anyone running one of the piston pumps ( www.racepumps.com ) with efi? I originally bought the pump and regulator because I thought this would be the easy and cheaper way out of doing an electric fuel pump in tank with the additional hassle of fuel lines. After researching, I am back to my original plan but want to know if anyone has done it and what to watch out for. I'm running a SBC with the edelbrock pro flo. I'll have to block off the regulator on the manifold, can I get away with just capping off the AN fitting for the return line or should I just remove the entire assembly and plug it. I saw a block off plate for the top somewhere but now I can't.

I'm not too thrilled with the priming procedures either - spray fuel into the throttle body.

I run the carb one on the sbc camaro.Don't know about the efi one,have run it w/ alky and gas and only time I have to prime it when I change carbs,i fill the bowls.Have you gone on the Q&A fourm or you can call Howard and he will work w/ you.I had to call him several times at first w/ questions.Only problems I had was w/ the regulator but been told he has fixed it.

That is why I don't see it as a good option with EFI.

Rick can you elaborate a little more?

79z I haven't hooked it up yet but I definitely trolled the forums and asked a few questions of howard..

The reason I bought it was I wouldn't have to do tank and fuel line mods which is why I'm back to thinking about using it with the cost and hassle of getting a fuel tank set up for an intank pump and some quality hardline or teflon fuel line. I guess if I figured out how to flare line, I could buy some aluminum tubing and just spend some time on my back running it. The cost would be roughly the same then. I also thought this system would have the ability to expand with me as I learned more but I've posted in 2 other forums and.... I don't want to be the first guy especially because my experience level is not up there.

I can't see how it would build pressure at cranking RPM, which is around 150 RPM or so. Also, most EFI units will prime the fuel rails so even before you begin cranking the pressure is 43 PSI, or the setpoint on the reg, That's what gives you the instant start.

I have not taked to them on the pump at all but in my head I can't see it building the pressure on crank. Although I certainly could be wrong.

The question flat out to ask them is, on cranking I need 43 PSI to fire my injectors for correct pulse width and pattern. Will your pump do that at 100 to 150 RPM?

Even if it will do that you'll still have some lag time as it will take some amount of cranking to get the pressure built up. Then as the pressure is building up the injectors are squirting some fuel in the runners, just not the correct amount.

It all may work, I just can't see how it would work smoothly, or at all maybe.

thats a good point, one scenario is - say it won't fire right away (loose coil wire), how long until the pressure bleeds off (assuming it doesn't build at cranking) and then I have to go through the priming procedure again..after finding the ignition problem. I'll get on the forum and post up the answer.

Here is the question I asked -
Howard - I have the EFI pump and reg that I'm about to install on my SBC with EFI. I checked around to see if anyone else has done it and so far can not find anyone running it on an EFI car. One of the forums told me to ask the following question to help determine if this is right for me -

on cranking I need 43 PSI to fire my injectors for correct pulse width and pattern. Will your pump do that at 100 to 150 RPM?

Also, say there is a loose coil wire, I assume the pressure thats held there will bleed off fairly quickly if it doesn't fire and I keep cranking the motor over? And I'll have to go through the priming procedure again (after diagnosing and locating the ignition problem and not a fuel delivery problem).

Answer I got...kind of vague or really just says 'we have a decent marketing strategy'?....I understand that once its primed and fuel basically jammed into the rails and against the regulator, it will maintain the set pressure unless something leaks like an injector. So is this concept good enough in efi systems?

"The Race Pumps EFI pumps and regulator combinations are well proven. Make sure you have the correct part numbers and they are plumbed correctly. The applications and plumbing diagrams are all on the website.

What happens if your coil wire is off?? Pretty much the same as any other fuel system, the engine of course won't fire, and it may be flooded when you plug the coil wire back in. (me - my question really relates to, if it doesn't fire right away, am I screwed? I guess only if I have leaky injectors?)

We have sold over 5,000 Race Pumps systems....at least 200 have been EFI."

I have thought about this problem also and what i had planned to do was to pumb in an electric pump on a separate parallel fuel line to prime it. Would just be a short section close to the tank. Probably need a check valve in the primary line so the electric pump doesn't push fuel back into the tank during priming.

that seems like a lot of trouble and makes for a more complex fuel system. I'm going to try and put a tune to it and see if I can get a few miles on it.

that seems like a lot of trouble and makes for a more complex fuel system. I'm going to try and put a tune to it and see if I can get a few miles on it.

Erik:
Did you ever sort out the bugs using the Racepump system with an EFI system?
I have the same dilemnia; the pump will not build enough pressure at cranking speed to satisfy the injectors. I thought about using a high pressure electric pump to prime and start, then switch over to the mechanical pump for driving.

I didn't, sold it for half of what I paid for :mad: too much of a headache for a car I'd like to potentially use as a daily driver. Your idea could work but it sounds like a lot of extra work ie extra 'systems' to compensate for one that doesn't do the job in the first place. Using OEM stuff is the way to go for us with limited pockets.

Thanks Eric!
I am gonna give it one more try by installing an electric pump with a one way valve to prime and start the engine.then turn the electric pump off and see if it keeps running. One dude had a hellva time with his Racepump on a carb setup.
The pump would vapor lock in heavy traffic and shut his engine down. Howard was kind enough to refund his money in lieu of bad publicity.
If my idea doesn't work, it will be on e-bay. Give me a few weeks and I'll let ya know.

many will be interested in your results, so please post back. By the way, what is the car & setup?

What is the advantage of having a mechanical fuel pump on an EFI motor?

none so far since no one seems to be able to make it work properly.