Hi guys, here's the story. I've had the truck about 8 years- '50 3600 with a '62 235 motor. Not long after I purchased the truck, I stopped to fill up and the truck wouldn't restart. Opened the hood and found gas pouring out the throat of the carb when the starter was running. I ordered a new carb ($70 plus core charge), put it on and all was well.

About 2 years ago I had driven the truck about 5 miles to the dump. After dumping the trash it wouldn't start. I have a clear fuel filter just before the carb, and it was bone dry. I also had a weak battery, so the engine turned over pretty slowly. I got a jump start which made the engine turn over faster and pumped fuel, so finally got it started. I figured the mechanical fuel pump must be weak so I replaced it as well as the battery. Again, all was well....

Last Saturday I drove to town to fill up- about 12 miles. After filling up, about a mile from the gas station (where the speed limit goes from 35 to 55, so I was accelerating) it started acting intermittently as if it were starved for fuel. It would run fine for a minute or two, then almost die. These episodes got more frequent, but I kept going to try to get home, About 4 miles from home it died for good. I checked the clear filter and it was dry. I took the fuel line loose from the pump to the tank to blow thru it (suspecting trash in the tank had clogged the pick-up) but plenty of fuel flowed thru, so the pump is getting fuel to it. I figured maybe the 2 year old fuel pump had failed, or maybe the cam that drives it had finally worn, so I called my wife and she brought the pick-up and a tow strap and towed me home. I took off the fuel pump and it definitely acted like it was pumping. I went ahead and took it apart anyway, but it looked ok inside- no evident trash. I reinstalled the pump and the truck started right up and the clear filter filled with gas.

On Thursday I drove the truck to work (about 15 miles) with no problems. Driving home, I got to the same place on the road where I had problems last time (55 mph, so again I was accelerating) and the truck did the same thing- acted like it was fuel starved. This time I only made it about 1/4 mile before it quit. Sure enough- dry fuel filter.

It's something how many people will stop to offer help when an old truck breaks down. I had plenty of help with the following: I took the fuel hose loose between the pump and the filter and ran the starter. No fuel was being pumped. Ran the starter for 30 seconds or so and NO fuel was ever pumped out of the fuel hose. Then I took the hose loose between the tank and pump to check the flow- plenty of supply. I did this several times, taking the hoses apart at different locations. No fuel was pumped thru the pump. So... the problem has to be the fuel pump. I called Napa and Advance Auto - nobody had a fuel pump in stock. Sooo.... AAA to the rescue. At least the flatbed truck was a Chevy, too. Took the truck home and put him in the barn.

Yesterday I opened the hood to try to find the problem and noticed the fuel filter was about 1/2 full!!!!. ???? How'd that get there? The filter was dry yesterday and the fuel pump hadn't run since. Hit the starter and he fired up, so the pump must be working again??? After running a minute or two I saw that a fair amount of gas was leaking from the carburetor, but it was leaking around the area of the throttle lever, back on the cab side of the carb,, not out of the top of the carb like the first one had. Something must be wrong with the carb, I went to town yesterday and talked to a guy at the auto parts place. He said if the carb is leaking around the throttle shaft it can't be rebuilt. The price for a new rebuilt carb now is $225!!!! and would have to be ordered.

I ended up buying an electric fuel pump and another filter. I installed the new filter just after the hose leaves the tank, and then the new electric pump just after the new filter. I bypassed the mechanical filter all together. I then hooked everything back up, started the motor. It ran fine and no apparent leaks. Next I went for a 5 mile drive (staying close to home). I stopped several times and checked everything- fuel filter up by the carb stays 1/2 to 3/4 full, and no leaks around or from the carb.

Any ideas???? Do I still need a new carb? What would cause it to leak (a lot) intermittently? How'd the fuel filter get fuel in it after sitting overnight? How is it that the mechanical pump worked sometimes but not others? Do I have 2 separate problems (fuel pump and carb) or is one part causing the other to malfunction. I have ordered a new carb, as I don't like the idea of gas running down on a hot motor. I have everything running again with the sometimes leaking carb, but I'd like to know what the problem is (was?) before heading out on the road again. Any ideas or suggestions greatly appreciated!!!! Other than replace the carb and hope for the best I'm not sure what to do next.

Bluesharp- If you don't blow you suck....


'50 Chevy 3600 "Ernest"