The engine is now almost completely back together. The most significant section missing is the fuel rail and injector assembly which I had put together last week. All there was left to do was put it back on. I have to admit I was a bit nervous about this. The fuel will be pumped through there at around approximately 35-40 psi (depending on engine demand). That’s about the same pressure as a garden hose nozzle. If the line leaks that’s gasoline being sprayed all over a potentially hot, sparking engine. I’d prefer to not burn this car up before I even get a chance to drive it a little, so some caution is warranted here.
First, though, the actual installation of the rail. I reconnected the fitting on the incoming fuel line. This went a lot smoother than I thought it would which, honestly, makes me even more nervous. This line and fitting have to contain the highest pressure of the fuel line. I used Permatex 59214 on the fitting’s threads to help keep the connection nice and sealed. I’ve heard it suggest that this can be tested before ignition by jumpering the fuel in-tank and primary fuel pump fuses to turn them on. On my car that’s fuse 4 for the tank pump and 6 for the main pump. Seeing as how I don’t have the battery connected yet, that’ll have to come later. The rest of the process was just a matter of seating the injectors into the intake manifold and bolting the rail down taking care to attach the grounding terminals. The fuel return line is then put back onto its port and clamped down, the vacuum line from the regulator goes to the side of the throttle body, and finally the injector control cables are plugged back in.
My battery has been sitting in the garage since I originally started this work, so it will need recharging before I can test for fuel leaks. I will probably take the opportunity to change the oil. Who knows how long it has been since that last happened? Given how long the engine has sat without turning I’m guessing most of the oil has settled back down in the pan by now. Pouring new oil in from the top will help lubricate the engine a little before I start cranking it again.