FITECH and Carb fuel pump

[Rickb1b]

Ok here’s the deal. My Fitech just messed up, so my simple solution to get it going was to just throw the carb back on. I was able to do this because I used the fuel commander which uses the stock fuel pump. So here’s my question, I want to install a 23 gal tank with in tank efi pump: is there a fuel regulator out there which will dial it down low enough to use a carb if need be. I’d like to retain the ability to put the carb back on if the Fitech screws up again.

 

[OsideDave]

I am kind of thinking the same thing...retain my old carb as a backup or even bring along with me on big 4x4 trips. I have stock mech pump that feeds Fi-Tech g-surge tank and even a low pressure electric pump still mounted on frame rail.

I have seen some regulators that might work for you but they are pricey. Might be less expensive to just have an low psi electric pump installed or handy

 

[bronconut73]

That is the push....

Regulators with that much range are very pricey. But it might be worth it. I think it would be a little easier on the pump if you ran a fuel return system. It keeps the fuel moving and the pump happier,

 

[SHX669]

FI Tech sells a regulator with changeable internals so you can swap from a carb regulator to a efi regulator . I believe it's in their " accessories " section.

 

[Broncobowsher]

You pretty much need 2 regulators to run a carb off an EFI pump. The EFI pump can't dead head, it has to flow. So you will need a bypass type regulator. I have doubts about a bypass regulator regulating such low pressures accurately, so a carb style deadhead style regulator to get the final pressure right.

I would be tempted to do a trail fix by putting looping the supply and return together and put a section of 1/4" line to make some backpressure and use a carb style regulator.

Years ago I got a Holley Projection. Fought some install issues (bad ground it turned out) and wanted to keep a carb with me. I was using a low pressure lift pump and accumulator. So it would have been easy to just move the low pressure line over, defeat the high pressure pump, and run off a carb. During my EFI fight I was doing that and had the ECM running the fuel pump. Once I got the EFI dialed in, never used it. The carb dried up and got filled with dust riding in the spares box. Completely un-necessary.

There is an even simpler way of feeding a carb, gravity. May not flow enough for max HP, but a fuel tank draining into the carb will provide enough to get you out of places. Not pretty, but very simple. Most carburated motorcycles, Model T, so simple.

 

[Attac]

I just went through this when on my new build all efi from Sherman tank forward. I had 2 bad Fitech units in a row and got really aggravated and put a eldelbrock 600 on it until sniper unit came in. Had to buy a bypass reg and put an fittings on it so I could use my efi supply and return lines. I left the high pressure gauge on supply in side and put a low pressure reading gauge on output side of reg so that I was sure of pressures. I was able to dial down pressure from 65 to 5. Worked great and now sits on my shelf so that when I start a new motor up for break in it is easy to throw on to run without having to fiddle or adjust the Efi at that time. It is a Mallory 4309. I think about 150.00.
Chuck

 

[Rickb1b]

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/aei-13301/overview/

Well here’s what my reasearch came up with. Thanks for the input Chuck. I guess once the Sherman tank is installed the only option to bring the pressure down to a carb level is something like this. Question is: is $150 worth carrying for the just Incase.

 

[Broncobowsher]

My answer, no.

Once debugged EFI is generally good. If you really want to keep a carb backup, just bring something that you can use to gravity feed it. Even a small 1-gallon container of some sort will work, just refill it with the EFI pump.

 

[75Bronc]

I don't know if this would work with an intank pump. But if you had a high pressure inline pump, could you just carry a low pressure in line pump? I know they make them 4-7 psi for like $50 bucks. That would get your carb running temporarily to get you home.

 

[TDubya]

Can't you just bypass the FCC and run the fuel line directly from the mechanical pump to the carb?

 

[Rustytruck]

Carrying around a dried up carb will probably give you more problems than it will help. A carb sitting in a box riding in the truck will be bouncing the float and needle and seat on every dip and pothole you run into. Not counting dust dirt and cracked accelerator pump diaphragm.

 

[Rickb1b]

Yes probably true. Guess I just need to get my Fitech working well and hope for the best.

 

[OsideDave]

Carrying around a dried up carb will probably give you more problems than it will help. A carb sitting in a box riding in the truck will be bouncing the float and needle and seat on every dip and pothole you run into. Not counting dust dirt and cracked accelerator pump diaphragm.

Good point, didn't of that. Probably a spare injector would be a good idea to carry for the Fi-Tech...anything else?

 

[SHX669]

What TDubya said - or a $150 regulator with a return line from it to the command center - or g surge whichever one you have.

 

[zombie66]

I’ve had my own Fitech issues as well. Installed mine and tried getting it runnng before last years NW roundup but couldn’t get my IAC dialed in. I’m running a low pressure pump off my 23 gallon main tank through a couple filters to my Fitech G surge pump mounted in the driver side engine compartment. To get it to the roundup I just bagged up the fuel line ends and then ran my LP hose to the Holley. Once I got to camp Tdubya (Travis) Shawn forester,Angel from Tom’s bronco, etc helped me swap the fitech over and got me through the week. Still dealing with issues and even Fitech sent me a software update to get me farther along but it’s still an ongoing battle.
At this point I’m keeping the carb in the padded fitech box just in case. All in all I probably should’ve just stuck with a carb for the head ache and $.: