I got my dist. put back in (yippy) re-checked the fuel pressure. With the key in the 'on' position (engine not running) I can hear the FP prime and the relay click, the Fuel Pressure gauge goes to nearly 15 PSI (+/- 2, 3 PSI) And stays rock steady. At idle the fuel pressure is a little less than 20 PSI without the FPR vacuum connected. So i thought, how about reconnecting the vacuum. No change, i tried reving the engine with/without too, still no change either way. At idle it is a little jumpy, goes froml ike 19 to 20, 19 to 20, etc. When i shut the car off, the fuel pressure didn't leak off. I'm just worried that this will damage the engine somehow (i know not enough fuel can not be good, heh) What do you guys/girls think it is?

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Problems every other day with the car (probably not a mod, but to me it sure makes a difference)

 

Branz,

I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but your fuel pressure should be at least 39PSIG at idle with no vacuum line connected. If you truly have only 19-20 PSIG, the fuel pump and/or regulator are suspect.

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Later,
Vader
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"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

I'm gonna go check it again today, (i don't trust my guage, its one that i got from autozone) and i'll see what numbers it comes up with this time again.

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Problems every other day with the car (probably not a mod, but to me it sure makes a difference)

 

Okay, i just went and checked the fuel pressure again, and took it for a drive. (with guage taped to the windshield of course.)

With key at the "ON" Position (engine not running) the pressure is 14 PSI.

With Engine started at 750 RPM idle. It's a little shakey from 18 - 20 PSI. When i drove it and got up to 1500 RPM's it steadied out rock solid at 19 PSI. The engine also didn't want me to take my foot off the gas...it died twice while comeing to a rolling stop. When i got home i reved it up to 1500 and it steadied out rock solid again at 19 PSI. (all numbers are without FPR vacuum connected). Any idea's? I took my guage to NAPA and they said it was fine so those are hopefully accurate numbers.

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Problems every other day with the car (probably not a mod, but to me it sure makes a difference)

 

I'm almost positive it's your regulator. Go get a replacement at Advanced Auto/Parts America . It's listed under MPFI if you have TPI and costs $28.

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91 Formula
305 TPI 5speed
1LE/G92/WS6
Custom cold air intake w/K&N, SLP airfoil, ported plenum, TB coolant bypass,Crane AFPR (47psi),94 octane,Crane Extruded Alum. 1.6 full roller rockers, Timing set from 4*BTDC to 10*BTDC,MSD coil,MSD6AL, Holley 9mm Annihilator Laser shot 50 wires, Ac Delco cap,rotor and plugs, Bosch O2sensor, SLP 1 5/8 headers,SLP catback,3:73s,JET 195* fan switch, Macewen white face gauges, Autometer gauges, Zoom hi-performance clutch.
Street legal with stock throttle body, runners,intake manifold,cam, and heads. Coming next..9# Procharger!

 

I sure hope it is my regulator... I'd hate to get the regulator and it be my fuel pump or it be my regulator and i didn't get the adjustable one (i asked for an adjustable regulator for x-mas but my family is a little wacko, if it ain't got 4 cylinders, its got too much power, lol). I had a fuel pump once that i bought but i took it back because i needed the money that i used on it for something else...heh

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Problems every other day with the car (probably not a mod, but to me it sure makes a difference)

 

Anyone else?

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Problems every other day with the car (probably not a mod, but to me it sure makes a difference)

 

Branz,

If you suspect a failing regulator, you can test your theory by firmly pinching off the fuel return line from the regulator. It is routed right along side the supply line on the left side of the engine. You can use a special Vise-Grip plier with rounded jaws, or a large 'C' clamp and two pieces of soft wood to accomplish the same thing.

Don't run the pump for very long in this configuration - only long enough to test the pressure. If the pressure is much higher with the return line pinched or blocked (up to 60 PSIG) the regulator is either stuck or leaking through internally. If the pressure is about the same, the fuel pump or filter are suspect. If you're lucky, you only have a plugged filter.

By the way - make sure you have plenty of fuel in the tank. Simple, I know, but I had to mention that.

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Later,
Vader
------------------
"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

Also, where is the cts sensor, i have a CTS sensor trouble code....i'll go pull it in a bit to see what the exact reading was again...

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Problems every other day with the car (probably not a mod, but to me it sure makes a difference)

 

Branz,

The CTS is located on the front of the intake manifold, next to the cold start valve control. The CTS should be distinguishable from the cold start control since the CTS has yellow and black wires in the connector. The other coolant sensors on your engine are located on each cylinder head. The one on the left head is for the dash instrument, the one on the right is for the auxilliary cooling fan.

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Later,
Vader
------------------
"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

the sensor i got there (if i am of course correct) has 2 prongs on it, with a rather large 'nut' when i had it disconnected my guage didn't work for temperature, is this the correct sensor? (i'm going to replace the CTS due to the trouble codes being set)

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Problems every other day with the car (probably not a mod, but to me it sure makes a difference)

 

Branz,

The one on the front of the intake is the CTS on my TA. The one on the left head is the sender for the gauge. Yours might be different, since your '89 is not supposed to have the cold start injector.

I would think that despite the extra fan and lack of a cold start on an '89, the wiring harnesses would be basically the same for both, even though mine is an '86. Maybe not...

Either way, if you find the coolant sensor with yellow and black wires, you should be looking at the CTS that reports to the ECM. That's the only one that would set an error code.

------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"No matter how hard you try you can't stop us now"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

I'll check FPR tomarrow, all i know is 4 degree's of base timeing sucks :| but that's all i can run with the fuel (i think that's what'd cause it) the way it is, at 6 it backfires through the intake alot, and at 8 i wouldn't even be able to takeoff without it backfireing.

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Problems every other day with the car (probably not a mod, but to me it sure makes a difference)

 

By any chance, you wouldn't have a picture of which fuel line is which would you? heh, i don't wanna mess something up.

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-700R4 (Rebuilt) Too much done to actually list
-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)
-MSD 8.5 mm plug wires
-Problems every other day with the car (probably not a mod, but to me it sure makes a difference)