Ok, I have an 88 firebird with an 86 vette tpi motor. I've been having alot of problems out of the tpi setup so I was just going to carb it. Only thing I don't know about is the fuel system on it. Any suggestions on a regulator for this swap? Is there anything else I would have to do with the fuel system? I really don't want to replace the pump because the previous owner welded a hitch and the exhaust hangers right in the way of the gas tank.

 

Mallory 4309.

 

Or, just popped in my head, could I run an external pump and leave the stock pump in the tank?

 

You could... sure. Is it a good idea? No. Proper method is to use a 3-port regulator (mallory 4309) and make sure you use the return line. Also, you'll still need to make sure your fuel pump is functioning properly. It would be frustrating to ditch the TPI because it runs bad, and then the carb runs bad too because the fuel pump is on the fritz.

For the record, installing a regulator is easy to do and doesnt require dropping the fuel tank. You can use all the stock hard lines that end under the hood, no problem.

I would reconsider ditching the TPI. There's a lot to doing a carb swap properly. Just bolting a carb and a manifold to it isn't really adequate. There's torque converter lockup issues, making sure you use a proper 3-port regulator with a return line, wiring up the fuel pump relay to come on without the computer, cleaning up the wiring, getting a regular old school HEI distributor etc.

 

Fuel pump is good, it just ends up being 1 problem after another with the tpi and I'm tired of it...I have everything else but wasn't sure about the regulator, which would be best anyways.