fuel rail and pressure regulator suggestions-78 280Z

[One Way]

Progress continues slowly on this resurrection project.  Acquired the car a few years back.  Had not been registered since 1996 and the storage years were not very friendly to this amazingly 100% complete and original car. Being over 40 years old and badly sitting for some 20 years, the fuel system needs a total restoration.  I am cleaning up the fuel rail-bit of surface rust in areas- and will be painting it with hi temp engine spray, primer and top coat.  I am assuming the fuel pressure regulator is bad, and know all the injectors are bad.  Am I better off to just replace the pressure regulator with the OEM factory style, or upgrade to an adjustable unit with a gauge?  This is a budget project with a basically stock engine rebuild in the plans.  This is not a " numbers matching restoration" but trying to build it as a reliable, fun, driver.  Is the adjustable regulator and gauge worth the necessary minor modifications-mounting bracket, plumbing, etc.?  Thanks for all the great input I have received from the great Z car people on this site, John-Lugoff, SC

[jonathanrussell]

I would stick with OEM regulator. I would buy and install in the engine bay a good fuel pressure gauge. Since you are replacing the injectors, I would probably wait and measure PSI with your current regulator before buying a new one. It is important to really understand what psi readings you should see at idle and under load / rev. See FSM and read forum messages.

Also, critical to make sure efi electrical connections are solid and clean, no vacuum leaks (follow the tiny vacuum lines that enable hvac controls, boot for afm / throttle body, egr valve, etc), clean fuel, etc.

 

[Zed Head]

Most of the adjustable regulators lost pressure rapidly after shutdown.  It's very annoying, people spend hours diagnosing hard start problems and end up replacing their regulators to one that doesn't leak down.  If you find that you need more fuel to the injectors it's better to add resistance to the coolant temperature sensor circuit.

Short - a good OEM style regulator will probably work best.

While you're on it though, replace all of the rubber fuel hose, especially the high pressure side.  Even back at the fuel pump.  They dry up and crack and split longitudinally and will probably leak.  Plus they're not designed for ethanol fuel.

[Zed Head]

And...if you really want to go an extra step for reliability, get an aluminum fuel rail.  These engines typically have heat soak/hot start problems and that is one thing that seems to really help the problem.  Very little worse than getting in to your car after 20 minutes in the store, with people watching and wondering about the cool little sports car, just to sit there for 30 seconds that seem like 30 minutes while the engine coughs and pukes until things cool down.

[siteunseen]

The '78's a lot easier to replace than the previous years.  It only has one inlet and then the return to the fuel tank line.  I bought from rockauto for about $70 IIRC?

I made myself an aluminum rail and it really helped displace the heat.

The critical measurements are in post #21 from our good friend @Willoughby Z

And Zeds dead on about those adjustable FPRs.  The only one I've ever read that held pressure was an Airtech I believe, $250.

You can make your own gauge for $20 and put it after the fuel filter similar to @EuroDat's.

Edited August 16, 2019 by siteunseen

[EuroDat]

I remember when you made that fuel rail @siteunseen.

Neat job.

[One Way]

Thanks for the great tips.  Every rubber hose is going to be replaced as we tackle this project.  The aluminum fuel rail looks a whole lot simpler and cleaner than the OEM style with all the tubing and fittings.  I will study that out a bit further.  I think the OEM rail has 3 open ends on it for the 78 model?  The aluminum rail seems to just have the 2-one on each end.  I will have to search through some pictures and see how one of those aluminum fuel rails is mounted and secured,  Thanks again, John-Lugoff, SC.

[One Way]

Been doing my research on this great website, even though I am an admitted and verifiable computer dummy, was not able to connect to some of the suggested links, the aluminum fuel rail seems to be an improved choice over the complex spaghetti bend tubing of the original.  Drilling and tapping are in my limited machining capabilities and seems like a doable project costing a lot less than the premade aluminum rails. Sounds like a fun challenge.  Just a couple of questions?  How is the new rail attached to the intake?  Are the barbed fittings tapped with NPT sizes or O-ring thread?  Do the threaded end of the fittings need to be flush with the interior base of the rail?  I could not seem to get the link with the measurements required but thought using the original rail as the template could also be a correct procedure.  Thanks for any additional experienced help and advice.  The aluminum fuel rail sure looks nicer, neater, cleaner than the spaghetti bend original fuel rail and sounds like it may also improve driveability and performance.  Thanks again, John, Lugoff, SC.

[One Way]

P.S.  Just found the measurement specs on the link.  Should be helpful.  Assuming this was a 3 ft fuel rail?  Some of the measurements were given from the end of the fuel rail , but the most important figures are the distances between each barb.  Thanks again, computer dummy John.

[siteunseen]

The injectors hold mine up nice and firm.  You'll need to get a '78 FPR and I used high heat threadlocker I believe from Permatex.  Tried teflon tape but it leaked.  That stuff dissolves in gas.  Just saw your post above, Slow Hand typer.  You buy it by the foot but it's actually shorter.  I'll measure mine and get the total length asap.  I have some photos on my laptop you need to see.  Run a "T" out the back, one to the FPR and the other side to the CSV.  

And the threads on the barbs won't reach into the main line of the rail.

[siteunseen]

It's a measure 10 times, check level up and down 6 times, don't get in a hurry job for sure but it's actually easy. I was quite surprised with my results.

Edited August 24, 2019 by siteunseen

[One Way]

Thanks for the great tips.  Teflon tape is a great sealer for household plumbing projects, but not very valuable when it comes to automotive or industrial applications involving gas or oil.  Sorry for the response delays but work-shorthanded as normal the past several months, church work-love serving my LORD and SAVIOR-and babysitting-always a lot of fun with the grandkids, get in the way of the car project at times.  Still waiting on some additional responses about the BCCD delete option or access to the diaphragms and gaskets needed.  Thanks again, John, Lugoff, SC