Returnless TBI?
#1
Returnless TBI?
I'm thinking of converting my 350 TBI motor to a returnless fuel system. My plan is to remove the stock regulator and plug the return line port. Also, replace the electric fuel pump with a mechanical piston pump and deadhead regulator from www.racepump.com. Maybe a schraeder valve fitting where the return line used to be would allow you to 'bleed' the system to purge air etc?
Some people have suggested that vapor lock may be a problem with this setup. What do you folks think?
Some people have suggested that vapor lock may be a problem with this setup. What do you folks think?
#2
Supreme Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Buckhannon, WV
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
2 Posts
Car: 84' Monte
Engine: 350
Transmission: 700-r4
Axle/Gears: ferd 9" posi 3.50 gears
Your going to spend an awful lot of money for very little benefit. What do you hope to achieve with this setup? If you want to be able to have better (wider) control of your fuel pressure you can do like you suggested only use a return type regulator on the frame, then run the pressure line to the TBI unit from your regulator. It gets hard to find springs that will let you get much higher than 20 psi with the stock regulator. This takes care of that. A walbro 190 will support any amount of power that TBI will be able to support.
#3
I like the idea of the mechanical pump. What can I say?
Right now I have a Walbro pump on the frame rail, but since it is installed on a Jeep the pump isnt located below the pickup. It seems to have trouble priming when the truck has been sitting for a while... I was going to install an in-tank pump from a later model jeep but I hate the idea of trying to drop the tank in the bush when the fuel pump craps out.
I know the race pump is spendy but that aside, what do you think of dead heading the TBI pod?
Right now I have a Walbro pump on the frame rail, but since it is installed on a Jeep the pump isnt located below the pickup. It seems to have trouble priming when the truck has been sitting for a while... I was going to install an in-tank pump from a later model jeep but I hate the idea of trying to drop the tank in the bush when the fuel pump craps out.
I know the race pump is spendy but that aside, what do you think of dead heading the TBI pod?
#4
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Chasing Electrons
Posts: 18,432
Likes: 0
Received 225 Likes
on
211 Posts
Car: check
Engine: check
Transmission: check
I have run a standard SBC mech pump on a TBI as a returnless system. The MY '67-'69 pump didn't have a vapor return line, just an inlet and an outlet. Pressure was in the 8-9 psi range. If I did it again I would run a return line and use something such as the 14 psi Edelbrock race mech pump.
I did have an issue with vapor lock. The cause was cold weather fuel in a warm (hot) weather environment. No problems all Summer. Then Fall came, a month of cold weather, a tank of cold weather fuel, and the temperature went into the low 80's.
Of course it would only flash the fuel while sitting in traffic. Got used to pushing the car off the read
So, I tie-wrapped a rag over the fuel pump and carried water with me. Even wrapped the fuel line going to the pump. Then soaked them down before heading anywhere. Shortly thereafter a return line went in. Followed by an electric pump some time afterward.
RBob.
I did have an issue with vapor lock. The cause was cold weather fuel in a warm (hot) weather environment. No problems all Summer. Then Fall came, a month of cold weather, a tank of cold weather fuel, and the temperature went into the low 80's.
Of course it would only flash the fuel while sitting in traffic. Got used to pushing the car off the read
So, I tie-wrapped a rag over the fuel pump and carried water with me. Even wrapped the fuel line going to the pump. Then soaked them down before heading anywhere. Shortly thereafter a return line went in. Followed by an electric pump some time afterward.
RBob.
#5
Supreme Member
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Moorestown, NJ
Posts: 9,962
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt w/ 3.23's
RBob, where the pulsations from the pump ever an issue? It seems like one would need a pulsation damper when using a mech. fuel pump with fuel injectors.
#6
Hey Everyone,
Thanks for your replies, I appreciate it
Rbob,
Do you think a return line from the pump (or from a deadhead regulator inline before the TBI in my case) would be good enough, or would the return have to come from the TBI as it did from the factory?
Thanks for your replies, I appreciate it
Rbob,
Do you think a return line from the pump (or from a deadhead regulator inline before the TBI in my case) would be good enough, or would the return have to come from the TBI as it did from the factory?
#7
Moderator
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Chasing Electrons
Posts: 18,432
Likes: 0
Received 225 Likes
on
211 Posts
Car: check
Engine: check
Transmission: check
Originally Posted by dimented24x7
RBob, where the pulsations from the pump ever an issue? It seems like one would need a pulsation damper when using a mech. fuel pump with fuel injectors.
RBob.
----------
Originally Posted by doctorcad
Hey Everyone,
Thanks for your replies, I appreciate it
Rbob,
Do you think a return line from the pump (or from a deadhead regulator inline before the TBI in my case) would be good enough, or would the return have to come from the TBI as it did from the factory?
Thanks for your replies, I appreciate it
Rbob,
Do you think a return line from the pump (or from a deadhead regulator inline before the TBI in my case) would be good enough, or would the return have to come from the TBI as it did from the factory?
RBob.
Last edited by RBob; 05-04-2006 at 06:00 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post