What is the best way to check fuel pressure on a TBI? Does anyone have a drawing of a home made gizmo or something?

 

I dont know any other way than getting a fuel pressure gague. I got the Summit 0-30 psi with their little t fitting ($5) and then cut the rubber line and clamped it down hard. I was worried that the 16 psi system would blow the fitting off, but I didnt have any problems. Its kind of a ghetto way of doing it, but I didnt want to cut the hard lines and couldnt afford braided lines at the time.

 

Makes sense, almost to simple. I had this complicated adapter vision in my head, but only 16 psi is not that big of a deal. Thanks. Anyone else have any ideas?

 

I made an adapter from the end fittings of an old fuel filter, a copper refirigeration 'T' and refrigeration Schrader valve, allong with a little tube swaging and silver solder. It was sized and spaced to replace the filter, which is a PITA on a ThirdGen.

 

Thanks Vader, I'll try it.

 

Vader, what are the fuel filter threads? I want to move the filter up to the front to the flex lines or replace it all together with a clear homemade filer housing using reusable elements.
For $30 you can have yourself a t-fitting for the flex lines and a 1.5" 0-30psi liquid filled gauge that'll give you good readings when compensated for it's sensativity to temp. On a cool nite, hold the housing and watch the pressure reading change.

 

Which hose do you cut into?? I see two lines and does this gauge reflect the changes you make with your regulator on the TBI unit???

 

You cut the hose that goes to the bigger metal line. It is usually the top one. The inlet side of the TBI is on the drivers side. In my case I remembered that I had a VDO inline pressure gauge in my truck. It read from 0-30. I cut the hose and installed it, then used a double ended barbed fitting, and some hose clamps to put it back together. As it turn out, I did have a pressure problem, and was only getting 5psi. But this was after assuming the pressure was fine, and I spent days chasing down other stuff. The damper on the fuel pump was leaking and letting all the pressure back into the tank. Good luck.

 

And yes it will reflect changes made at the regulator.

 

Thanks, Tmony will try as soon as my stuff gets here from Summit.

 

brians (z28 boy) has a bad *** setup, might want to check it out

 

16 psi aint crap, coolant system gets to 15 psi and all you need is hose clamps for that...

 

Here's my Summit 15psi liquid filled fuel gauge.

 

Ok I installed my pressure guage and I am running at 12.5 psi is that right for my motor and really no major mods as you see below.

 

Yes that is perfect. It's at the upper end , but good.

 

anyone know if theres supposed to be a difference between the pressure at open loop and the pressure at closed loop?

 

If you are talking about fuel pressure, there shouldn't be. I know on the TPI cars there is a drop at idle that is controlled byt the regulator, but I couldn't say for sure about TBI cars. I was the guy that started this thread, and once I got my problem solved, the fuel pressure stayed at a constant 11-12 psi.

 

here is mine...i have made a lot of changes since this pic was taken (a year or so ago) but it is still basically the same.

i know this is probably a little more than you were looking for, but it may give you some ideas.

i have a whole page or two dedicated to TBI fuel lines etc. on my site (in my sig) if you need any info.

-brian