Ok, here's my story:
To get my engine dropped down in my car, I went to Jegs and bought an electric fuel pump. The block is new enough that it doesn't have the provisions for a mechanical fuel pump. The pump that I bought is rated for 4-6 pounds with "no regulator required". Is that going to be too much for my Q-jet's float to handle? If there is any doubt from what I hear on here, I'm gonna try it out on the old engine before doing the swap. I plan to do the swap this Saturday. I really would rather not buy a regulator for the electric pump if I don't absolutely HAVE TO, as it will be coming back off there in less than a year when I do the TPI conversion.

Any help and experiences will be appreciated!

 

no, it wont be too much, 6 psi is probably what stock pumps put out, but a regulator is all of 20 bucks, so its not THAT big of a deal.

adam

 

Thanks, that helps me out a lot. I never even thought about seeing what the stock mechanical pump is putting out! I have the means to do so by golly! The biggest deal about the regulator is more about going to get one than the cost! It's about an hour or so round trip drive that I just don't have to spare right now!

Thnaks for your input!

 

I ran into the same problem and had to swap in a Carter electric fuel pump. I am pretty sure that 6 psi is about what you want and the stock one is in that neighbordood.

 

Yeah, the Carter Electric Pump is what I got! Seems like a pretty nice pump for $58!!! I just picked up the oil pressure switch for it tonight so that it will only run with the engine running. I have the relay kit and all that already, just nee to put the new engine in the car and hook up the pump, along with resealing the power steering pump, front trans. seal, dipstick tube seal, new gear reduction starter, etc... The list is long!

Thanks again fo rthe replies!

 

Once you've installed the pump and motor and all, get a fuel pressure guage. If at high rpm WOT the guage drops below 3 psi
Get another pump just like it and run twin pumps. If it will maintain 3psi at High rpm WOT you're good to go. These pumps are good for 400+ hp through a 3/8" line, but a ZZ430 may tax it.

You'll want to invest in a .149" hi flow needle and seat assembly for the QJET for sure, and maybe some metering rods.
Qjets need 5-6psi and the right needle and seat assembly combined with a pump(s) with plenty of flow capacity.

Should be able to find everything in the Edelbrock catalog.
These Carter electric pumps are more reliable than the holley pumps. Even if you have to run two of 'em.

www.edelbrock.com

 

Well, It's not gonna be an issue for a while, I'm sure. The main idea right now is just to get the engine running, and I'm sure it's not gonna be putting out nearly it's full potential due to the fact that it'll be breathing through the LG4 intake and exhaust. That stuff is next on the list! I'm gonna be converting it to a TPI setup soon, and putting on a full SLP exhaust sytem. By the time I'm done, I should be around 450 HP, but that's all another story!

I'm just super excited to get the thing in there! It's been 3 years coming! Tomorrow is the big day! I have to get a timing belt finished on a dodge stealth before I can pull my car into my bay though......

 

The LG4 stuff is really going to kill it.

Y not run an Edelbrock dual quad intake with twin Edelbrock 500's on a polished intake and billet aircleaner.
Way cooler..... Half the money.... Twice the fun..

 

Sounds fun!

I wanna go with the TPI because that's the kinds of stuff I like to get into. I'm into computers and I deal with automotive electronics and fuel injection everyday for a living. I'll just say that I'm more familiar with Fuel Injection. I haven't actually ripped a carb apart for several years now! I've forgotten most of what I knew about them! I'm sure it would all come back to me though!

My boss was complaing to me that I shouldn't even run the new engine with that quadra-jet on it! I proceeded to remind him of the reliability of the car....215,000 miles and it's never left me stranded! I've put about 50,000 of those miles on it myself!

I know the very next thing I need to do is build my transmission! I'm not even gonna be able to run this thing the way it is very hard until I do! I have a whole list of goodies I need to put in it, which includes starting with a newer transmission.

Too many things on my list, and too little time and money to get it all done!

 

The qjet will work fine with the proper mods and on a good manifold. I would not run it as is.
TPI is expensive a boring. Been done to death.

Y not run A RAMJET manifold ( RAMJET 430)
or a TPIS Mini RamIII for the fastburn heads.

The long runner TPI is pretty but will come up short in the power department. Even the SLP stuff.

Check out the Merccruiser EFI manifold. Fits Vortec/ fastburn heads. Would need a custom/ billet plenum top and air valve
but you'd be the only one. Thats cool.
Stock on Mercruiser 377 Black Scorpion motors.
Could even run dual quads with a custom made carb plate bolted on top. Or even twin 4v throttle bodys.

You'll be the only one!!! Loads of potential here.

Here is a pic of the bare manifold....

 

Here is a pic of the Mercruiser 377 black scorpion it comes on.

 

Now that looks awesome!

I'm not entirely sure what I'm gonna put on it in the end, but I'm really thinking about a super ram. Better than a LTR setup, and has better low-end than a mini-ram. I already have some higher flowing injectors, and have a line on a complete TPI setup, harness, ECM, and front accessories (full serpentine) for a good price. It's waiting on me! All I need is the $$$$!!!

I think I need to do the trans first no matter what though.

Do you have a link to that mercruiser stuff? I would like to at least look at it!

 

The Super Ram won't fit your fastburn heads. The GM RamJet does and has lotsof potential. Way beyond the 350hp of the Ramjet 350 it comes on. Runners are good sized and about the same length as the Super ram.

But the Merc Scorpion Intake would be too cool. eh!

You can buy the Merc manifold from any Mercury dealer.
Do a search for Mercury Mercruiser and Scorpion 377.

 

Yeah...I am still running through the LG4 intake for a bit longer too.

 

Why wouldn't the Super ram fit my Fast-burns? The fastburn's have the Vortec style mounting, and the conventional mounting....

Anyway, I would most likely use a stock, ar the SDPC Vortec TPI base, and port it out heavily. I dunno what I'm gonna do yet.

Well, I should get back to the shop and back to work. I have the LG4 out of it, transferring the stuff to the monster!

 

Well, I think I answered my own question tonight. I didn't realize how big the difference is in the Vortec intakes.

Now what I don't get is why GM drilled the fastburn heads for a conventional intake? Many intakes won't even cover the ports!

Well, it looks like I now need to get an intake before I can hear my engine run.

On a side note....I can't believe how clean my old LG4 is on the inside! Most of the pushrods weren't even black from oil deposits. Amazing for 215,700 miles! I still need to check the numbers to see if it is indeed original, but I'm damn sure it is! Even the intake ports looked good and clean! Now the outside, that's a different story, it looks like a typical leaky older small block.

 

Well, now for the update!

Fuel pump works great (when the inlet hose to the pump isn't kinked!) I really like the pump now that I got the lines all straightened out!

Intake issue.....Bought an Edelbrock Performer Vortec.

The thing runs pretty damn good.

Now, for the new issues....
The carb sucks on the 350! Part throttle seem to be decent, and it idles excellent (a bit lopey, but that's the LT4 HOT cam talkin)
Heavy throttle (mind you, I won't let it rev very high yet, as I only have about 40 miles on it) is just ok at first, then it runs out of gas. It will pick back up, but then it will surge. This is gettin better the more I drive it, but I know there is an issue!

I already have slightly more aggressive rods and hanger in the secondaries, but I need an idea of where to set the float. I'll see about getting the higher flow neddle valve and stuff, along with the stuff to go throught the entire carb. So far, I'm not as impressed as I thought I would be. I know a lot of it has to do with the carb, and the iron logs that are bolted where the headers go (that I need to buy!)

Thanks again for all the help so far!