Figure this one out...

Topic: Figure this one out... (Read 2145 times) previous topic - next topic

Figure this one out...

February 05, 2014, 08:35:22 PM

OK, I drive my 1980 'bird every day, 30+ miles. In all the frigid weather, etc. I never have any problems. So today, it's like 10 degrees (cold, but it's been colder lately). Today I drive to a restaurant, go in, have a nice meal for an hour or so. Then I leave, and go to the store. I start it up at the store, and as I am leaving, it dies. It will start again with excessive cranking, but only run for a few seconds and cut right off, no matter what I try with the gas pedal (idle? dies, revved wide? dies). I had to get it towed home.

I am thinking it's fuel related. It's just the carbed 255, there's not a whole lot to it. The choke looks to be working.

Just brainstorming...

Figure this one out...

Reply #1 – February 06, 2014, 02:11:15 AM

Certainly sounds like fuel delivery... fuel pump or some junk got sucked into the carb

Figure this one out...

Reply #2 – February 06, 2014, 06:12:54 AM

Filter?

Figure this one out...

Reply #3 – February 06, 2014, 07:13:45 AM

Most likely the fuel pump. If the diaphragm wears out over time fuel pressure will drop slightly until it finally poops the bed. Sounds like youre getting enough fuel to prime the carb but not enough to run. Check the rubber lines to the fuel pump itself. If they're dry rotted it could cause it to suck air and lose fuel supply

Hope this helps

Figure this one out...

Reply #4 – February 06, 2014, 09:44:12 AM

We go through this all the time with engine mount pumps that have to draw fuel from a storage area app 12 feet away. this is not a problem when the vehicle was new as the fuels were different. Modern fuels hove so many bad chemicals in them that break down old car fuel systems at a rapid rate. Here is what we do in our shop with which we call purest cars. First off you have to be 100% certain you do not have a spark issue. Once this is dun you will have to decide how to, handle your fuel system. Sounds like a delivery issue . If so you need to address that. Engine mounted fuel pumps of stock replacement style are not compatible with modern fuels . This is a fact some will argue this. So Drop the tank and if the sender and the float are ok either install an intank low pressure electric fuel pump and wire it accordingly. Replace all the rubber lines with EFI Grade 9 or better. Install a fuel filter in the discharge side and if it is a delivery issue you are dun. If you have a car like lets say 100 Point chevell you can not do this so what we do is pull the tank remove the in-tank screen and do not use one in the tank at all. Install a 100 MICRON filter before the mechanical pump on the engine. The mechanical engine mounter pumps do not last long any more so be prepared to replace them on a regulsr bases. Normally 3 seasons. Hope this helps.

Figure this one out...

Reply #5 – February 06, 2014, 03:04:22 PM

Quote from: TOM Renzo;428476

WEngine mounted fuel pumps of stock replacement style are not compatible with modern fuels .

This too.

Most gas has at least 10% Ethanol in it. Which is fine and dandy, but it's corrosive. Newer vehicles have different materials used in the fuel lines and connections that resist the corrosion effects of alcohol better.

And some stations/stores even have gas that's up to 25% ethanol...you can tell which ones that do by your decrease in mileage. Alcohol isn't as efficient and doesn't have the energy that gasoline does. But, if you have an engine built with ethanol in mind, you can make ed good power with it, and mileage as well.

Filter, pump, and fuel lines. Might also be a blocked pick up or something like that, too.

Figure this one out...

Reply #6 – February 06, 2014, 03:27:19 PM

Thanks for the tips guys. I am at work right now (real productive guy, lol). I'm going to stop on my way home and grab a pump and a filter. The pump is only $19, if I don't need it, I'll just keep it as a spare.

I hope the problem is not in the pickup. That's one thing that drew me to this car was no in-tank fuel pump, no reason to drop the tank (or so I hoped). I have had 3 in-tank pumps die in my other cars in the last couple years, and I replaced them all myself (and I hated it, especially the Astro van's pump... But that's another story). I suppose all my failed pumps should be a clue that we have py gas around here.

Figure this one out...

Reply #7 – February 07, 2014, 09:20:30 PM

Well, I pulled the hose off between the filter and the carb and just a few drops of gas dribbled out. Then I pulled the filter off the hose from the pump and it dumped gas everywhere. So the filter was definitely not flowing properly. I bought a clear filter to replace it, and I put it on. I started it up and the filter was instantly full and the car stayed running. I will keep this new pump as a spare for when the inevitable happens.

I will say though, that was the first time in my life that the filter was actually the problem. I never get off that easy!

Figure this one out...

Reply #8 – February 07, 2014, 10:46:46 PM

Nice!

I had something very similar happen to me way back in 1996 when i first started driving, well, legally, anyway.

The old Jeep, she no run muy bueno on bad gasalina filtera. Stopped by our brand new Oreilly store, bought one on suggestion of a counter monkey there, and it made ALL the difference. Turned that turd into a beast. I guess a 360 AMC with a 4 bbl likes it's fuel. LOL