Removing Reed Valves

[driftandrally616]

I've been thinking of removing the pesky Reed Valves blocking almost everything on the head of my engine. I have a few questions though...Is there some trick to get them off of the head, or are they not removable? And also, once they are off, how can they be plugged? Thanks
Derek

[lanciahf]

Reed Valves unscrew from the head. Some 79 had two or one depending if an air pump was used. Bayless Fiat Lancia http://www.baylessfiat.com/ used to sell nice allen plug bolts for a clean looking install. The threads are metric so you might be able to find an "import oil pan plug" that might work at the local auto store.

[driftandrally616]

I checked on bayless with no such luck, but then again their catalog is practically a novel. But would anyone who had prior experience happen to know the size of the bolt and the thread in the head opening, I haven't removed them yet, but just for fuiure ease. Thanks

Derek

[mbouse]

go to sears, and buy a set of metric crow's feet. sears... not HF, for GAWD sakes!

the crow's feet are invaluable for removing such things as the reed valves, and for loosening the distributor hold down nut. in fact, i think both are 17mm.

once you have the reed valve removed from the head, you can easily go to Auto Zone, or Advanced Auto, or Auto Value (insert your favorite here).. and find the exact thread size metric oil pan plug.

piece of cake, easy peasy...

[driftandrally616]

Alrighty then, I'll give it a shot tomorrow...Another question o' mine, I found this valve? on one of the fuel hoses running from the fuel line to the fuel pump, so me being me, I removed it after searching for a bit with no avail. My question is, does this valve make a difference? Oh and sorry for the horrid pictures, my Gateway camera, that's right, doesn't like nighttime, inside or out.

Thanks,
Derek

[lanciahf]

That is a Fuel Pressure regulator. Ifs its not leaking leave it on. If you car has a mechanical fuel pump you do not need it, I ran my spider without one for years with out any problems. If your car has an electronic fuel pump then you should keep it. If yours is leaking then replace it with a modern equivalent. I use a Malpassi Filter King fuel pressure regulator.

Take Care,
Ralph

[driftandrally616]

Alright, I just replaced my mechanical for right now...an electronic pump may be in the future, so I'll keep the fuel pressure regulator in mind if I decide to switch. Thanks

Derek

[mbouse]

why would you wanna go thru all the trouble of pulling a perfectly functioning mechanical fuel pump....installing a blanking plate, and then wiring in a relay and a electric fuel pump?

there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with a mechanical fuel pump in your carbureted vehicle. it came with one. if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

and I would yank that flying saucer looking thing. there was a recall notice from Fiat in the early '80's that addressed that part (according to Chris Obert). it will fail, and may start leaking. the leak may cause an engine fire.. hence the reason for the recall.

fotunately for me, the failure only resulted in blocking all fuel flow to the carburetor.

the Fiat recommended replacement was a full length of fuel hose, with no gizmo in between.

[driftandrally616]

I don't know, I was thinking that electronic fuel pumps have a larger flow, but if not then I'm going to leave the mechanical one in there. No sense in removing it then. Yeah it's been running fine without the saucer thing, I don't think it was malfunctioning, but oh well...weight savings haha

Derek

[So Cal Mark]

the downside to mechanical pumps is the possibility of a diaphragm failure, fuel can then leak either externally or into the oil. It also requires the engine to crank before any fuel is pumped. With an electric, turn on the key, wait for a second then start the car

[stefhahn]

Well...I second Mikes words: I did eliminate the electric fuel pup when I got the car and did buy a brand new mechanical. Installation was a fingersnap. This was 15 years ago. It still delivers too much fuel (so the return line is fullfull) for the 115hp engine I have in my car.

No problem since with this 7.5€ part (cost at that time) - but I read electric fuel pump problems every other week - don't they have a diaphragm, too?

So my vote: go mechanical, less trouble, cheaper.

ciao,
Stefan

[So Cal Mark]

the mechanical pumps can also be a source of oil leaks

[mbouse]

well, mark. Dizzy's are a source of oil leaks as well...does that mean we go switch everything over to distributor-less ignitions like Dave did?

Carburetors all have a diaphram too. Does that mean that we switch everything over to fuel injection?

hardly!

everything mechanical is susceptible to failure, including the often talked about electric fuel pumps and their relay circuits. I'm willing to bet that the discussions about the electric pumps at this forum alone outweigh the mechanical pump discussions 8 or 9 to one.

[So Cal Mark]

yes, change it all over! The point I was making is that a fuel pump failure can cause some serious troubles. Fuel in the oil will wash the lubrication away from bearings and cyl walls. A small leak into the oil may not be discovered for a long period of time. That could cause severe engine wear.
A dizzy oil leak will cause smoke, really no other damage. A carb leak could cause a fire, but not a certainty. So, if you can improve something, why not. These cars were designed with compromises like every other car. Electric pumps do not have diaphragms anymore. You'd have to get an electric pump from the 40s-50s to find one with a diaphragm. Several years Spiders came from the factory with electric pumps

[stefhahn]

Yes, right: from 1980 to 1985 Spiders got the electric fuel pump
But this discussion seems to drift to a similar discussion I had years ago when we were talking carbs vs. FI on a Spider (yes, I'm the carb guy )

And even I am not exactly keen to install a electric fuel pump in my Spider I understand and agree that this might make sense for some setups.

ciao,
Stefan