News: Putting FUN and FRIENDLINESS, FIRST into owning and learning about AMC small bodied cars, primarily Eagles, Spirits and Concords as well as vehicles built in AMC's Mexican subsidiary, VAM.

The AMC Eaglepedia can now be accessed using the buttons found below  This is a comprehensive ever growing archive of information, tips, diagrams, manuals, etc. for the AMC Eagle and other small bodied AMC cars. 

Also a button is now available for our Face Book Group page.


Welcome to the AMC Eagles Nest.  A new site under "old" management -- so welcome to your new home for everything related to AMC Eagles, Spirits and Concords along with opportunities to interact with other AMC'ers.  This site will soon be evolving to look different than it has and we will be incorporating new features we hope you will find useful, entertaining and expand your AMC horizons.

You can now promote your topics at your favorite social media site by clicking on the appropriate icon (top upper right of the page) while viewing the topic you wish to promote.


  • November 21, 2024, 12:40:34 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Author Topic: Fuel Return line  (Read 2941 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline junkyard

  • Hatchling
  • *
  • Posts: 8
  • Thumbs Up 1
Fuel Return line
« on: September 04, 2021, 02:27:39 PM »
Where does the return line connect to the carb? Also where is vent hose supposed to be connected to?

Online rmick

  • Eagle Sport
  • ****
  • Posts: 395
  • Thumbs Up 42
Re: Fuel Return line
« Reply #1 on: September 04, 2021, 05:13:07 PM »
« Last Edit: September 04, 2021, 05:16:02 PM by rmick »
72 Javelin AMX
72 Javelin SST
72 Gremlin with 4.0
81 SX 4

Offline junkyard

  • Hatchling
  • *
  • Posts: 8
  • Thumbs Up 1
Re: Fuel Return line
« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2021, 09:41:22 PM »
Thanks for the info. I do know it connects to the tank but where in the carburetor does it connect? Also where does the three way filter should go? If I connect the return line to it how does it connect to the carb? I’m obviously confused 🤔

Online rmick

  • Eagle Sport
  • ****
  • Posts: 395
  • Thumbs Up 42
Re: Fuel Return line
« Reply #3 on: September 04, 2021, 09:58:22 PM »
The center part of the filter goes to the inlet side of the carb fuel bowl. The upper part of the filter oulet goes to the return line which goes straight back to the tank. There should be a 3/16 hard line which goes all the way back to the tank. The purpose of the return line is to maintain constant fuel flow since the carb doesn't need all the fuel the pump supplies to help with vapor lock. Line number seven in the photo is for fuel return from the upper port on the filter. http://amceaglesden.com/guide/images/f/f1/84880080.jpg
http://amceaglesden.com/guide/images/5/5f/84880044.jpg
Line 5 goes to the carb the other goes to the tank return line directly back to the tank.
« Last Edit: September 04, 2021, 10:57:59 PM by rmick »
72 Javelin AMX
72 Javelin SST
72 Gremlin with 4.0
81 SX 4

Offline Still Pat

  • Eagle Sport
  • ****
  • Posts: 448
  • Thumbs Up 18
'83 AMC Eagle wagon 258/auto.
'84 AMC Eagle sedan (4 door) 258/auto.
PREVIOUS AMCs:
'72 Gremlin X 304/3 speed
'81 Eagle Kammback 258/4 speed (Purchased new)
'82 Eagle wagon 258/5 speed (Ordered new, traded Kammback)
'86 (I THINK) Eagle wagon - BlackBird 258/auto. (Got hit/totaled)
'83 Eagle wagon - White Eagle 258-auto. (Front subframe was rotted out - sold for parts)

Offline junkyard

  • Hatchling
  • *
  • Posts: 8
  • Thumbs Up 1
Re: Fuel Return line
« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2021, 07:26:43 AM »
Thank you all! You guys rock! The diagrams helped! Now I get it! So I do need a check valve for the return line in the engine bay. I’m doing all the fuel related lines and ensuring everything goes where it needs to. Now the vent line it goes to the canister. I do not have a canister, and the line is crumbling from rust. What are my options with that one?

Again thank you!

Offline Still Pat

  • Eagle Sport
  • ****
  • Posts: 448
  • Thumbs Up 18
Re: Fuel Return line
« Reply #6 on: September 05, 2021, 09:33:25 AM »
No check valve needed. If you mean the vent line from the carb, down to the container (from what I recall) mounted on the driver's side front inner fender, it is not REQUIRED to be connected unless your state has smog laws & checks that during inspection. Does it make a difference in performance? I don't think so. MY understanding of it is that it's simply there to catch excess fuel vapors instead of just letting them vent out into the air.
'83 AMC Eagle wagon 258/auto.
'84 AMC Eagle sedan (4 door) 258/auto.
PREVIOUS AMCs:
'72 Gremlin X 304/3 speed
'81 Eagle Kammback 258/4 speed (Purchased new)
'82 Eagle wagon 258/5 speed (Ordered new, traded Kammback)
'86 (I THINK) Eagle wagon - BlackBird 258/auto. (Got hit/totaled)
'83 Eagle wagon - White Eagle 258-auto. (Front subframe was rotted out - sold for parts)

Offline junkyard

  • Hatchling
  • *
  • Posts: 8
  • Thumbs Up 1
Re: Fuel Return line
« Reply #7 on: September 05, 2021, 09:50:25 AM »
Ok. So I don’t need to put a check valve after filter on return line. The original one is in the back by the tank.
Car is already inspected but I just want to sort it out since is all rusted and it wouldn’t be bad for tank to have a vent. I’m wondering if I can route it elsewhere since I will be replacing it. Right now it’s just an open line.

Offline vangremlin

  • Administrator
  • AMC Eagles Den Addicted
  • ******
  • Posts: 4484
  • Thumbs Up 216
Re: Fuel Return line
« Reply #8 on: September 05, 2021, 03:23:18 PM »
When new from the factory, there was a check valve in the rubber line that went from the filter to the steel return line.  Most of them went by the wayside when that rubber line was replaced and people didn’t know to look for the check valve.
1981 Kammback 258 - "Pepe"
1980 Coupe 258 - "Ginger
1972 Gremlin X 304
1978 Gremlin 4 cyl 121 - sold
1964 TBird 390 - sold

Offline junkyard

  • Hatchling
  • *
  • Posts: 8
  • Thumbs Up 1
Re: Fuel Return line
« Reply #9 on: September 07, 2021, 10:57:29 AM »
Would a plug in check valve do the same?

Offline Illeagle1984

  • Manic Mechanic
  • Premium Member
  • Eagle
  • *****
  • Posts: 113
  • Thumbs Up 14
Re: Fuel Return line
« Reply #10 on: September 09, 2021, 07:01:05 PM »
When new from the factory, there was a check valve in the rubber line that went from the filter to the steel return line.  Most of them went by the wayside when that rubber line was replaced and people didn’t know to look for the check valve.

Maybe this is why the fuel line on my Eagles empty out after sitting for more than a few weeks.  Hmm...
It's getting crowded down here:
1973 Ford Mustang "Rustang"
1984 AMC Eagle Sedan "IllEagle" 183k
1984 AMC Eagle Wagon "Eagle 2"
1996 Cadillac Eldorado 178k
1998 Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight 239k
2002 Cadillac Eldorado Doral Edition
2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 179k

 

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk