I used to have an account on here but i forgot my username and pw! Just picked up a 1984 Camaro z28 originally a HO motor with 5-speed, swapped in a rebuilt 350, have been trying to get it to run for a few weeks now, hooked up an elec fuel pump, first question, PO cut two lines at the tank because he wanted to put an elec pump on. He cut the wrong two lines and the feed line was still intact. I connected the fuel pump and left the return line off of the regulator going to a 5 gallon gas tank to check everything. Was getting a steady 5psi. Once I hooked up the last two lines at the tank and then Hooked the return line from the regulator to the original return line when it had the mech fuel pump, pressure shot up to a steady 10 psi and the return line was shaking. Would it matter if I accidentally crossed the vapor line and return line at the tank?

Also, I know the timing is a bit off, at first the PO had it set retarded, it was backfiring through the exhaust(nice flames), so I twisted the distributor counter clockwise and got it running for a few seconds. Recently took the carb apart to clean it(it was gummed up REAL bad) replaced the accelerator pump, and that's when I put it back on and hooked up the pump, now it gets a nice flame out the carb!!! Could the timing still be off?(firing with the intake valve open?), or does it mean it was just flooded? I only ran the pump for a minute or so then shut the pump off and tried to start it because the pressure was too high and figured I had enough fuel in the bowls. It's an edelbrock 1406 carb and I know they don't like anything over 6psi.

Basically why would my pressure jump to 10-12 instead of steady 5psi when I hooked up the return lines(crossed lines?)

And what causes flame out of the carb? Too much fuel? Timing off? Or combination of both?

Also, I have an aftermarket key switch, I have the ignition wire from the distributor, wire from starter, wire from fuel pump and wire from elec choke going to it and a wire from the switch going straight to the battery. Is this bad? My main concern was the distributor...PO chopped all of the original wiring! So later on once I get this running I'm going to go back and rewire everything so I can use the original key



I'm almost done with the car and ready to drive it for the first time!

 

If the vent line is smaller than the return line it will have more restriction so more line pressure

Usually
Only thing to do with a unknown engine is to start from scratch , not waste time guessing.
Set dist @ #1 TDC compression stroke and go from there

 

Alright as a temp measure so long as you have a suitable size fuse close to the battery on the supply wire.
When your car burns to the ground because a un-fused wire overloaded and burns out you will have alot more problems
Typically high load circuits have their own supply wire and fuse

 

Should I put a fuse for the ignition wire? I have a wire straight from BATT@ the distributor to my switch then to the battery

I'll be ok with a big inline fuse from the switch to the battery?

 

Usually that is causde by the timing being to advanced. Fire it up and time it with a light.

 

Figured it out, went ahead and put the mechanical fuel pump back on, and then found tdc on cylinder 1, FYI for anyone in the future the timing was a bit retarded, don't have a timing tab or tape, but by ear the timing is pretty close now!