I know this has been talked about a lot here but… I got a Stromberg 97 on a flat head with an electric fuel pump and I can’t seem to get the fuel to stop blowing past the needle. I removed and tried the goose jet style fuel inlet and no luck. I installed a Holley 12-804 fuel pressure regulator and a Holley mighty mite electric fuel pump which is suppose to do 1.5-2.5. I put a fuel pressure gauge on the other out port of the regulator and no matter how I have the screw on top it blows past the needle. When I put my finger over the needle to hold it closed I get 2 psi regardless of the regulator screw is in or out. My grandpa built it and it never gave him any issues… lol It was fine then all of a sudden decided to throw up gas all the time.
I have same set up. Same parts. Just replaced fuel regulator and fuel pump and all working fine at 1 1/2 psi. Could you have got a defective regulator?
If the gauge is reading 2 lbs, either the gauge is bad, the gauge and regulator are both bad, or the gauge is good and the carb is bad. If the carb is bad it might be the needle not sealing, or the float set wrong. Can anyone else think of another scenario?
I’m thinking 2 psi is a little high. Which is why I think the float isn’t able to hold the needle in place. It’s also one of the rubber black tip needles so maybe that’s the issue too? I’ll try to look tomorrow and check the float. But I still think regulator maybe broken like cs39ford suggested. Because with my finger holding the needle in place it’s still reading 2 psi and I was hoping to use the regulator to get it down to 1 or 1.5 psi
Yeah the Holley 12-804 is supposed to do 1-4psi so that’s why I’m wondering if I’m doing something wrong or the regulator is just faulty. I have the psi gauge on one outlet port and to carb on other outlet of regulator.
I did change out my needles from viton tips to original steel ones. But for a different reason. If let set for long time needles would stick stuck
. This is how mine is set up. Bottom port is in. Two side ports are out. Right port plugged left port has T fitting with gauge then goes to fuel block to feed carbs
Ok. I returned my Holley regulator and put new one in and I’m able to get the psi down to 1 and it’s not flooding. Started it up and all good. except… I don’t remember the dynamo/amp meter flipping between +12 and -12 before… only Eletrical I changed was the new fuel pump. Is the ground not good on that new pump? Or does it normally do that when it’s charging battery, haven’t had trickle charger on in a bit
That's odd but a friend of mine and I both had the same situation with the Holley regulator. Neither would adjust down, both new. I took mine apart and it looked fine. For the heck of it, I ordered a rebuild kit. Turns out it had the wrong spring in it. (if memory serves, was supposed to have a red spring, had a silver) Installed the kit and the regulator worked perfectly. We then did the friend's with the same results. So is there a possibility some got put in the wrong boxes??? Anyway both are still working fine.
The pump shouldn’t be drawing 12 amps though. Let the battery charge all the way up with a bit of driving. I’d set the regulator to 1.5 lbs.
I've seen mentions that the floats can fail over time. The br*** type can leak and take on some fuel and the foam type can deteriorate and absorb fuel. This causes them to progressively lose flotation and the ability to close the seat.
I have had many flatheads(most were big bore—strokers,multiple carbs and have NEVER used an electric pump). Always used the stock flathead pump in it’s original position with NO regulator(because half of them are “junk” to start with. Have to buy a new pump occasionally(they make a mistake if they offer a life time guarantee). A new pump usually has 4-5-6 pounds out of the box. The pressure is easily altered(u need a gauge right b4 the carbs) by raising the height of the fuel pump on its base. My current model runs 2-2.5 because I shim it upward approximately 3/16–5 1/16 using gaskets to fit between the pump and the base—-simply adjust the number of “shims” to get the pressure u want—-been doing this for years with no problem at all.Yes, I know not all of the bolts are used—-this happens when u run a 59style intake on a 8BA engine where not ALL of the bolts have threads for them.
Ran out of time today, charging battery over night. I agree, the amps seem strange, I’ll look at tomorrow with multimeter on pump. I did put the original float back in and seems good. I had changed to a new float when I thought old one was the issue but then figured out it was the fuel pressure being to high.
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