An interesting find....to keep or not to keep.....?

["Turbo-T"]

As a newbie Turbo Buick owner, I posted some pics of my car, and engine pics. A few of you mentioned when you saw this pic....

That I had a "non adjustable fuel pressure regulator. So of course I ordered one, as well as a new fuel pressure gauge.

Well I decided just for the sake of it, to hook up the fuel pressure gauge and take a reading in park, engine running, vacuum line on....got 38 PSI at idle in park.

Went to start removing the old regulator, pulled off the hose and saw this.....

Hhhmmm.....is that a screw slot I see there.........?????

Let's try it.....

Sure enough it fits! And I'm able to adjust the fuel pressure. In fact I had like 42 PSI w/o the hose attached, and was able to bump it up to 45!!

Now.....can someone please tell me what type of regulator I have here? Is this supposed to be one of those "sneaky" ones made by Bowling Green Customs that I read about on gnttype.org?

And now for the big question....this is the new one I just ordered by Accufab....should I install it? Is it better than the one I have on the car now?

Here's the Accufab I just purchased....

 

[SouthernCal GN]

That modded reg is an old school way to do the same thing as the Accufab. Granted, the Accufab is rebuildable, and is newer, and is shiny bling....

I like the stealth of the 233 reg with the adjustment screw!

Keep it!

 

["Turbo-T"]

So that's just a stock regulator that someone made into an adjustable..?

 

[SouthernCal GN]

Yup! Basically, the screw presses on the diaphram in the reg, increasing pressure at the rail...same as the Accufab.

Mebbe I can dig up the instructions I had once upon a time......

 

["Turbo-T"]

Oh...ok. I was thinking it was one by Bowling Green Customs, as this comes from
gnttype.org...

Adjustable regulators are highly recommended for tuning purposes. Several adjustable regulators are available. ATR and CPP both sell a similar style black regulator that consists of a stock bottom with a billet top and an adjustment screw. Kenne-Bell sells a nonstock billet replacement that is blue anodized. Bowling Green Customs sells a very sneaky stock appearing regulator that is adjusted via a set screw hidden in the vacuum port. The Accufab unit (same as the Kenne-Bell, Modern Muscle unit) is a billet piece.

Technical FAQ

 

[SloGN]

i have one thats done by kenne bell. it uses a very small allen wrench that goes down into the vac port itself. it has on it bosch 233 just like the stocker i have a accufab alum on the car right now tho.

 

[dozer]

That regulator looks identical to the one that I have on my T. The one I have is from Holley, the only difference is mine is still aluminum and hasn't been painted black yet.

 

[Grumpy]

NOT a BG Custom .. Most had the allen head adjuster inside

 

[jcawley3]

I like for if your trying to be sneaky....but if your going to upgrade all the other stuff????

 

[notacarlo]

Put on the Accufab and ditch the fire hazard.

 

["Turbo-T"]

Fire Hazzard....????

That bad?????

 

[corsair231]

Looks like a Holley. If I remember correctly they came painted red for a while also. I've had mine more than 5 years. Like anything you can get good or bad. My take, If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

["Turbo-T"]

Well it's not leaking but I do have a new unit from Accufab. I ordered it because I thought for sure this was a non adjustable unit.

Of course I've not yet took it out to test the pressures to make sure nothing kooky is going on.

 

[Black Car]

Take the car out with a FP gauge where you can read it. Check to see if the old regulator will maintain the 1# fp per 1# of boost rate of rise.
If it does then I would change it at this time. I would paint it to make it look better.
Just my 1cent.
Gary

 

["Turbo-T"]

Take the car out with a FP gauge where you can read it. Check to see if the old regulator will maintain the 1# fp per 1# of boost rate of rise.
If it does then I would change it at this time. I would paint it to make it look better.

I did take the car out today, and according to the fuel pressure gauge it does seem to raise the pressure 1 PSI per PSI of boost.

I've considered maybe replacing it with the Accufab unit, then painting it and listing it on ebay, and seeing how much it brings. I figure it might be worth something to someone who is looking to make their GN/T-type look stock yet be able to be more tunable.

 

[87GNSteve]

Take it off and install the Accufab and save that one incase you have to get emissions tested. Since the underhood inspection prohibits adj. FPRs. Or sell it to someone in an Emissions state.

 

["Turbo-T"]

Thanx for the heads up, but why would an inspection prohibit an adjustable fuel pressure regulator?

 

[SouthernCal GN]

Thanx for the heads up, but why would an inspection prohibit an adjustable fuel pressure regulator?

Some states (CA is a prime example) have both a sniff test and a visual check. An AFPR can make you fail the visual check in that state unless the part has an exemption number displayed on the car.

 

[novaderrik]

Yup! Basically, the screw presses on the diaphram in the reg, increasing pressure at the rail...same as the Accufab.

Mebbe I can dig up the instructions I had once upon a time......

i would very much like to see those instructions..

 

["Turbo-T"]

I took some of you guy's advice and removed it, I did notice some red paint beneath the black but don't know if someone painted it to look that way or not.

Of course I am still trying to figure out how someone doing a safety check would even know what an adjustable pressure even is. It's not like a catalytic converter where everyone has one.

Here's a pic: http://www.turbobuick.com/forums/tu...d-you-do-your-gn-tr-today-12.html#post1842996