SP3 install

Thanks to everyone for the positive feedback, I was a bit let down by the performance last night but after sleeping on it I think I'm ready to attack this.

Car started to make a bunch of other noises on the drive home as well, bunch of new shakes rattles and vibrations.. Ill have to address those one at a time.

Thanks for the motivational picture Alan, cracked me up this morning! :kodak:

Hey Mark, I have the .145 needle and seat in there right now. I had the smaller one as you described but swapped it for the larger.

The fuel pump is one thing I know I have not done a single thing to, bolted on and go. I can not remember if it is anything special or an off the shelf item, it sure does not look like anything fancy... 'So far' it has done its job but I do not have any proof or data yet if it is functioning correctly still.

Mark mentioned an Airtex? I am not familiar but it could be an option?

You have no clue how close I am to giving that a try, I know in my previous statement I said that curiosity may get the better of me eventually.. well it is getting the better of me. I'll give the Q-Jet another honest try, but if I am still having fits I'll bench it for a bit in effort to get things rolling.



Hugger,

Thanks for the reply, dealing with 40 year old tech can get tiresome indeed... I have briefly looked into fuel injection but that initial buy in is a steep one for me. Though searching for the right carb isn't exactly a cheap endeavor either..

 

mechanical pump ? sorry , shoulda paid more attention .
i have an extra carter street/strip pump ( good lookin used unit ) i grabbed for a spare . no longer available i believe . got the last one jegs had in stock a few years ago . put that on my car .
if you would like to try it give me an address and i'll send 'er out . might want to add in a pressure gauge and reg just in case .

 

I think Airtex makes the big block Stage1 pumps.

 

Devon,

As luck would have it, I have just a road in mind and very close. I think first order of business is to hook up a temporary fuel pressure gauge and see how it does under stress.

Trying to start with the basics in my checks.. one thing I'll never forget from my automotive instructor. "Keep it simple stupid"

 

That's what mechanics say: it's all nuts and bolts!

TXGS (Phil) had some fuel starvation issues a while back. I sent him an old A/C pump I had which cured it, but being old/used, it took a dump.

Don't know what he ended up with. Carter I think. Maybe he'll pm you or post.

 

Yessir, currently running a mechanical pump. Ill be more then happy to accept your offer of the carter, but I may have to send you funds in advance.. because if I test the pump and everything functions fine you may have a hard time getting it back haha. Ill PM you, thank you!!

Ahhhh gotya

 

I just got off the phone with RobbMc and explained that Mike has made the new intake and has new cylinder heads in the works and that the 350 guys are in need of a good mechanical fuel pump and would he please make pumps for you guys. So RobbMc will make a 550hp pump and a 1100hp same body as the BBB's but with the 350 arm. Price will be the same as the BBB pumps $199 for the 550hp and $299 for the 1100hp pump.

If you guys step up and start buying them the will keep them on the self for you, they are top shelf guys to deal with.

 

.. and after running a Mallory 140 electrical pump on the street for 10 years I'd DEFINITELY SUGGEST you guys stay mechanical if you can.

I went through 6 Mallory's .. Yes, i drove a lot but still o No: It got so that I always carried a spare with the tools to do the job in the trunk with the spare. Did that twice. Got Flatbedded home twice as well. Im going back to mechanical

 

The only thing I have to say is if you go with a Mechanical fuel pump keep your number of connections to a minimum because they are potential leaks and on a sucker system when you get a leak it sucks air and leans out the engine and can destroy a engine quickly. RobbMc makes a great fuel tank pick-up in the tank if require for your HP, pre filter and filter after. Using a small ID line on a sucker pump is not a great idea because a good pump pulls pretty good and fuel under suction likes to vaporize. ALWAYS Have a well ventilated fuel tank. I recommend using Stainless Teflon fuel line on sucker pumps because even stainless rubber can pulse with the pump the Teflon line will not. It is available at any line and fitting company is budget minded. This is another option but its pricey. http://fragolaperformancesystems.com/

 

Its kinda common to see gas tank vent problems so that should be checked also.

 

justin pm'd me his address . should go out sat am .
so - he should see it monday or tues . install wed . rent track outa pocket change thur . get back to us friday with a 9.99 time . easy !
edit : and just thinkin - i think i may have an "extra-extra" pump . so maybe i'll send him both that way if he suspects a bad one he can swap and check . time saver maybe .

 

That's kinda an unfair assumption imo, I also burnt up several Mallory 140's mostly due to much angle in the feed line , but the Aeromotive suff is bulletproof and will provide much more stable fuel psi

 

Thanks for your investigation into the pump, I do not see how you can go wrong with one of his units. Going to take me a hot minute to save up for one but I can see a RobbMC product on my motor in the near future. As far as vents go, I have one dedicated vent line from the tank but there are extra ports to allow for more. Think I'll install another vent assembly just to scratch that off the list.

Just as long as the inlet and out ports are similar to what I have it should only take a Wednesday to install! Need to do another checkup between now and then, she was running and sounding kinda funny after the last trip..

 

Those factory vents do get plugged from age etc. I just cut everything off and install new fuel lines with those cheap white plastic fuel filters hanging off them, they make great vents. I have been a BBB guy for 30 odd years but now that there are all these speed parts from TA I am finding all this 350 stuff a breath of fresh air. I will be porting one of the first sets of TA heads and posting results for you guys. And your welcome for setting up with RobbMc, they are great guys and they are on V8buick also. I think its a great opportunity for RobbMc and you small block guys to get a shelf high performance pump. They carry every thing from factory replacement pick up assembly's, larger 1/2 and 5/8 lines with AN fittings and they all have the sending unit for the guage, washable filters and regulators etc.

 

Guess I should elaborate a bit more on the fuel system for everyone. Spectre tank (2 years old) 3/8 stainless fuel line and pickup from inline tube, my best guess of an O'Reilly over the counter pump, and a self bent line from the pump to carb (no kinks I promise).

I have the same thought process when it comes to the venting.. all of the factory stuff is removed and there is a 3/8 rubber fuel line from the vent attached to one of the small can style inline fuel filters venting to the atmosphere. So adding one more of those will be a breeze!

 

Hey there Larry,

I called up Robb a few minutes ago to inquire about a pump. IIRC he uses the same 550HP pump for the 455 but uses a different arm for the 350 application. He used to keep them around but took them off the shelf from lack of sales. Turnaround is a bit longer (only 4 days) but he can make them readily.

He was great to talk to and offered tons of advise, I learned a few things during our conversation and intend to order as funds allow.

 

Sorry to hear about the issues Justin. But congrats on giving it all a try and reporting what all is going on.

I know you changed the needle/seat. Is it a "windowed" seat? holes on the sides?
Also, check your float height. I recommend setting it at 9/32" for a Buick quadrajet. The float bowls are small in the Qjet, but they will handle 600 HP with a good high flow needle/seat and highest float level. As long as the carb gets enough fuel volume from the pump.

Good luck and I hope you make that good pass soon.
Then you need to add some NOS, turbo, supercharger haha. These cars are never fast enough.

 

Good afternoon Mark,

The larger needle and seat are indeed "windowed". I have a hard time believing that my carb cant handle my application, as you mentioned there are plenty of others out there going faster and on bigger motors.. but the ease of the Holly does sound rather temping especially at my weaker moments when things are not going smoothly.

The nitrous may be the next engine goodie, but before I make the green gal any quicker I am going to have to address the no A/C in the summer time issue haha.