I put my new BBK adjustable fuel pressure regulator on yesterdayand followed the instructions. Then I tried to put the plenum in place and SURPRIZE, the adjustable bolt sticks out about an inch in the way. I took a pressure reading and found out I was a few psi low compared to the 44 psi that I was running stock before. So I tightened the bolt. The bolt was difficult to turn and then the bolt broke. I had to take it all apart and remove the bolt from the inside, I had not cross thresded it, everything still looked fine. So I went to the parts store to get replacment bolts. I got an exact replica of the bolt, same length and oiled it up good. Everything went like before but I was a little more carefull not to tighten it as hard. I got up to 44 psi and it became obvious to me that the plenum was not going to fit with the bolt. I cut a little over 1/4 inch off the bolt to get it to just clear the plenum. I had to remove the nut that came with it because my bolt was so short that I could not tighten it anymore with the nut installed. That is how little clearence I have, it leaves me less than 1/4 inch to tighten the bolt now (thats without the nut). I checked it and it is at 46 psi and the bolt is just as difficult to turn, I am afraid it will break too. I thought this was a plug and play type of thing, not a do it yourself nightmare. Did anyone else have problems? I have an 86 TPI, do the newer TPI plenums have room for the longer bolt?

 

that sounds strange I have helped a few guys install regulators and have never seen the problem your having my regulator is made by Crane and my TPI is an 88 and has over a 1 " of open space above the bolt and my bolt is sticking out pass the top of the regulator about a 1/4 inch @ 49 psi w/o vac 59 psi.

 

ok I measured the space. I have 2 inches of room from the fuel pressure regulator mounting base to the bottom of the plenum. The regulator is a little over 1 & 1/2 in tall. Everything is in the correct place, there is just not much room there. here is a drawing of what it looks like.

 

I had the same problem with my 85 tpi setup. The bolt is very close to the plenum and is hard to adjust. Your options are either to replace the bolt with a smaller one or spend more money and get a Holley AFPR. Holley has a large round dial that has plenty of clearance. A search on these boards and you may have avoided buying a BBK. I believe every company that makes AFPR's uses the bolt system except Holley.

 

This is just an idea I have Im not sure if it will work.
But how about getting a longer screw the length of the one that came with your regulator and screw it all the way down. Then see if you can back it out far enough to start at your base pressure since the pressure incresases the further you go down.

Heres a pic of mine actually my screw is off set to miss the bottom of the plenum.

 

thanks for the replies. I got it to work that night, I just wanted to vent a little bit. I cut a bolt short and had enough room with a little bit left to adjust. Id say it would be good for at least 52 psi, so thats good enough for me. I have it back at stock 44psi for starters and will mess with more pressure later. Oh, another complaint would be that the broken bolt caused uneven pressure on the regulator spring and the rod bent when I tried to remove it. I probably would have been able to avoid that accident if I had taken my time. But you know how that goes. The extra $ could have gone twoards the holley one with a dial. Oh well

 

We all learn things from stuff that doesnt go our way because we lose patience etc. But what you end up with in return is called experience and wisdom...

 

BBK sucks i had the same problem i cut the bolt and had to grind on the plenum way more work then it should be next time ill buy a holley adj. reg.

 

My Crane regulator hit my plenum as well.

Quick fix?

run a nut down the bolt, cut off the needed clearance then run the bolt thru a tap and voila instant correct size :-)

On TPI check everything intake related for clearance for u bolt anything new to it......


later
JEremy

 

I used to have a iroc that I put an accel afpr on. That one used a recessed allen head bolt and the clearence was not good to get the wrench in there soI trimmed down the wrench and it worked great. I don't know if they still make them but I liked it better then the crane one I used last time.

 

Thats the truth! I have heard a lot of different complaints about problems with aftermarket tpi pieces fitting or clearing other parts.

 

I have two TPI Cars. One has a BBK. The other has a TPIS. I ran into the same problem with the bolt. I cut it shorter. I was pissed off though. I do have a problem with both regulators. The vaccum fitting falls off both regulators. I mean what a crappy design. Anyone else have this problem??

 

Yes I ran across the same problem and I used the grey gasket maker silicone due to its strength if you look at the pic I posted above closely you can see where I put it on the seem its pretty strong once it hardens.

 

Dam I wish I had seen this thred earlier. I just put a BBK one on my 88350TPI but I need the bolt backed a good ways out so I can lower the fuel pressure for the time being due to 24lb. injectors and stock prom.I was wanting 39-40 without Vac. and had to settle for 40. My bolt is backed out against the plenum and access to the adj. bolt sucks with an Accell FPG mounted to the schrader valve.

 

wow i was less than 8hrs from buying bbk....guess not now

 

I solved that problem, I modified my stocker. The adjustment range is limited by the bottom of the plenum, but I can go from 30-65psi with this setup (I just redid it over the weekend, the first time I did it I used a washer inside to push against the spring seat and it limited me from about 45-70psi, but I didn’t care since the car ran best with it set to 54 psi. This time I made a hollow bushing to fit inside the cup for the assembly rod to slide through while the bolt can push on the other side).

 

BTW, for anyone wondering, those are FMS/SVO 36’s (I only used them for fitup, it’s got 42’s in it now), and no, I didn’t use the retainer clips or any of the other monkeyed up approaches that I’ve heard about. They are pushed all the way down in the injector bosses and I cut the fuel rail stands down .110” so they actually hold the injectors correctly, you cannot move them up and down but you can twist them around. The stock injectors still fit as long as you install them without the clips.