Fightingplankto

okay, so, my knowledge of working on engines stops at 2-stroke honda scooters.
I just bought an '81 280zx turbo.
Heres whats going on. I had a bad fuel leak from the seams on my fuel filter, not where the hoses connect, but the actual seem. So i took it to a shop. they ran some tests and said "well, you have an after market fuel pump, your pressure is running at 87psi instead of 36psi"
so, i have them replace the filter and pressure regulator. only to find out, the brand new one makes my car barely run at all. so, they put the old one back on.
they said it needs more work, but at least its not leaking any more.

my question: any ideas why running at spec psi would make the car barely run as opposed to the 87psi its currently running? im thinking clogged injectors, but like i said, i know nothing about car engines. i really dont want to pay their $300 diagnosis fee just to find out nothings really wrong.

NismoPick

Such as?

So what is the fuel pressure at now?

Fightingplankto

current pressure is at 87.
basically, they tested the pressure, it was at 87.
the replaced the regulator, it was at 36.
car kept dying.
so the put the old regulator back on and now its up to 87psi.

i just want the car to operate as intended. im sure this high pressure cant be good over time. just want to get it back to factory specs before i have a bigger issue on my hands.

they didnt tell me exactly what needed done. they said there would be a $300 diagnosis fee. i decided i'd try to figure it out solo and save some cash.

NismoPick

$300 diagnostic fee is pretty freaking high.

Is the car running stock injectors?

Fightingplankto

not sure if injectors are stock. all i know is the fuel pump isn't.
but even if they arent... that wouldnt explain why the pressure build-up caused my fuel filter to start leaking...would it?

NismoPick

87psi alone wouldn't be enough to blow a fuel filter rated for 35-40psi? I would think so...

And the reason I ask about injectors is because if someone swapped in smaller cc injectors, they may have up'd the fuel pressure to compensate... or they "tweaked" other things to compensate.

Fightingplankto

i doubt they did it intentionally. everything else on the car was spray painted, or held together with duct tape. the pulled the roof panel out to run wires for their sub...and never put the panel back in. so...yeh, it has some issues. well. maybe i'll try to find a different shop that i can trust and see what they think. hopefully their thoughts cost less than $300 eh?