In today’s video, Jeremy Stoermer with Holley Performance is going to teach you how to choose a fuel pressure regulator for a carbureted engine setup.

Stoermer will explain how understanding your particular fuel pump design’s flow, maximum working pressure, and amperage draw will play a role in selecting a great regulator for your fuel system that will be a good match for your fuel pump.

Most lever-style mechanical fuel pumps don’t require a fuel pressure regulator. Some electrical fuel pumps have regulators built into them, which eliminates the need to use an external one.

But if your fuel pump does require an external regulator, Stoermer will cover the most popular regulator options:

  • Deadhead Fuel Pressure Regulators
  • Bypass Fuel Pressure Regulators
  • Regulator Manifolds

…

Deadhead style regulators are the most common, and they are installed between the fuel pump and carburetor. They have limitations in high performance applications.

Bypass style regulators are a better option for high-power engines and racing applications. The bypass design helps to eliminate pressure creep, lower fuel temps, and provides a more stable pressure curve, Stoermer said.

A common misconception is that bypass regulators are only used in fuel injection applications. It’s not true.

By plumbing bypass regulators before the carb, drag racers can use higher pressures in the feed line to help counteract the high g-forces generated from hard launches.

Also, using a bypass regulator is one of the most effective ways to prevent vapor lock when running a carburetor.

Regulator manifolds allow for using two, three or even four regulators with a single fuel pump, which gives users a ton of flexibility to make fuel system adjustments.

Check out the video for more information on how to choose a regulator for carbureted vehicles.