Where on the fuel rail is the pressure regulator? and how can you determine if that is the cause of a flooded fuel odor? all new plugs, wires , caps rotors, cat converters, 160-180 compression, the only things left are the regulator and the maf sensor arnt there? still no power it just seems to bog down and smell rich.. please advise, thanks

I can't remember without looking it up but if carburated check needle and or tank vent, fuel cap. If injected find vac hose to fuel pressure regulator , if fuel drips out after running replace regulator if not check injectors by pulling fuel rail with injectors fastened then turn ign to on without cranking a few times leaving 10 to 20 seconds between. Check for leaky injectors.

How do you know its flooding out? Black smoke from tailpipe? An over fueled engine can be caused by numerous things. Check fuel pressure regulator on the fuel rail for an internal leak. Remove the vacuum hose to the regulator and check to see if fuel is in the vacuum hose. IF so, replace the regulator. You will need a scan tool to check the operation of the coolant temp sensor,map sensor,mass air flow sensor as these sensors/wiring circuits will adversely affect fuel delivery

I agree with joel.Check the fuel pressure regulator attached to the fuel rail.Test it with the engine at operating temp.Let the engine idle,remove the vacuum hose from the fpr and check the hose for the presence of fuel or the odor of fuel.Make sure fuel isnt coming out of the regulator vacuum port too.If either condition is present,the regulator is bad.The condition above occurs when the fpr diaphragm is leaking.If the regulator sticks closed,it will cause flooding too.
Another possible cause is a defective fuel injector thats leaking fuel internally or stuck open.If you pull the spark plugs and one plug is black or wet,thats the cylinder with the suspect injector.When you first turn the key on,the fuel pumps prime the fuel lines and rails,but the injectors dont squirt any fuel yet.The engine will begin cranking and the injectors will begin squirting fuel after 1-2 seconds of engine rotation. Therefore, if you cycle the key on/off a few times then pull the spark plugs,any plug thats wet indicates the injector is bad at that cylinder,as long as youve got spark.
Another possible cause is the ect sensor.Its used for adjusting fuel & timing values.The colder the engine,
the richer the fuel trim is set. The ect sensor can be tested with a multimeter.Test the sensor on a cold engine then warm the engine and test it again. To test,set a multimeter to read ohms,disconnect the sensor harness and touch your meter leads to the plug on the sensor.Your results should match the ohms value for the temp listed in the chart below.

Here are some causes.

-No Spark
-Bad fuel injector
-bad temp sensor
-faulty MAF sensor
-grounded injector control wire
-to much fuel pressure
-leaking fuel pressure regulator
-bad computer.
-worn out spark plugs
-bad coil, cap, rotor, or wires.

a year, make, model, and engine size will help!

I’m happy to assist further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_d728a59f986299fa

The fact the fuel pressure does not hold after the pump stops is a big problem indicating a fuel leak into the upper manifold, which would cause the flooding. This leak could have several causes, but since the problem is still there after replacing the regulator, it sounds like the problem is with the injector in the spider assembly.
It sounds like you have a design 1 spider assembly, with only one fuel injector distributing fuel to the six poppets. If that is the case, I suggest you try replacing the entire assembly (which will include a new regulator) with the Delco design 2 version which has injectors on each poppet.

An engine will flood if there's too much fuel going in because of a stuck choke, a bad spark not igniting the fuel, failed temperature sensors, bad fuel regulator, timing...the list goes on.

The amount of fuel delivered to a properly functioning injected car is determined by sensors mounted throughout the vehicles air intake system. These sensors work together along with the ecu to control the fuel / air mix delivered to the cylinders.

We would need to isolate the components that have impact on the duration of time the injectors stay open. In troubleshooting it is often best to work backwards.

1. Injectors - Are they leaking? 2. Pressure regulator - is the pressure at the fuel rail the right pressure?? (40psi for most fuel injected cars) 3. TPS- throttle position sensor- is this reading accurately...there are several different styles of these 4. Air flow meter - these also come in several varieties varys from mass air sensor / simple vane meters. 5. during startup there is a seperate circuit called the throttle bypass valve - this also may not be functioning if the flooding is occuring rapidly during startup. If the car starts and runs for a while than floods. this is probably not the culprit. 6. ultimately the ECU could have a problem as it is the link in the chain that ties everything together....though not likely. Any of these these would have the potential to flood a vehicle if they were not functioning properly. The amount of fuel delivered to a properly functioning injected car is determined by sensors mounted throughout the vehicles air intake system. These sensors work together along with the ecu to control the fuel / air mix delivered to the cylinders. We would need to isolate the components that have impact on the duration of time the injectors stay open. In troubleshooting it is often best to work backwards. 1. Injectors - Are they leaking 2. Pressure regulator - is the pressure at the fuel rail the right pressure?? (40psi for most fuel injected cars) 3. TPS- throttle position sensor- is this reading accurately...there are several different styles of these 4. Air flow meter - these also come in several varieties varys from mass air sensor / simple vane meters. 5. during startup there is a seperate circuit called the throttle bypass valve - this also may not be functioning if the flooding is occuring rapidly during startup. If the car starts and runs for a while than floods. this is probably not the culprit. 6. ultimately the ECU could have a problem as it is the link in the chain that ties everything together, but it's not likely.
This is just a list of things that could cause your car to flood!

If it acts like it is flooding while idling, but it runs fine on the road, it could be running too rich and flooding it out due to leaking injectors, bad fuel pressure regulator, or excessive fuel pressure.

I would start by replacing the Fuel Pressure Regulator since it doesn't cost as much as the injectors.
Check your fuel pressure using a Fuel Pressure Check Gauge to see if the fuel pressure regulator is maintaining the proper pressure.

Vacuum is attached to the Fuel Pressure Regulator to control system pressure. When the fuel pressure regulator is not functioning properly it causes the fuel pressure to be above normal operating pressure. This condition causes excess fuel to be injected causing a rich mixture that produces black smoke.

I’m happy to help further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/jeremy_69f3cc28d95bf514

Possibly a busted fuel pressure regulator diaphragm. The regulator is mounted to the end of the fuel rail.
With the engine idling, pull the vacuum line off the regulator port. If gas comes out of the port, replace the regulator.

Removal & Installation of fuel Regulators on
4.8L, 5.3L & 6.0L Engine To Remove:
CAUTION
Three styles of fuel pressure regulators and fuel rails will be used in this model year. Each regulator has a different "footprint" that consequently changes the size of the receiving port in the fuel rail. The regulator retaining clips are specific to each rail-regulator design and cannot be interchanged.

1. Remove the engine sight shield.
2. Relieve the fuel system pressure. Refer to Fuel Pressure Relief Procedure.
3. Clean the fuel pressure regulator retainer and the surrounding area.
4. Remove or disconnect the following:
   • Fuel pressure regulator vacuum line.
   • Fuel pressure regulator retainer.
   • Fuel pressure regulator.
5. Remove the following parts from the fuel rail:
   • Backup ring (10)
   • Regulator Seal O-ring (11)
   • Regulator filter (12)
   • Regulator seal O-ring (13)

To Install:

1. Make sure the NEW fuel pressure regulator retainer is the right one.
2. The tabs (1) are used on the straight vacuum port retainer (2), and the E85-straight vacuum port retainer (3).
3. The angle vacuum port retainer (4) has no tabs.
   
   
4. Install the following parts onto the fuel pressure regulator (9).
   • Backup ring (10)
   • Regulator seal O-ring (11)
   • Regulator filter (12)
   • Regulator seal O-ring (13)
5. Lubricate the fuel pressure regulator O-rings with clean oil.
6. Install the fuel pressure regulator and retainer. CAUTION
   Whenever the fuel pressure regulator is removed from the fuel rail NEW O-rings and a NEW retaining clip should be used on reinstallation.
   
7. Connect the vacuum line.
8. Tighten the fuel filler cap.
9. Use the following to inspect for leaks:
   • Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF, for 2 seconds.
   • Turn OFF the ignition for 10 seconds.
   • Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
   • Install the engine sight shield.

8.1L Engine To Remove:
Fuel pressure regulator vacuum line

1. Before servicing the vehicle refer to the precautions at the beginning of thjs section
2. Remove the fuel injector sight shield as needed
3. Relieve fuel system pressure (See: Fuel Pressure Relieving)
4. Disconnect the fuel pressure regulator vacuum line (A) 8.1L Fuel pressure regulator retainers
   
   
5. Clean any dirt from the fuel pressure regulator retainer and the surrounding area
6. Remove the fuel pressure regulator retainer (I)
7. Remove the fuel pressure regulator (H) from the fuel pressure regulator housing

To Install:
8.1L Fuel pressure regulator retainers

1. Install or connect the following:
   • Backup ring (J) on the fuel pressure regulator (H)
   • New large O-Ring (K) on the fuel pressure regulator
   • Regulator filter (L) on the fuel pressure regulator
   • New small O-Ring (M) on the fuel pressure regulator
2. Lubricate the fuel pressure regulator large O-Ring and the small O-Ring with clean engine oil
3. Push the fuel pressure regulator onto the regulator housing on the fuel rail
4. Install a new fuel pressure regulator retainer (I)
5. Install or connect the following:
   • Fuel pressure regulator vacuum line
   • Negative battery cable
6. Tighten the fuel filler cap
7. Inspect for leaks using the following procedure:
   • Turn on the ignition with the engine off for two seconds
   • Turn off the ignition for 10 seconds
   • Turn on the ignition with the engine off
   • Inspect for fuel leaks
8. Install the fuel injector sight shield
9. Road test the vehicle to check performance

Check the fuel pressure at the fuel rail on top of the engine it should read a minimum of 30 psi if any lower replace the fuel pump, also if you smell a gas odor and the fuel pressure regulator looks wet with gas replace the pressure regulator before the fuel pump. This sounds like a fuel delivery issue.