Fuel return line

[Noah96]

Looking to install a fuel return on my quadrajet. Was wandering if anyone has done this before or could drop a link to a similar post. Hoping this will help with the reliability of my q-jet.

[Steeveedee]

The fuel return line is generally on the fuel pump. Are you having problems with flooding due to high fuel pressure?

[Noah96]

No not flooding but with this heat having some problems and figure a return line would help with this hesitation and surges im having. Wanting to keep more of a steady fuel to air ratio

[kwmech]

You have headers?

[Noah96]

Stock ramhorn headers

[kwmech]

Assuming original V8, you should have a 3/8 fuel line. If that is heating up and creating vapor lock, then you'll have find out why the fuel is getting hot in the line. Later model Big blocks had a problem with this and the factory put in a 1/2'' steel line on the frame to counter act

[RustyPile]

Originally Posted by Noah96

No not flooding but with this heat having some problems and figure a return line would help with this hesitation and surges im having. Wanting to keep more of a steady fuel to air ratio

Fuel return lines don't normally start at the carburetor. They start at the fuel pump and go back to the tank.. What's so great about a Quadra-jet is they are soooo forgiving.. The carburetors are jetted at the factory for the region where the vehicle will be sold, and due to the design, the carburetor will perform just fine in MOST other regions.. If your truck or carburetor has "migrated" a great distance, or altitude, from it's point of origin, say, from Colorado to the Gulf Coast area, you may have to re-jet it.. Hot air is "thinner" than cold air and will make the mixture richer.. If your seasonal temperature ranges are normal in nature, your carburetor is rich all the time during those changes and the hot weather just aggravates the condition and sends the mixture ratio "over the line".

If your suspect your carburetor is getting hot and boiling off the fuel in the reservoir, install a thick gasket or heat shield of some sort between the carburetor and manifold..

I give the following advice to everyone. The worst thing you can do is just make guesses at the problem and start throwing parts at it, hoping something "sticks".. Use good diagnostic procedures, locate the exact cause of the problem and act accordingly..

[RustyPile]

90% of most carburetor problems are in the ignition system.. Improper timing for the octane of the gas, loose or worn timing chain, distributor cap and/or ignition rotor, early stage ignition module failure, weak coil, floating points, pitted/improperly adjusted points -- all will give similar symptoms you describe...

[Ironangel]

^^^He Gets It!^^^

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by RustyPile

90% of most carburetor problems are in the ignition system.. Improper timing for the octane of the gas, loose or worn timing chain, distributor cap and/or ignition rotor, early stage ignition module failure, weak coil, floating points, pitted/improperly adjusted points -- all will give similar symptoms you describe...

Bingo!