In my opinion, you don't need over 5 lbs on a AFB/Performer. You need fuel lines sized properly to provide volume, not high pressure.

 

inspector is right, its the lines, not the pressure. unfortunatly the lines could prove expensive as all the parts add up if your re doing your fuel system

 

Well, I've got stock lines throughout. Max I'm looking at 260-270 hp. So is the best route a fuel pressure regulator and the stock pump, or should I shell out for the edelbrock performer pump? I want the most cost-effective option! (don't we all)

 

install a reg and drop pressure to 4.5-5 lbs before the throttle shafts and every other gasket leaks like mine did

 

well just make sure its the fuel thats providing your problems, because you can easily spend 1000$ on a fuel system. think about everything involved. you have all the lines, you would probably want something in the -6 an range and then a decent electric pump or good mech pump. then you need to change fitting maybe ad a regulator and a good gauge perhaps a return line? beleive me make sure you need a fuel system before you buy one. how good is your engine holding up? could it be soemthing else?

you should be ok with the system you have.
but yes drop that pressure down to atleast 5. or you will have more problems soon enough

 

Thanks for the help, everyone. "More problems soon enough" doens't bode well for me, though! I've already put on 300-400 miles on it! Is there anything I should look for as far as "more problems?" I'm running to the parts store in a bit to get a new pump to carb line and a regulator. Anything else?

 

i didnt mean to scare you, but with too much pressure you could ruin the carb. it is important to have around 5 and you shoudld be gold. and a good fuel pressure gauge is a good idea
with a good gauge you will be able to determine if you need larger lines or you can play around with the regulator

 

Whew! Thanks, I'm on it.

 

yeah no worries, im working on a blower motor so my fuel needs are pretty crazy compared to my old sbc. learning alot along the way but i found my best advice is to look at the big picture and its better to spend the extra money doing something right then to try to get away with stuff.

 

"Anything else?"

Yeah, resist the thoughts of using a cheezy dial-type regulator. Lay down the green to purchase a good quality regulator and forget it.

A long-respected quote from somebody......
"The sour taste of poor quality is remembered long after the sweet taste of low cost is forgotten"

 

The factory fuel lines should be fine for the 260-270hp you're talking about. The problem with excessive fuel pressure is overcoming the ability of the needle valves to keep fuel out of the bowl when it's full. Too much pressure would overflow the bowl out of the vent and flood and possibly hydro-lock a cylinder (I've had it happen, had to pull the plugs and drain the fuel from the cylinders).

When you're saying it's a bit sluggish off the line are you experiencing a bog or is it just slow to take off?

 

The throttle response just isn't what I think it should be, I guess. Medium throttle off the line feels pretty good, then full throttle feels not much better. I've got 2.73s, and I know those don't help, but I can't even chirp the tires right now. Otherwise it pulls real nice up to 5k rpms. I've got an edelbrock performer cam, headers, and a mallory HEI. The carb is the 600 cfm performer. I have to recurve the distributor yet, but I figured I'd get my fuel pressure sorted first. Thanks