust that thing as it seems to have a mind of its own occasionally. Therefore, I would recommend that you put it somewhere easily accessible.
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Be vigilant Lou. I had another brand regulator recently start acting the same way after 10 years of flawless operation. Then it decided to fail catastrophically. Resulted in an engine compartment fire that essentially fried all the wiring, gages, m/c etc, cracked glass, sheet metal distortion and bubbled paint.

Jack E/NJ
 
Ford Freak said:
Well , mine doesn't flood , and runs fine , so I guess I'm ok . ( 1.5 - 4 lb. pump ) It does however leak a bit , but I think that is an unrelated issue . Thanks for the reply .
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You don't say where your leak is but leaking from the air-horn gasket can be a symptom of too much pressure.
 
39topless said:
You don't say where your leak is but leaking from the air-horn gasket can be a symptom of too much pressure.
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The rebuild kit instructions refer to it as a " bowl cover gasket " . Is this what you mean by "air horn gasket " ? If so , I will check it out this weekend . It looked like it was leaking in the rear , at the bottom by the mixture screws . However , it could be running down there from the top , too . I'll take a good look . Thanks !
 
if you are going to use a fuel pressure regulator i would STRONGLY suggest that you consider using a Malpassi regulator, they are very accurate and durable. available on e-bay, i purchased mine from a company in England and had it in my hand in less than a week. i have not had much luck with Holley regulators.
tom
pressure%20regulator%20001_zpsxgcblf2t.jpg
 
Ford Freak said:
The rebuild kit instructions refer to it as a " bowl cover gasket " . Is this what you mean by "air horn gasket " ? If so , I will check it out this weekend . It looked like it was leaking in the rear , at the bottom by the mixture screws . However , it could be running down there from the top , too . I'll take a good look . Thanks !
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Yes
 
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