Fuel Injection Fuel Meter Cover Gasket

[William C.]

On my 61 the Fuel filter to fuel meter was leaking fuel and someone( Documentation i have would be Tucker Performance in Las vegas) installed and incorrect fitting, and teflon tape.!!

So i pulled it all apart and purchased the correct fitting for the fuel filter to the fuel meter.
While i had the filter off i refinished it with a cad finish.
I used the proper Loc Tight 545, NO teflon.

No more leak and fired right up and runs great.

But now i have a weep around the fuel meter cover gasket.

I have been looking online and see the gasket kits for the entire unit. but i want o buy just the one gasket, Anyone have any ideas ?

Here are some before and after pics.

[George W.]

Re: Fuel Injection Fuel Meter Cover Gasket

William,

The go to guy for this is John DeGregory (2855). The pics look like "bubba" may have cracked the top where the fitting goes into the fuel meter top cover.
I have seen this happen when over tighting the fiting. See what John has to say about this. You did good on the cad finish of the filter case.
Good luck.

[William C.]

Re: Fuel Injection Fuel Meter Cover Gasket

correct someone ( bubba) re tapped the fuel meter cover to 1/4 ntp thus the brass fitting . i also removed the old brass one and installed a new one. with the proper loc tight.
I see eastwood sells a cad brush may try it on the fitting to get rid of the brass look.

It is solid now.. just the fuel meter cover gasket is weeping .

Thanks

[Don H.]

Re: Fuel Injection Fuel Meter Cover Gasket

William, You need to determine exactly where it is leaking. As George stated, that fuel inlet fitting was many times over tightened and cracked. If that is the problem you can temporarily fix with loctite but the long term fix is a new cover. The fuel bowl cover was reproduced at one time but I am not sure if they are still available. If it is the fuel bowl top cover leaking you could try to tighten the bolts VERY CAREFULLY - do not strip them. If that does not stop the leak you might need a new gasket or the cover could be warped. If you need a new gasket I would go ahead and buy a kit, especially if you plan to keep the car. Replacing it is not real difficult but you need to do it very carefully as the main control diaphram is built into it as well as the fuel shut off valve. Good luck, Don H.

[Tom P.]

Re: Fuel Injection Fuel Meter Cover Gasket

As mentioned, John DeGregory is the person to go to for FI parts. I buy ALL my FI parts from John. Also, John can sell you just the gasket if that's all you need.
And, just as added information, there are TWO, repeat, TWO gaskets for the fuel meter lid-----57 and 58-later. Of course, your FI unit would use the later gasket.
Also, John now has repo (VERY NICE) fuel meter lids as well as main diaphragm covers available. I've bought and installed both for customers. I also have one of his repo fuel meter lids on my FI unit. ZERO issues!

[Joe M.]

Re: Fuel Injection Fuel Meter Cover Gasket

Tom can explain it better, but sometimes the welch plug on the side of the meter leaks because it is loose or it may be somewhat lose and never have a leak except under some conditions, flooding may cause the gas level to rise higher than it should.

Does fuel splash typically get that high to leak from the cover ?

When FI units are rebuilt thses days are brass plugs or gray metal plugs typically used? what was original?

Tom, jump right in.

[Tom P.]

Re: Fuel Injection Fuel Meter Cover Gasket

A leak from the welch plug in the side of the fuel meter is about as common as dirt!! Almost all of them leak, or leaked at one time and make an ugly gas stain down the side of the fuel meter. John furnishes new plugs and when properly installed, they USUALLY don't leak------------------for a while. For MANY, MANY years, I've been applying a 2-part epoxy to the INSIDE of the fuel meter where the welch plug is installed. I used to use JB Weld and have NEVER seen any problems, nor have I had any complaints from customers of the JB Weld coming loose. BUT, a few years ago, John DeGregory informed me of a different product (I forget the name, I'd have to go out and look) that is better than JB Weld, so now I use that product. I make sure the entire back side of the welch plug is thoroughly covered so that no leak can occur. This is a little more tricky to do with the later 7380 units because Rochester installed a screen over the spill port inside the fuel meter. Once the welch plug is sealed from the back side and tamped securely into place, no more ugly leaks down the side of the fuel meter.

The only time fuel splash MAY become severe enough to come out of the vent at the top of the fuel meter is during severe competiton driving.
Unlike a carburetor, float setting does not have an effect on fuel flow out to the discharge nozzles. In a carb, high or low float setting can affect the fuel economy/performance of a carbed engine. But with an FI unit, the fuel level inside the fuel meter needs to always be high enough to assure the hi-pressure pump is always immersed in fuel so that the fuel level isn't sucked down and the pump sucks air. It is HIGHLY unlikely this would be an issue with MOST of today's remaining FI cars. Thus, it would not hurt anything to VERY SLIGHTLY lower the float setting. But if the car is ever going to be driven hard (as I do with the 56), then the float level needs to be at least as high as the spec setting, which is 2 9/32in for all units.
The only other time I've seen fuel splash out of the vent on top was when there was a problem with the needle/seat not shutting off fuel flow into the fuel meter.
When properly rebuilt by one of the REPUTABLE FI gurus, the primary source of typical problems seems to be the result of today's crap gasoline. YES, the old Rochester FI units DO NOT like heat------------------but again, the heat related problems are also a result of today's gas formulation. I used to frequently buy 100LL Avgas which helped, especially in high heat conditions (and I could buy it at the airport when I go out to work on the A26). But recently, I've just bitten the bullet and gone to our race gas distributor and I buy 10gal of 110 leaded race gas. DANG, the ole FI unit sure likes that!!!

[John D.]

Re: Fuel Injection Fuel Meter Cover Gasket

Is it unethical for me to reply to all of the above. Let me know please Gary.

The '59 to 61 fuel cars with original fuel filters seem to be the problem child of all the other fuel cars. Reason being is the original fuel filter is tough to install. No room for teflon tape and overtightening the fitting snaps or breaks the fuel meter cover. Then you are cooked.
When you use Loctite 545 use it sparingly. A little tab will do ya like the old commercial said. Loctite 545 is only available in industrial tool supply houses/catalogs. Shake the container and apply it with a q-tip or artist brush. Then wipe off the excess with q-tips. Give it drying time and it does a wonderful job.

Tom, Here is a problem with fuel meter bowls and covers leaking. The top of the fuel bowls are warped big time on the die cast 58 to 65 bowls. One needs to lap/sand them flat on a surface plate. Not a sheet of glass or counter top please. A nice inexpensive surface plate will do the job and end up being your favorite tool.
No need to overtighten the fillister screws on a fuel meter bowl. Just snug them down. Leaks come from too much fuel pump pressure, dirt, bad needle and seat, float issues, etc. Auto crossing will cause fuel to splash out the top fuel meter cover. The later 64 and all of the 65 FI units have a float splash sheet metal guard. Not the correct term as too tired to think.
Watch the nickel size plug on the side of the fuel bowl. If it pops out you will most likely loose your car. Carry a fire extinguisher.
A good epoxy to use on those plugs when youa re installing a new one is: PC-7. Installing a round plug is a story in itself.

Sorry that my email address on top of the page is full. I am almost a 100 and the phone calls and emails have my old head spinning.

[Tom P.]

Re: Fuel Injection Fuel Meter Cover Gasket

OK then, I won't call tonight---------------I'll wait until 5:00 tomorrow morning.

[William C.]

Re: Fuel Injection Fuel Meter Cover Gasket

Thaks everyone for the help.
T
he new fittings i insalled are definatly snug and not leaking it is definatly weeping fuel from the gasket on the front and back side of the fuel meter.
I fired it up and you can run you finger allong the gasket in the front and back and have a small amoputn of fuel on it.

Going to get the parts from John to make it right. Will post some more pictures. and thakns for the tip on the loc tight that is definalty the correct stuff the 545 and worked great on the other parts.


Also nothing is splashing out of the fuel bowl and the plug looks clean and in place.
Thakns again lots of great info here.