Greetings,

I read through a ton of threads in the archives in search of an answer to my question....but I'm still unsure!

Situation:
I'm just about ready to start it up for the first time after rebuilding and installing the 2.0 in my 73 914.
The CARBS are Weber 44 IDF's.
The fuel pump is a Facet mounted up front under the tank.
Fuel filter between tank and pump.
Fuel lines are new metal brake lines in the center tunnel, 5/16 rubber hose otherwise.
I understand that these carbs need about 3-5 psi.

Question:
Do I need a fuel pressure regulator?
If so - where do I put it?
If so - where do I get one??

A lot of threads suggested getting the CB Performance rotary pump setup. I'll keep that in mind but for now I'm using the Facet. Threads also commented that the Facet should be mounted on rubber bushings to reduce noise. I haven't done that...yet.

Thanks for your help! I'm only days away from starting her for the FIRST time!

Cheers,
Nate

Pictures are fun, right?! Here's one of the engine and carbs.....

i have a facet in my front trunk, and a 5 dollar pressure regulator in the engine bay.... before the carbs...

PS: one of the best additions to the 914 carb setup is a good linkage and a better throttle cable mount.
look into the CB perofrmance 914 setup with tall manifolds

Where did you get the pressure regulator?
Is it a universal part?

I'm preparing myself for a dumb-struck look from the guy at AutoZone.....

Cheers
Nate

i got mine at the local bugshop.....

cheap round one with a dial.

This is what I run. However it only runs good sometimes. CB 3 PSI pump, currently no fuel pressure regulator. May be my idle circuit problem.
44 IDF's 38 vent 50 idle 145 main w/200 air f11 emulsion tube. 11mm float setting

So I guess I am in the same boat as you what is a good fuel pressure regulator? I had one of those sandwhich ones with the dial on it. Biggest piece of garbage ever.

I bought a really good one from aircooled.net - # FSP0009 - it uses a allen key to dial in perfectly the pressure you want. it has a fitting on the top to mount a real fuel pressure guage which I bought from the local speed shop 0 -15 PSI - for about 30bucks

I had on eof those dial one's and everyone told me to throw it in the garbage which I did..cars run better ever since.

OK - so the one on Aircooled.net looks pretty nice.

Where would I mount it? I'm thinkin just below the engine where the fuel lines exit the center tunnel.

And here's a twist...
can I run the car WITHOUT a pressure regulator?

Cheers
Nate

QUOTE (Natedog @ Jan 17 2005, 02:01 PM)

OK - so the one on Aircooled.net looks pretty nice. Where would I mount it? I'm thinkin just below the engine where the fuel lines exit the center tunnel. And here's a twist... can I run the car WITHOUT a pressure regulator? Cheers Nate

yes, if you have the right pump.

really want around 3 psi.

nate, add up the cost of a good reg and a good gauge. subtract that from the cost of the cb unit. if you haven't done so, you will need to isolate the facet from the body, rubber or what ever you can figure out. the rattle from the facet mounted directly to the car makes alot of racket. i think brad said to get the f.p. reg that jegs sells.

kevin

Nate,

your set-up looks great, good work! I've got a similar one, I think that it will run either way, I have a faucet/red line or similar pump (I forget which) and I dont think I have a pressure regulator. I believe that the pump gives out a steady 3-5psi and that the variance between 3-5 isnt all that great, as to make a big difference. I'm guessing that you would gain some smoothness from the regulator, but I think you'd have to set it low, or use a pump that was a bit higher in presure so that you wouldnt loose pressure if your pump wasn't putting out enough...

I'm kind of guessing at this and I'm interested in the answer here as well-so dont go by my comments alone... but I'm 90% sure that I dont have a pressure regulator on mine and it works fine. I think the key is to have the right low pressure fuel pump.

-Adam

OK - so task list looks like this now:

1. Mount Facet on rubber bushings to cut down on noise
2. Get a good regulator and gauge.
3. Mount the regulator where the lines exit the tunnel.
4. Mount the gauge in the cockpit somewhere....on the center console....which needs a bunch of reconstruction!!!

I've looked at the regulator at CB Performance and Aircooled.net. Either one would be fine, right??

Could someone please confirm:
Must have regulator installed BEFORE starting for FIRST time.

I could confirm that myself I guess. If I don't put in the regulator, tuning is going to be pain in the butt!

Cheers,
Nate

QUOTE (Natedog @ Jan 17 2005, 12:17 PM)

OK - so task list looks like this now: 1. Mount Facet on rubber bushings to cut down on noise 2. Get a good regulator and gauge. 3. Mount the regulator where the lines exit the tunnel. 4. Mount the gauge in the cockpit somewhere....on the center console....which needs a bunch of reconstruction!!! I've looked at the regulator at CB Performance and Aircooled.net. Either one would be fine, right?? Could someone please confirm: Must have regulator installed BEFORE starting for FIRST time. I could confirm that myself I guess. If I don't put in the regulator, tuning is going to be pain in the butt! Cheers, Nate

mounting the facet: i used 2 "rubber isolaters" from the hardware store. cant hear the pump when the engine is running
i mounted my regulator in the engine bay...before the tee to the carbs.... no need to mount thegauge inside the cabin. the engine bay would work fine...

if your facet is the 3-5psi model... you may be okay without a regulator....

no. put the regulator and gague in the engine compartment. you want to be able to get to them. tank- filter- pump-reg-gauge-carbs.

k

QUOTE (rhodyguy @ Jan 17 2005, 12:21 PM)

no. put the regulator and gague in the engine compartment. you want to be able to get to them. tank- filter- pump-reg-gauge-carbs. k

i use another filter before the carbs

why the extra filter aaron?

k

QUOTE (rhodyguy @ Jan 17 2005, 12:31 PM)

why the extra filter aaron? k

first one catches stuff before the pump (albeit it doesnt catch it all), and the second one before the carbs (dont wanna f*** up 600 buck carbs) i guess im anal.... but a 1.99 filter is piece of mind

No, mount the gauge near the regulator. You only need to see the pressure when you're twirling the knob on the regulator, so having it inside the car makes that inconvenient. Also, most fuel pressure gauges are mechanical, meaning you'd need to run a fuel tube into the passenger compartment. Very bad if that springs a leak. Personally, I'd not even permanently mount a gauge. Just use one to set the pressure once, then remove it and plug the fitting. One less thing to break and leak fuel.

Best fuel filters are the VW fuel injection filters. Same as the stock 914 EFI fuel filters. Webers REALLY like to clog jets, particularly the idle jets, so if you haven't already cleaned out your fuel tank, do that, too. On a cheap interrupter pump like a Facet, I'd not really bother with a filter before the pump. Not having any restriction in the gravity fed line to the pump is good. Mount a filter before the regulator, and maybe one after.

do you use those little cone filters for beetles? i went with the stock f.i. filter. i bit more money but i figured if it was good enough for the f.i. system it would be ok for carbs. plenty more area to let the junk build up in.

kevin

QUOTE (Aaron Cox @ Jan 17 2005, 02:22 PM)

QUOTE (rhodyguy @ Jan 17 2005, 12:21 PM) no. put the regulator and gague in the engine compartment. you want to be able to get to them. tank- filter- pump-reg-gauge-carbs. k i use another filter before the carbs

me too,

one at the tank and one out back before the fuel reg.

QUOTE (synthesisdv @ Jan 17 2005, 12:45 PM)

QUOTE (Aaron Cox @ Jan 17 2005, 02:22 PM) QUOTE (rhodyguy @ Jan 17 2005, 12:21 PM) no. put the regulator and gague in the engine compartment. you want to be able to get to them. tank- filter- pump-reg-gauge-carbs. k i use another filter before the carbs me too, one at the tank and one out back before the fuel reg.

you are anal too!

david..thanks again for the pics you took for me, it apears we have alot of the same stuff dizzy,cdi, wires etc.....

I strongly agree that you should not put the fuel pressure guage in the car!!!

Dont run a live pressurized fuel line into the passenger compartment.

You will set the pressure and forget it, no need for the guage to be perminant.

I use a race filter that can be cleaned at the track...for a long time I used he VW ones, but it was messy to replace in a hurry. I now have fuel shut offs on both sides of the filter. The filter is a stone type that filters to the same degree as the vw ones, so it works for me.

Simply unscrew it and wash it with carb cleaner and then put it back in, turn on the fuel and off i go.

I think I got it from Summit.

Rich

QUOTE (lapuwali @ Jan 17 2005, 11:37 AM)

No, mount the gauge near the regulator. You only need to see the pressure when you're twirling the knob on the regulator, so having it inside the car makes that inconvenient. Also, most fuel pressure gauges are mechanical, meaning you'd need to run a fuel tube into the passenger compartment. Very bad if that springs a leak. Personally, I'd not even permanently mount a gauge. Just use one to set the pressure once, then remove it and plug the fitting. One less thing to break and leak fuel.

Just my 2 cents, but the rotary style fuel pressure regulator that is sold at Bug shops (Bugpack or EMPI bubble pack) and also at Auto Zone (with plastic fittings) is junk. I've had two of them fail in short order. I did replace the plastic fittings with brass units for safety. How do they fail? They don't flow fuel. Their pressure gets lower and lower until no fuel passes. The autopsy revealed no internal damage, but will not allow flow. I have gone to no regulator on my V8 cars and I run two Facets in parallel so I have a backup. The needle and seats can handle the pressure of the Facet.

If your needle and seats cannot handle the Facet pressure and you must run a regulator, I suggest a Holley unit with a good quality gauge mounted away from heat in the engine compartment. My experience with the Holley units has been good on other projects (Lotus 7, Mini GT5 car and Datsun 510)and I have yet to have one fail. Why did I buy the rotary style........I had a cheap streak......It cost me in the long run. David Lee