I couldn`t be more happier with my purchace of a rust free CA `69 Elky......Drives great. Drove it from Chicago to Minneapolis (about six hours) in a complete state of euphoria
No stinks....No gassy, oily, antifreezy, or anything else all the way home......But then.....My entire townhome began to smell like gas after I got home and parked the TPI `69 Elky in my garage.
I was warned about the very hard "cold starts"..........My new Elky is awesome when awake....but as she sleeps, she bleeds gas onto the floor at the tank and it takes lots of time to get her to start, from a totally cold start.......As I began reading about these TPI conversions, I saw a return line was part of this fuel delivery system.......I just bought the car. I have no details for you.......but are you familiar with TPI and our beloved classic Chevys ? Can you direct me to any TPI conversion websites ? Please help me make this "show-stopping,driver" Elky worry free in the early, cold mornings.......At least give me a link...Please......I have pics if want........

CamaroZ28.Com Message Board

1968chev, I just looked at your rebuild pics and all I can say is awesome. I don't think very many people would even attempt, let alone do all that you did to bring that 68 back to life. I'm so impressed with your work, you did a great job, way to go.

most of the links on this page are very good.
http://www.scotthansen.net/links.html

There were a few different "flavors" of these systems, but all used a high pressure (45 psi or so) pump in the tank (your conversion may use an external pump) plumbed to the fuel rails. There is a 2 port regulator under the plenum, fuel rail goes in one side, return to tank out the other. The regulator is vacuum referenced, pressure goes up as vacuum decreases.

The system maintains the set psi by bypassing extra fuel back to the tank.

First things first, you need to get under the back of the car, figure out how they retrofit what plumbing, and find and fix the leak.

Best case: They put in a custom aftermarket tank made for EFI, and made to accept an OEM style internal fuel pump, which would include fuel supply, return line connection, and often gauge sending unit.

Worst case: They put an external pump on the stock fuel line (nothing really wrong with that) and tapped the return into the filler neck (these can be a big problem, and may be yours.)

I know about those tanks...those TPI tanks....$1000.00 bucks at least !!!.......Thanks for your input and hope to hear more from you....if you have the time.

Loads of time, and I seem to spend most of it on Team Camaro and here!
Definitely not a "tpi expert" by any means, but I have enough to muddle through most physical things.

There are some real good net resources on TPI, both tuning factory systems and retrofitting to other vehicles. You're kinda on the other foot, as your dealing with a retrofit that someone else did, so first thing will be to figure out what you got. At least it runs good, other than cold starts. Early TPI's had a 9th injector specifically for cold starts, that's probably where that problem is.

But first things first, fix that darned leak.

My money is on a filler tube return setup.

1968chev, I just looked at your rebuild pics and all I can say is awesome. I don't think very many people would even attempt, let alone do all that you did to bring that 68 back to life. I'm so impressed with your work, you did a great job, way to go.
Steve......Thanks, really,....I don`t know what else to say...

jim...............You seem to have a handle on this.......Thank you for your input, bigtime........Stay in touch...I have no clue here...Please help this old guy make his `69 Elky a "mindless driver"....muuhhoohoohaahaaaaaa...

Of course the gas leak needs fixed first.

I was warned about the very hard "cold starts"Can you hear the fuel pump run when you initially turn the ignition to the 'on' position?

When the ignition is turned to the 'on' position the fuel pump should run for approx 2 secs to pressure the system. This should be enough to start the engine. The fuel system also has a safety system working through the oil pressure sending unit. If the engine losses oil pressure the fuel pump shuts off. In the event of an accident and the engine dies the fuel pump won't continue to pump fuel.

If you don't hear the pump it is possible that engine has to cranked until there is enough oil pressure to turn on the fuel pump.

Of course being this is a TPI transplant it is possible to be wired very different.

The seller told me to cycle the "key on" signal 5 or 6 times (you can hear the electronic pump) to get the car started when cold.....Haven`t tried that yet....and then there is that drip, drip, drip leak from the front of the tank after major shutdown........Rust free..........but what do I do now !!!

The leak is your hard start problem.The fuel pressure should not bleed down when the key is off and it sounds like fuel is leaking out and therefore bleeding down. Get the leak found and alll should be good.

Was that the black one that was on e-bay a number of times?? If thats the one I wanted to buy that but the other half said......no. I was also wondering about the setup on that car. Hey good luck with it.

Didja find that leak yet?

Was that the black one that was on e-bay a number of times?? If thats the one I wanted to buy that but the other half said......no. I was also wondering about the setup on that car. Hey good luck with it.
....Yes, that`s the one. I`m very happy with it. It`s a very clean, solid car. I`m going to go check out the area that was leaking gas right now...Looks like it was coming from the sending unit area.......

www.thirdgen.org