Background: 57 3100 with 235. Upgraded with Langdon's HEI distributor, alternator, Offy intake, Holley/Webers (water heated), Fentons, glasspacks, new wiring harness from Chevy Duty.
I was out for a drive a few weeks ago and the engine stopped like it ran out of gas. The gas guage registered 1/4 tank. After several minutes of checking things out, she started again and ran about 1/4 mile before shutting down again. I decided that maybe it was out of gas so I called home for a rescue. After about 15-20 minutes of waiting, I put the new gas in and started the truck and drove about a mile home without incident.
Later in the day, I decided to go out again. I drove about a mile and the truck stopped again. This time I noticed that I was able to 'feather' the carb and keep it barely lit. As soon as I stopped that, she quit. Again I walked around checking fuel in the bowl and wiring and didn't see anything. After several minutes she started again and I started for home to figure this out. She went another 1/4 mile or so and quit again. This happened 2 more times and then I just couldn't get it to start again. There was fuel in the settlement bowl but there was dirt in there. I took it off and cleaned it out. I blew through the filter and it was clear.
I walked home and let the truck sit for several hours before going back. The truck started right up and ran for another 10-15 minutes before quiting again. Again after 10-15 minutes it started and ran another 1/4 mile. (I'm starting to see a pattern here.) This happened twice more before it stalled again backing into the garage.
I was about to swap engines so I started pulling everything apart and decided to deal with the problem on re-assembly. So; what do you guys think my problem is? I assumed it was in the fuel but I'm not so sure now. Is it in the HEI? I did test the vacuum from the new 'double pumper' fuel pump and it's pulling about 8".
