Shorty Carburettor Tech Info
Some important information...
The S&S Style Shorty carburettors are fussy when it comes to fuel pressure. This is because in their original application they were gravity fed. For this reason it is absolutely necessary to run a fuel pressure regulator (FPR) to ensure that the float valve does not bypass
Most generic carburettor FPRs regulate fuel to between 4-7psi which is way too high for this style of carburettor. Ideally you need a fuel pressure regulator capable of regulating to 1.5psi. You also need to validate this with a fuel pressure gauge.
It is also worthwhile matching your fuel pump choice to your engine's fuelling requirements too. If the pump is too large then your FPR will continually bypass or the pump will be constantly over-working.
Suitable FPRs are Holley 12-804 or Malpassi Fuel King / Filter King. Be sure to purchase a good quality gauge to set the pressure. Do not be tempted to use a cheap components here as they will not be accurate.
If the fuel pressure is too high, the fuel pump will overcome the float valve and instead of stopping the fuel delivery as it should. Fuel will continually pump into the carburettor, causing an over-rich condition and making tuning impossible. In extreme cases excess fuel may even leak out of the carburettor.





