Ghibli WEBER (or equivalent) fuel regulator needed, any ideas?

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388
I'm on the hunt for a WEBER RP43/3.5 fuel pressure regulator for a 1996 Ghibli GT (x3 fittings all push on rubber hoses, mine doesn't have the steel braided hose). The part is impossible to find new. Rarer than unicorn poo.

Perhaps someone has a good second-hand one somewhere, or perhaps there is a modern equivalent 3.5 bar regulator that will fit instead? Maybe you or one of our fellow Maserati owners knows the solution to help me get my car back on the road? Pic attached for reference. Thanks.
 

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spacecadet

Member
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378
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388
Thanks guys, this is a great help!

And yes, it'll certainly be interesting to see how the Maserati Classiche program will cater for younger/modern classics such as the Ghibli. All Maseratis over 20 years old apparently. Spare part availability for the Ghibli has been beyond ridiculous for years. Some stuff is still fairly easily available, water pumps for example, but the list of 'unobtanium' seems to grow by the day.
 
Messages
198
Thanks. I ordered your last one this morning, or rather the workshop where the car is did. How do these compare to the original WEBER versions out of interest and what sort of lifespan can I expect for it? Cheers.
It's already on it's way Fedex Priority to your garage.
These use a modern Bosch pressure valve with viton o-rings, it's much more suitable to modern fuels.
Also it can easily be refurbished afterwards, although that will be very far in the future
 
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388
So it's not adjustable.

I did this on my former QP v8. It's an adjustable Chinese regulator, it worked for 1.5 year before the dashboard catches fire.

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Were you able to save the car?
I think it’s worth paying a bit extra for a fuel regulator, and if the one I’ve gone for has Bosch parts that’s a brand I trust.

The original Weber that’s packed up is squirting petrol up the windscreen, which could make for an interesting effect when combined with a hot engine.
 

alpa

Member
Messages
169
In my qp4 the petrol was filling up the intake plenum through the vaccum hose of the regulator. 1/2L per minute.
It's not about money, it's not easy to find an adjustable regulator with two exits. I don't care about the quality, I bought two same regulators, replacing takes an hour.

I did not try to save the car, the most boring I've ever owned. I sold it right away to a friend, for parts or whatever. And bought a Ghibli GT with a toasted engine.
 
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198
Failing regulators causing fires is a well known issue, especially with ethanol in the fuel it dissolves first the o rings (fuel leak), then diaphragm (max pressure as it doesn't regulate)
 

alpa

Member
Messages
169
These Chinese regulators don't have o-rings, only copper washers. Yes the diaphragm could fail (exactly like in the original regulators) but before this happens the hoses will have to be replaced.
I've only heard about fires due to leaking hoses: mechanics don't replace them so when the periodical mandatory inspection does not check them (depends on the countries) they cook and break. I'm not saying it can't happen, I'm saying statistically.
 

fphil

Member
Messages
301
Sometimes it is the smal length inside the airbox which failed. It appends to me when I noticed a wet floor after starting the engine in underground car park. I was lucky to switch off and no harm. My fault, I did not take care of a faint smell of gasoline days before.