Please dont ever do this!!!

[Macgyver]

If you want to screw yourself than dont listen to me and try it for yourself. I bought a Spectre in-line fuel regulator for $20 at Autozone about 2 days ago and I ended up taking it in the A$$ about three times today which is 2 times more than Im used to w/ my vette.

Yesterday when I hit the highway and reached 60 it suddenly lost all "power" and wouldnt go any faster. If I tried to push it it would slow down. After pulling over I checked the regulator and it had slipped to #2 position which is for V6's. I changed it back to #3 and it did the same thing. I pulled ove again and tapped it then smacked it real good figuring it was gummed or caught some junk and that seemed to fix, for the time being. Today while driving to school 45 minutes away the same problem but this time it died on the highway! Fortunately I drive fast enough to coast off, exit and pull into a gas station. After fiddling w/ it and smacking it some more it died a few more times in a neighborhood behind that gas station. So I had perform emergency fule line surgery and improvise like Macgyver, the greatest ever. So first off I had to break a mechanical pencil in half and use about 3 inches of it. That held for about 20 miles before I started to smell gas real bad. The fuel line came apart right when I pulled into walmart. During that course of 3 minutes I lost a quarter of a tank and much smoke came from the hood but no fire. Eventually I was able to get to another autozone and get a coupler but it still ruined a perfectly good day.

The piece Im talking about is a circular chrome piece that has a dial on the top. Please stay away. I used it because the edelbrock tech guy said that the carbs need 6psi and no more and my garage smelled like a gas can. I will admit that it worked quite well for a day. My MPG went to about 17 on the highway and it got better by some on the street. But to hell w/ it. Im looking for somthin else. Sorry I just had to vent!ad But I wanted to give a heads up as well.

 

[1979toy]

The stock Corvette fuel pump provides 6 psi and has a return to the fuel tank to lessen the chance of vapor lock. The same stock pump that works on a stock 350 is also used on the high performance big block engines.

 

[drags1998]

Hey Mac, You know BETTER, just spend the money and buy a quality regulator. You damn near burnt the thing up for a 20 dollar P.O.S. Im not bustin your balls for nothing, but how would it feel to burn it to the GROUND due to a sub-par repair!!!!! Good Luck!!!

 

[Robin7TFour]

MAC,thank you for the heads-up. i was going to buy the very same unit this weekend. guess i'll be calling around the local speed shops.
BTW, i checked my fuel pressure with a gauge...7 psi at idle. Edelbrrock recomends no more than 6 psi.

robin

p.s. venting is good. i just spent two days inthe hospital with chest pains(stress) i am learning to vent better

 

[wishuwerehere82]

If you want to screw yourself than dont listen to me and try it for yourself. I bought a Spectre in-line fuel regulator for $20 at Autozone about 2 days ago and I ended up taking it in the A$$ about three times today which is 2 times more than Im used to w/ my vette.

Yesterday when I hit the highway and reached 60 it suddenly lost all "power" and wouldnt go any faster. If I tried to push it it would slow down. After pulling over I checked the regulator and it had slipped to #2 position which is for V6's. I changed it back to #3 and it did the same thing. I pulled ove again and tapped it then smacked it real good figuring it was gummed or caught some junk and that seemed to fix, for the time being. Today while driving to school 45 minutes away the same problem but this time it died on the highway! Fortunately I drive fast enough to coast off, exit and pull into a gas station. After fiddling w/ it and smacking it some more it died a few more times in a neighborhood behind that gas station. So I had perform emergency fule line surgery and improvise like Macgyver, the greatest ever. So first off I had to break a mechanical pencil in half and use about 3 inches of it. That held for about 20 miles before I started to smell gas real bad. The fuel line came apart right when I pulled into walmart. During that course of 3 minutes I lost a quarter of a tank and much smoke came from the hood but no fire. Eventually I was able to get to another autozone and get a coupler but it still ruined a perfectly good day.

The piece Im talking about is a circular chrome piece that has a dial on the top. Please stay away. I used it because the edelbrock tech guy said that the carbs need 6psi and no more and my garage smelled like a gas can. I will admit that it worked quite well for a day. My MPG went to about 17 on the highway and it got better by some on the street. But to hell w/ it. Im looking for somthin else. Sorry I just had to vent!ad But I wanted to give a heads up as well.

Yeah, but the transmission works, right?

 

[Robin7TFour]

Wish, looking on the brightside does make our stupidty seem less idiotic!!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Right you are!!!:L :L :L

 

[bobherr46]

I just want to comment that this is just another of several stories that I have heard about people getting new parts from Autozone that are poor quality. There is one 3 blocks from my house but I don't buy much from the except things that have brand names like motor oil,car polish,etc. - Bob

 

[froggy47]

There is no end to the crap, junk, low quality parts that vendors will sell to you with a big smile on their face. Also beware of taking advice from someone working at Autozone/PepBoy/Kragen making 7 or 8 dollars an hour.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Well, as long as you mentioned it,

I have a beautiful 1979 Buick Electra that is in original condition. I went to Autozone to get parts for an oil change, sparkplugs and plug wire replacement.
When I finished, I had 5 cylinders firing and oil spewing all over the bottom of the car. I took everything back, and they gave me a full refund + 5 quarts of oil. Good refund policy, crap parts.
Bought new parts at NAPA- no problems.
Never again will I buy anything at Autozone!!!
Too bad they're a top sponsor for NASCAR, they don't deserve it.

Pete.

 

[Macgyver]

HAHAHAHAHA yes it runs like a champ now w/ better shifts. But a funny story there. To you but not funny to me. Last night after leaving the gym I shifted into drive and I heard a bid CLINK and the shhift stick was nice and limp!!! The bolts that held the linkage just popped right out. So long story short I got my other car w/ a cab and put bigger bolts in there. Booooooooooooooo. I was sooo steamed cuz Ive about had w/ the tranny business. THis week has been nothign but problems and its just half way through!

On the bright side Im a few days away from those HOT sidepipes Robin! Geez chest pain Robin, damn Im sorry to hear that buddy. I hope your well now. Yeah I vent which is why I got holes all over my garage walls. Arrrrrrrr.

Yeah Im talking alot of gas everywhere!!!

My new train of thought is screw Autozone! They said before I bought it, "Yeah Ive had good results w/ them." Blow me. Now I smell like gas for days.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

MvGuyver,

I thought the mechanical drawing pencil was a true bit of inspiration.
Take it easy, and stay away from open flames for a few days,
life will get better.

Pete.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

As has been said here and in other threads, you don't need a pressure regulator. Do yourself a favour and forget installing one.

 

[hotmtrsports]

wishuwerehere82:

Just curious, what does getting 5 quarts of oil and the oil spewing all over the bottom of the car after YOU did the work have to do with Autozone? Which spark plugs did you get? If they were a name brand, then what does that have to do with Autozone?

Unless they gave you the wrong filter and plugs, then as a manager of the store, I'd come pretty close to firing the clerk. Those mistakes can cause engine damage and be very costly to everyone.

No I don't work there.

Chuck

 

[wishuwerehere82]

hotmtrsports,
In my defense, I am a good mechanic, but you can only be as good as the parts you work with.
The parts they sell, in my opinion, are (apparently) seconds or factory rejects.
I am of the opinion that they are the parts that fell on the floor when they were made, and shouldn't have gotten past Q.C. All of the AC/Delco spark plugs had mis-centered electrodes, and that is very unusual for top name parts.
The AC/Delco PF24 filter leaked at the gasket no matter how hard I tightened it.
Sometimes discount means Cheap. IMHO.
My buddy was the store manager and quit because of the poor quality parts they were selling.
Sorry McGuyver, didn't mean to mess up your link.

 

[The73vetteman]

hotmtrsports,
The parts they sell, in my opinion, are (apparently) seconds or factory rejects.
I am of the opinion that they are the parts that fell on the floor when they were made, and shouldn't have gotten past Q.C. All of the AC/Delco spark plugs had mis-centered electrodes, and that is very unusual for top name parts.
The AC/Delco PF24 filter leaked at the gasket no matter how hard I tightened it.
Sometimes discount means Cheap. IMHO.

I believe there's quite a big problem with counterfieting in the auto parts industry. Sometimes these cowboys are so clever I think they can infiltrate the more reputable end of the distribution business. Maybe that's what you saw with the Delco plugs. I agree that usually they're good quality.

That said, I always use Champion and have never had a problem.

Just my $0.02. '73

 

[Robin7TFour]

according to the local speed shop owner, since my fuel pump is putting out 7 psi at idle ,he says an edelbrock should have no more than 5-6 psi. otherwise the pressure blows fuel past the needle and seat causing minor flooding.
i have to agree with his line of reason.

Robin

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

according to the local speed shop owner, since my fuel pump is putting out 7 psi at idle ,he says an edelbrock should have no more than 5-6 psi. otherwise the pressure blows fuel past the needle and seat causing minor flooding.
i have to agree with his line of reason.

Robin

Suit yourself........... despite the lack of logic anywhere in this subject.

How about you ask your sheepshop owner guy why a manufacturer (interested in selling as many carbs as possible) would design and manufacture carburetors that are not compatible with stock pumps. And ask him why a high performance carb (LOL) requires that a special LOW pressure pump must be installed, or force Bubba to install a regulator in the system.

How comes there's thousands of people that have installed an Edelbrock carb and have never heard about this supposed need for a regulator?

Maybe your sheepdip guy justs wants to sell you more parts?:L

 

[Robin7TFour]

i guess my logic and thinking are flawed, howver, i have never berated anyone for their ideas or opinions. obviously Mikey, you don't follow the same gentlemanly ideals.
and as for the "sheepdip" ,he is a respected parts dealer who has been in business for many years in the central florida area.he's the type of guy who'd send you to a competitor if he didn't have the part.
also Edelbrock Corp must know a few things about their product, so if it says 5-6psi must be a reason. and yes i checked my pump with a gauge at 7psi, so MAYBE my pump isn't stock.
tactfully said...opinions are a useful tool!

and yes my nickname is BUBBA

 

[wishuwerehere82]

I'm feeling some bad Karma on this link.
Time to regroup and remind myself that we're trying to help each other out with the little problems in Vetteville. I think relating horror stories are part of that. I would rather warn a friend of a potentially bad situation than hear about it later on the CAC.
McGuyver has been kind enough to bare his soul for our benefit and help us avoid a potentially bad situation for our sake. Most ego-centric individuals would never admit to having a problem with anything--ever. Believe me.
I for one value and appreciate the advice and expertise demonstrated by most of the respondents on this forum, as it provides a first hand look at the everyday difficulties and solutions to life's little problems.
Murphy's law is a fact of life....get used to it, or get help from the Corvette Action Center.
I do.





Peace.

Pete.