School me: Fuel Pressure Regulators

[Cooter_76]

I have an Edelbrock 1405 Carb that came on my Bronco when I bought it back in '04. I've been fiddling with it over the years and have never been able to get it to run well off road (I know, common issue with these carbs.) I installed the spring-loaded needle & seat, blocked the crossover channel and set the floats per some tech article I found a few years ago.
The one thing I haven't done (aside from tossing this carb in favor of a Q-Jet or EFI) is installing a pressure regulator. I did buy one of the simple dial-type regulators a few years ago, but it started leaking the moment I installed it, so I scrapped it.
I'd like to install a regulator/gauge combo and like the looks of plack's setup here.
Questions:
- Can anyone recommend an affordable regulator/gauge setup?
- Will a hard line from the carb to the gauge & regulator transfer too much eat to the fuel? I have a 1" phenolic spacer installed to help prevent hot-start issues.

 

[Pa PITT]

I'm sure there are some good ones out there but I never found them . I used to sell them at my parts store but we could never tell they did any good at all.

 

[blubuckaroo]

I think you're going in the right direction with a pressure regulator to help your Edelbrock carb. I solved my issues with a regulator. I like these with a return port. It will totally eliminate any any vapor lock issues too. You would need to install a return line to the tank though.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/qft-30-900/overview/

 

[DirtDonk]

I always liked the idea of just putting the return line in as sort of a "self-regulator" system. Not as accurate, consistent or tuneable like a regulator of course, but simple and effective at keeping the peak pressures away from the needle-n-seat, while keeping the fuel cool too.

Regulators have all been hit-and-miss in my limited experience too. When I've used them on other vehicles, they didn't seem to keep consistent adjustment.
And I never bought one of the Cagle regulators back when either, so I never had the chance to play with what was basically an early version of a modern factory EFI regulator. Vacuum self-adjusting.

Good luck. I think a return line is worth the hassle of initial setup myself. Well worth it as an experiment anyway.
Not to mention a relatively inexpensive way to go. And it would benefit with whatever carb you get in the future, or EFI too.

Paul

 

[jw0747]

I had a Mr Gasket dial type with my 2 bbl and never had a problem. set it in middle at 3 and it worked great. you shoulda returned the leaker. most auto parts stores have them in their performance sections.

 

[Cooter_76]

I think you're going in the right direction with a pressure regulator to help your Edelbrock carb. I solved my issues with a regulator. I like these with a return port. It will totally eliminate any any vapor lock issues too. You would need to install a return line to the tank though.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/qft-30-900/overview/

So the consensus seems to be that a return line (with or without a regulator) is the right way to go. I need to ditch my defunct aux tank and re-work my fuel lines anyway. May be a good time to add a return line.

Does anyone have a strong opinion about hard fuel line vs rubber in terms of heat transfer?