Can it be dependable ???

[Daves55Courier]

I didnt build this 223 to set around and look at it. I want it to go anytime, in any weather. I thought I might save a little gas with this thing.
Having a lot of trouble with the little holley 1904 1 bbl carb. Gas pouring out. Going to remove the new fuel pump and install another one. I checked the carb float mechanism for debris. Its all clean. The float is properly adjusted, in fact appears to be a bit lower than the factory setting. The float sits perfectly horizontal when fuel bowl is full. I want to install a pressure regulator in the line ahead of the carb inlet.
My knowledge of automotive technology ends in the fifties, so here are my dumb questions.

Is there such a thing as an inline mechanical fuel pressure guage or even a guage integral with the regulator ? If so, I want that. Someone mentioned MOON. I cant find it on the net. what auto parts chain might be helpful with supplying this ?

If I get a non-return type reg, and the pressure supplyed is too high, can that excess pressure damage the fuel pump ?

If I get a return type regulator, can I run the return line to a tee fitting immediately ahead of the fuel pump inlet line ? If so, wouldnt the pump have a tendency to suck from the return line all the time ?

A few people are saying these carbs are "touchy" and "finnicky". Building this Courier has all been a waste of time if I cant make it dependable. This was supposed to be my new work car. If I cant drive it, I dont want it. I'll tear it down and sell it all for parts.

 

[Anonymous]

You can drive that thing everywhere. I have 3 1904's on my 215 and it runs like a top. It took a while getting it there and it wasnt much fun but i love the damn thing. I would get in it and drive across the country and not look back.
It also depends how good you are with problems and solutions, how willing you are to stop and make adjustments on the fly. I only had to do it a few times but I trust this car more than i do my late model.

Your stock fuel pump isnt going to put out very much pressure, or not enough to damage a regulator that your gonna have to set at 3 or so pounds. Yes, you can get a mechanical fuel pressure guage. Most good parts store should be able to get you one. i have a very small Autometer guage inline.
I dont think you should really sorry about damaging the fuel pump but im not positive. Its nto somethign i ever think twice about. My stock pump puts out 4.5lbs at idle and i think i regulated it to 3.5 or 4. Right now i dont have a regulator on it and it runs fine with out flooding the bowls.

I hope this makes sense.

 

[Daves55Courier]

I asked the man at the Advance auto parts counter about the parts. They dont have them in stock, but he can get them, so I ordered them and they should be here Saturday afternoon. The guage screws into one of the regulator outlet ports. I got a liquid filled type guage. Looks like I will be tearing out the brand new fuel line I just installed a week ago and redoing it so the reg can be mounted where my inline fuel filter is now. I had made a bracket to hold that up which will now be scrapped. I will need to make a new bracket to hold the reg off two of the intake manifold bolts. I guess it will be okay to install the fuel filter right in front of the engine ahead of the reg. Then all I have to do is wait for my glass bowl for the holley carb float chamber to arrive. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this is gonna work.

 

[Anonymous]

good luck man. Now you can deal with the glass bowl leaking. haha