Aircooled VW South Africa

Some of you may have seen the farm buggy I built on the project thread.

I ran an electric pump with 0,3 bar pressure.

The old hands on this forum explained in extensive detail that it is too much - but I did not listen.

I made a point of it to drive the buggy every day after work for about 10km to see if anything needed adjustment and to make sure it was running fine before I took it to the farm.

The last couple of days it struggled to start. I fiddled with the coil, condenser and also thought it may be the bad dizzy I bought (points don't open equally on the cam).

Nothing solved it.

So I did the next best (worst) thing, I advanced the timing...

I thought it best to take it out for a long drive the next day (about an hour or so). Luckily I then noticed a small amount of fuel leaking from the intake seals as I walked past it. Then I knew, my carb has flooded and the excess fuel ran down the intake and into the engine. The fuel pressure was just too much.

Pulled the dipstick and it reeked of gasoline - petrol in the oil.

If I had gone for that hour drive the next day, it would have been the end of my project...

Happy to report that after I took off the heads, there was no sign of heat damage and the pistons, rings and valves looked in good nick.

I ordered an EMPI fuel pressure regulator from Volkspares in SA (very good service btw) and it will be here tomorrow.

Lesson learnt. 0,1 bar over the limit is just too much.

Cheers

Oh and I need to add, the spark plugs looked like it was wiped through the arse of a coal miner.

This is the pressure regulator I was advised to get:

Glad you caught it in time!!!

Question?.......like the regulator but how will you measure the pressure ? Ie also looking for a pressure gauge that can give a measure to set the regulator

Haans

Haans wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2019 6:33 pm Glad you caught it in time!!!

Question?.......like the regulator but how will you measure the pressure ? Ie also looking for a pressure gauge that can give a measure to set the regulator

Haans

The top side (bottom side in the pic) has a dial like a bottle cap which you can turn to the correct pressure. This regulator can be set for anything up to 5psi

The instructions

glad you caught it.
I know of someone who told me my fuel pumps were too expensive, but after he bought the 4th wrong pump is still having fuel pressure issues...
rather set your pressure low with that regulator. If it is an EMPI unit, its likely nowhere near accurate.

mmm, it looks identical tot he one Branden fitted to his bus. One drive to town he pulled over and we opened the bay, that regulator with a shiny knob was leaking fuel everywhere! Please check this before your fit it in your engine bay.

for more info on what you should have bought
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=38595&p=330647#p330631

I saw a YouTube video of a lady that fitted that same regulator, with negative results.

Tony Z wrote: ↑Sat Oct 05, 2019 11:38 am for more info on what you should have bought
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=38595&p=330647#p330631

Yes, I got the Holley one from Motown in Stikland for about R800 for my Mercedes. The regulator worked fine but I ended up removing it because I got a German fuel pump with the right pressure.

Well, the die has been cast.

The buggy is going to the farm on Friday. The empi will just have to do for now. I fitted right above the gearbox (below the loadbind) so any leakage will not be onto hot bits.

I will report on its performance as time goes by.

Anyone got any details on the holley one? Just in case...

Hope it works ok for a while, but I'd really suggest you do what Tony suggests and get the Holley unit, or better yet, the correct pump. The Empi stuff is just bad and dangerous.
Keep a fire extinguisher on-board.

regards

Alan

Why aren't you using the stock pump?

Ricoffy wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 6:35 am Anyone got any details on the holley one? Just in case...

Tony Z wrote: ↑Wed Feb 27, 2019 1:34 pm

73type2 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 27, 2019 11:08 am Sorry man. Not in Paris anymore. I'm now in Cape Town. I'll contact the shop in Alberton. Thanks.

what you need is the holley HO 12-804
this regulated between 1 and 4 psi, adjustable
if they dont have, then buy HO 12-803 and the rebuild kit which comes with springs for both the 12-804 and 12-803. Then swap springs, you now have the lower pressure one.

Try All American Parts in Milnerton or Motown in Stikland
All American is cheaper