I have a 350 in a rock crawler with a 90-91 TPI setup on a new crate motor. The injectors in it are 19# FOTA B1A and I bought some 22.5# to replace them because it is running very lean.

What is the safe method of relieving the residual fuel pressure in the system?

Do I remove the plenum and tubes to get to the fuel rails, or can I remove the bolts from the rails and rotate them out of the way?

Is there anything in particular to watch out for, and do I change all seals and gaskets prior to reassembly?

Thanks in advance!
John

 

This is what I was told to do: when the car's idling, pull the fuel pump fuse. This burns off the excess pressure.

You'll definitely have to get the plenum and probably runners off before removing the fuel rails.

It's a quick/straightforward swap so if you've worked on a car before it shouldn't be a problem. Good luck!

 

Why not just put a rag over the schrader valve and push the center a few times? Only takes a few seconds and this will get rid of all the high pressure left in the system. You'll still have excess gasoline in there so you should put a rag under the rail line connections when you take it apart. The schrader on my TPI is located pass. side around the area under the vac. ports.

I definitely would not pull the fuse on the pump with the car running. I don't know just running a motor super lean until it stalls out doesn't sound like a really sound concept to me.

First off I would go buy the service manual. Much easier than just diving in and doing things.

As for gaskets and seals, yes I would change them. The intake kit is only about $20 or so, for that price it's cheap insurance for not having to take the thing apart again because you tried to save a few bucks and made a vacuum leak.

When pulling the rails make sure you don't loose any of the O-rings mounted on either ends of the injectors. It's easy to accidently leave one in the intake or fuel rail log. Also try not to drop any of the O-rings off the hard lines either. If you do rest assured there a few dollars to replace nothing to expensive. Since you're doing new injectors anyways, you might was well buy the extra fuel injector o-ring kit for about $10 also. They slowly harden over time and can be a real pain to get off. So saving a few bucks and causing more labor hours and possible leaks is not worth it in my opinion. If the hard line ones look good you could try to reuse them (they'll be easy to replace if they leak on the prime) or just spend the $5 on the new ones there.

 

I will get that gasket kit coming, and tear into it tonight! It is suprising how much you lose in the way of mechanical confidence and ability by not wrenching for the last 15 years!

Thanks again, John