I have an 85 GS (12a) and am installing a new fuel pump. There is a joint that the fuel flows through after the fuel pump (between the pump and metal line that goes to the firewall). What does it do and can I bypass this joint?
Thanks
Justin

 

Also, the pump I picked up is an Airtex E8016s, it flows 2.5-4.5psi (60gph), should I take it back and get the one that flows 5-9psi?

 

paul yaw says to run around 2.5 psi for optimum performance.

 

If the "Joint" you are refering to is the item on the frame rail, with 2 fittings. That is the fuel cutoff. All it does is cuts off the fuel flow in the event the car is overturned.
You can bypass it, but you also are defeating it's purpose. Only time you will regret bypassing it, is if you somehow get the shiny side down.
As for the pump, stick with the lower pressure pump. The stock pump is only rated for 2.5-3PSI. Flow is more important than pressure, for a stock carb. Getting a higher PSI pump could lead to flooding issues, and require you to invest in a pressure regulator.

 

I replaced the pump with the higher pressure one before i could read your guys' posts. I talked to my friend at atkins and he said that all the extra fuel would be rerouted back to the tank anyway with the stock regulator. I drove it about 300 miles (hackensack to minneapolis and back) this week and haven't had any flooding problems, but I still need to choke it every time I start it, even after warm. It would only run after warmup with the choke on so I turned up the idle. It idles on its own now at about 1500 but its pretty rough. It stalls about 50% of the time after I let off the gas. I have the air/fuel set about 3 turns out, but can't remember what I have the idle screw set at (will check in the morning). Compression is 110psi on both rotors @ 139,000mi.
I got some more searching to do

 

Install an fpr and guage, get the fuel pressure down to where it should be, then start trouble shooting. It sounds like you have other issues besides just the fuel pressure. A 60 gph pump may be overwhelming the stock fpr, not because of pressure, but volume. With a Holley 1-4 psi fpr, you can remove the stock one from the system.

Turning up the idle and running with the choke out is going to kill fuel mileage not to mention ghetto. When's the last time you replaced the fuel filter?

 

I just got ahold of airtex and the pump flows 30gph @ 5-9psi. Im pretty sure I need to rebuild the carb because it was sitting for a couple years before I bought it.

 

Sounds like it, and now you definately need an fpr.