"soft" needle and seat for FI units

[Jerry G.]

The NOS needle and seat assemblies that I have for my FI cars are hard metal to metal seats. I have have a problem with minor specs of stuff causing an inability to shut off fuel. i have replaced all fuel lines and filters. I seem to remember a needle and seat that had a soft "rubber" sealing surface. Does anyone know where I could purchase some of these design assemblies. Jerry

[Dan H.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

Jerry, most repro rebuild kits I've gotten had the rubber tip vrs the solid OEM needle. Make sure the soft tip is one to hold up in your fuel. I still use the original solid ones, can't hurt them with the 'gasohol' stuff they're selling now. Degregory may have spares.
Dan

[John D.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

Jerry, "Minor specs of stuff" as you well know my friend has to go. Nothing trashes a fuel injection more than dirt.
I use a lot of viton needle & seats in my restorations as great for ethanol and helps prevent flooding.
But on your race car you would want to use the original GM steel N&S as the orifice size is larger.
Dan, Here in SW corner of PA the term gasohol isn't used anymore. Now they sell crappy ethanol for onlly 3.65 a gallon for rot gut. JD

[Jerry G.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

You are correct John. I just finished replacing the fuel cell, cleaning the pumps, installing new teflon lined stainless braided lines and a Kinsler canister 10 micron fuel filter. BUT... in racing something always goes wrong so i'm thinking a soft seat provides an additional belt and suspendor to INSURE fuel shutoff. Are you concerned the racing fuel will deteriorate the soft seat? Any other suggestions? It's really scary to see fuel coming out the vent cover of the fuel meter onto a hot engine!

[Clem Z.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

You are correct John. I just finished replacing the fuel cell, cleaning the pumps, installing new teflon lined stainless braided lines and a Kinsler canister 10 micron fuel filter. BUT... in racing something always goes wrong so i'm thinking a soft seat provides an additional belt and suspendor to INSURE fuel shutoff. Are you concerned the racing fuel will deteriorate the soft seat? Any other suggestions? It's really scary to see fuel coming out the vent cover of the fuel meter onto a hot engine!

a holley needle is viton tipped. i have machined them for different carbs that used a metal needle to get better sealing. i used the original needle seat and just changed the needle. some had to be machined down in diameter and some needed sleeved to make larger diameter. holley also makes a spring loaded needle for rough conditions where the float vibrates

[Stuart F.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

Are there Tomco Valves available for Fuelies? Use them in place of needle/seats in my AFB's as they are larger (flow more) which allows lower float settings, and they seal well. They, as you all probably know, use a Viton disc and plunger.

Stu Fox

[Clem Z.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

Are there Tomco Valves available for Fuelies? Use them in place of needle/seats in my AFB's as they are larger (flow more) which allows lower float settings, and they seal well. They, as you all probably know, use a Viton disc and plunger.

Stu Fox

my guess is that the FI needle/seat is the same as certain rochester carbs.

[Jerry G.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

Are there Tomco Valves available for Fuelies? Use them in place of needle/seats in my AFB's as they are larger (flow more) which allows lower float settings, and they seal well. They, as you all probably know, use a Viton disc and plunger.

Stu Fox

Sounds interesting. Has anybody ever tried this? Jerry

[Stuart F.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

Believe I still have one that I used in a Quadrajet years back. Recently, I got them in an AFB rebuild kit from Eckler's so I assume they are still being made/marketed by someone. Their hype literature claims they are specially suited to control hot soak drip (my words). I use them along with lower than specified float settings to help control the "stinky garage syndrome" associated with today's crappy gas. I also like the fact that they have the hex shape which allows easy and more precise installation using a socket, rather than a flat blade screwdriver.

Stu Fox

[Tom P.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

Sounds interesting. Has anybody ever tried this? Jerry

Jerry,
Email me at home, tparsons6@cox.net

[Clem Z.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

Believe I still have one that I used in a Quadrajet years back. Recently, I got them in an AFB rebuild kit from Eckler's so I assume they are still being made/marketed by someone. Their hype literature claims they are specially suited to control hot soak drip (my words). I use them along with lower than specified float settings to help control the "stinky garage syndrome" associated with today's crappy gas. I also like the fact that they have the hex shape which allows easy and more precise installation using a socket, rather than a flat blade screwdriver.

Stu Fox

here is what you need so you don't slip out of the slots

[John D.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

The repro viton needle and seats are not really repro at all. They are actually made for RP carbs as one of you said. But they have to be altered some to be used on the FI's. Remember the orifice is smaller but I love them because they seal better. One nice thing about the viton N&S is that they will withstand more pump pressure than the steel needle. Now this info came from Brian Futo many years ago. Don't know if it's correct or not. And now wish I hadn't said it.

[Clem Z.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

the stainless steel needles have a steeper angle which help clear debris thru better than the viton tipped ones which have a flatter angle BUT they seal better because they are more pliable and conform to the seat better. if they used a steeper angle on the viton ones they would stick in the seat.

[Michael H.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

The repro viton needle and seats are not really repro at all. They are actually made for RP carbs as one of you said. But they have to be altered some to be used on the FI's. Remember the orifice is smaller but I love them because they seal better. One nice thing about the viton N&S is that they will withstand more pump pressure than the steel needle. Now this info came from Brian Futo many years ago. Don't know if it's correct or not. And now wish I hadn't said it.

I never had any problems/issues with the original Rochester needle & seat assembly in FI units. I'm not sure what problem we're trying to correct here??

The original seat flows more than enough fuel for competition use.

[Paul Y.]

Re: "soft" needle and seat for FI units

I have always used the original needle and seat and after 90K miles I have never had a problem with them either. Never any fuel starvation either.