Holley Fuel Regulator Problems
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2023
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Holley Fuel Regulator Problems
Seems like i cant catch a break with the new parts ive been purchasing. 1st i had a new fuel sending unit go bad after 2 weeks. Now my Holley regulator is not working. Both parts were installed back in March so both are out of warranty. I had the regulator set at 5.5 psi and car was idling awesome. Finally got around to installing my lock up kit for the 700r4 yesterday and car wouldnt start. Had a bad smell of gas and found that the carb was flooding. Well it turns out the regulator was not regulating the fuel anymore. The car has never seen the road and was probably only started 10 times and let idle for 10 minutes each time. So i took off the regulator this morning and opened it up thinking the diaphram must be torn, but it wasnt. Looks to be in really good shape. Could the regulator have gotten stuck? Tried adjusting while on car but no change at all. Has anyone experienced this type of issue with holley regulators? What could have caused this?
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
The $50 or less regulators are hit and miss. They seem to fail for no reason. I bought one for $60+ and it seems easier to adjust, but not great. I'm guessing the inexpensive ones are designed to fail so we'll dump $100-$200 in a dependable regulator.
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Seems like i cant catch a break with the new parts ive been purchasing. 1st i had a new fuel sending unit go bad after 2 weeks. Now my Holley regulator is not working. Both parts were installed back in March so both are out of warranty. I had the regulator set at 5.5 psi and car was idling awesome. Finally got around to installing my lock up kit for the 700r4 yesterday and car wouldnt start. Had a bad smell of gas and found that the carb was flooding. Well it turns out the regulator was not regulating the fuel anymore. The car has never seen the road and was probably only started 10 times and let idle for 10 minutes each time. So i took off the regulator this morning and opened it up thinking the diaphram must be torn, but it wasnt. Looks to be in really good shape. Could the regulator have gotten stuck? Tried adjusting while on car but no change at all. Has anyone experienced this type of issue with holley regulators? What could have caused this?
If you have dirt on the needle and seat in the carburetor it will flood regardless of pressure.
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The needle and seat stick more often than not on Holley carbs, not sure about quadrajet. If you tap the fuel bowl lightly on top of the adjustment screw on a Holley it will usually pop free and not be a problem for quite a while
Thread Starter
Instructor
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 126
Likes: 22
The fuel gauge is right after the regulator and it maxes out. The day before i had it set at a consistant 5.5 psi and idling perfect. I have an edelbrock carb.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2023
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2023
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2026 Loser of the Year
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From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
I really think something is wrong with the design of the cheaper Holley fuel pressure regulators.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2023
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From: Orlando, FL.
The old Holley #12-803 regulators of a couple of decades ago and further back were trustworthy and not expensive, everybody used them and generally without issue; now though, I don't believe they are manufactured here in the U.S.A. anymore, and unfortunately we can no longer expect the past history of reliability from the new product.
Scott.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2023
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The old Holley #12-803 regulators of a couple of decades ago and further back were trustworthy and not expensive, everybody used them and generally without issue; now though, I don't believe they are manufactured here in the U.S.A. anymore, and unfortunately we can no longer expect the past history of reliability from the new product.
Scott.
Scott.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
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I had a couple of Holley regulators. ONe was supposed to be for high pressure EFI elctric pumps with a bypass, it didnt work out of th ebox an dI sent it back. Had another that wouldnt go low enough as advertised, sent it back. Had one that was for low pressure and it was working great but want to have a bypass regulator, thats whats in it now with a return line and it works great so far. I think its a more expensive one
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2023
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I had a couple of Holley regulators. ONe was supposed to be for high pressure EFI elctric pumps with a bypass, it didnt work out of th ebox an dI sent it back. Had another that wouldnt go low enough as advertised, sent it back. Had one that was for low pressure and it was working great but want to have a bypass regulator, thats whats in it now with a return line and it works great so far. I think its a more expensive one
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Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,212
Likes: 9,350
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Those are right in the middle, my last one was the 842 which is $165. It has an idle bleed which let's the pressure drop at idle so I don't blow past the needle....I like it.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2023
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From: Orlando, FL.
Poor quality product is not solely an issue to be attributed to the Holley brand, it's everywhere, as 'cheap' is what the buyers are lunging for first most often, and the manufactures/retailers are forced to respond to this whim. But yes, as stated previously, if you just move into the $150.00 (and up!) range these products do generally become significantly better.
And of course, purchasing the correct application product always helps too.
Scott.
And of course, purchasing the correct application product always helps too.
Scott.