My 440 doesn't have the "vapor seperator". Is this bad?

[Grec]

Was reading some older posts on fuel systems and noticed one regarding the vapor seperator.

It's supposed to go between the fuel pump and filter.

My car does not have this part. Will this cause problems?

[4Cruizn]

No I don't think it will cause any problems.   

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Do you have an additional line that runs back to the fuel tank?    The seperator allows for fumes and excess fuel from  the fuel pump to be delivered back to the tank.  Mine had the lines so I put on on.

http://big-dog.us/challenger/images/Albums/8/index.html

[Grec]

No. There's no return line that I can see.

It goes:

Metal fuel line to pump, pump to filter, filter to carb.

Also, just to be clear, the seperator replaces the filter? It filters and also has the seperate return line?

Does anyone know the purpose beyond what it's actually doing? Is it emissions, or performance related?

[Grec]

Also, Daley...

Is that vapor seperator 5/16 or 3/8?

[1 Wild R/T]

If your car originally had a 440 & is 69 or newer it should have a 3/8" fuel supply line & a 1/4" fuel return line that plumbs to the separator, most cars don't acually run the separator unless they are a show poodle, if it's an original 440 car that gets driven it usually gets a late 70's style fuel filter with a 1/4"return line with the internal oriface to restrict fuel flow but allow enough to prevent vapor lock...

BTW there are exceptions, the 69 "M" code cars had 5/16" fuel ines with a 1/4" fuel return, not that they didn't need the fuel but they were originally coded as E63 (383 magnum) cars that were also coded for an engine conversion, to the 440-6, but the fuel line was still the 383 piece that they added a return line to,

In 70 the cars with California Emissions (N95) received a 5/16" vapor return line, so a 440 equipt california car has three lines..

In 71 all 50 states went to the evaporative emissions control so the 5/16" vapor return line became standard equipment...

BTW If the car has a transplanted 440 & doesn't suffer from vapor lock don't worry about it...

[DAYLEY/CHALLENGER]

Vapor seperator is 3/8"

[Grec]

My car originally had a 340, so 5/16 lines and no seperator.

I'm thinking I'll just switch over to a more stock setup with the 3/8 lines, seperator and the 1/4 return line.

There's no loss in performance in using the return line, is there.

Also, many thanks. Very helpful info, guys.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

My car originally had a 340, so 5/16 lines and no seperator.

I'm thinking I'll just switch over to a more stock setup with the 3/8 lines, seperator and the 1/4 return line.

There's no loss in performance in using the return line, is there.

Also, many thanks. Very helpful info, guys.

I don't have a vapor seperator on my 440, and I use the 5/16" line with a hi-volume mechanical fuel pump. I have no problems. It's your call. As someone mentioned, the return line could help prevent vapor lock. I avoid this issue with a heat shield on my fuel line near my headers, and a non-heat conducting spacer under my carb., to isolate it from the hot intake manifold.

  Mike