so Im still pushing forward in my v6 to v8 swap, heres the current headache:
since I swapped a carbd v8 in place of my 2.8 multi, I got a carbd v8 donor car to pull parts from. my plan was to go with a mechanical pump and take the carb pickup from the donor car and put it into my tank. so today I dropped the tank on the donor car, pulled the pickup and found an electric fuel pump. WTF??? the weird thing is the donor was running a 305 with a quadrajet, and had no regulator anywhere. so now my idea is to keep my 2.8 electric pump in place, and run a regulator. since im new i need some suggestions, like: is that even a good idea, what brand regulator is good, and if i run that setup, how do I plumb it (delete the mechanical pump, etc.?)any help is greatly appreciated

 

What are you using for a donor car?

 

its an 85 body, but the previous owner said he did the 305 swap himself, which is what it has in it now. I put a 350 in my 2.8 body and am using the 305 donor for misc. parts., but I was under the impression that it would have a carb pickup. the even stranger part is that he was running a mechanical pump as well, all plumbed up and everything. can a mechanical pump even pull fuel through a disconnected electric pump?

 

I believe you can run a mechanical fuel pump through a disabled electric one, but they don't last as long as if it was done properly. If your electric pump is still good, you can put a return/bypass style regulator in and run the carb off that. I'm swapping my 3.1L to a 350 and am doing this. I'm a Mallory AFPR from Summit, P/N is MAA-4309. From what I have read on this site, this seems to be the popular one to use. You'll want to delete the mechanical pump. Connect your fuel feed line to the inlet port on the regulator, connect your bypass/return line to the correct port, then run a line from the regulator to the carb. I'll be putting a pressure gauge in just before it goes into the carb. I'm using a Holley 4160 series 600CFM with vacuum secondaries. Once I get the engine into the car and am ready to plumb the lines, I plan on taking the regulator, gauge, carb inlet fitting and my original rubber fuel hoses to Advance or Autozone and digging through their fitting drawers to come up with a set up that will work. If that doesn't work, I'll cut and reflare the metal fuel lines and go from there.

 

thanks man,
I went to mallory.com and found the one youre talking about, It looks like what I need-do you remember what you paid for it? they dont have prices on their site and Im running out of money. anyways, have you used it on your setup yet? im debating whether or not to install a fuel pressure guage after the regulator for peace of mind as well.

 

Unfortunately, I haven't installed it yet as the engine is still on the stand waiting to be assembled. I got mine off Ebay in perfect condition, I know it was less than what Summit lists it at. I'm usually very good at keeping track of this stuff as I wanted to keep totals of how much the different mods cost but I can't find what I paid for it anywhere. I want to say somewhere around 20-30 shipped? I know it wasn't more than 35 shipped. I wanted to install a gauge for tuning purposes, and so that I know that the AFPR is working correctly. That i got off Ebay as well, $11 shipped. Its lists at $30 on Summit. I don't have the P/N on me right now though.

 

Just bought a new Mallory FPR from Advance Auto. List for $89 plus tax. Works great!!!

 

Yes! this can be done, with good results too!

My dad has an 86 Monte SS that came with a 305 carb, and when he swapped his built pontiac 400 he disconnected the electric fuel pump and uses the mechanical one, and has been working fine for like 4 years now.
You wont be starved for fuel either, his is actually running a little rich.

Good luck with everything!

 

nice,
I think Ill go this route then, everyone seems to have had good results and its good for me because now i dont have to drop my tank!!!LOL thanks for the help