The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop HELP needed. 5.7 v8 Chevy small block

Hey guys and girls and everything on between ha
First off merry Christmas to all

Second help!!

I got a 5.7 Chevy small block and took it for its first drive today and it conked out on me after the first hour of driving. It seems the carb doesn't get enough fuel and it doesn't idle at all. It just dies . It has a fuel cell in the bed and a big filter which than runs to a silver device on the side of the engine and ten into the carb. Any suggestions are greatly welcome.

Hy Mr_negus, welcome, Merry Christmas, fuel gauge could be wrong and you're out of fuel, filter could be plugged, cheap enough to change, fuel pump (silver device?) might not be working or if the fuel filter is plugged it cannot draw fuel from the tank through the plugged filter to pump it to the carburetor. Please remember to tell us the year and size of the truck you are inquiring about, it may be important to our answers. Hope that helps.

Another thing to consider is that most "fuel problems" are actually ignition related. It could be an ignition timing issue. I would advise checking both systems, if the fuel system checks out ok on the things 3B says to check, ignition is going to be the next step.

3B and Longbox are giving you the correct procedure/thoughts. "First drive" meaning it has new what? Fuel delivery is checked by undoing center wire on distributor, undoing connection at carb, crank motor and let fuel run into a container to see if it fills pretty fast and has a strong pulsating flow. This is a fuel flow test. If no squirting, work backwards toward tank until you find flow. If flow good at carb. Check built-in carb filter and carb function. Be sure the "big filter" is not clogged.
Check for vacuum leaks, fittings, hoses, pipe plugs missing, loose bolts...
If it ran an hour, could be fuel clog as 3B says or you ran out of gas!!!! Check the tank!!!!!! Put 2 gallons/8 liters in.
We assume the silver device is a fuel pump with two bolts into passenger side front of block? If you don't know what it is, it sounds like you are not experienced with motors or their workings.
Merry Christmas. Keep us informed with history of work done, results and observations of tests, so we can help further.
Looks like you have a 48 3100 with a 350. Holley carb. Nice truck.

hey guys sorry for my late reply been getting through christmas ha

thank you all for your responses. i didnt run out of fuel as it happened just after i filled the tank up. what i fount out after i pumped some of the fuel through was that a large percentage of it was water ive since found out the garage up the road from me has managed to get water into there tanks (darn shell). ive now emptied the tank and replaced with new fuel just getting a buddy to double check that the holley carb is set up correct.

i dont know a huge amount o nchevy engines but have been watching as many videos as i can and reading as many books as i can to try to learn. the device is a fuel pump on the passenger side. i may take it out and put in an electric one though.

Electric pump = flooding and/or fire hazard, unless you wire it through a switch that senses oil pressure and shuts it off if the engine stalls. There is a combination oil pressure warning light and fuel pump switch that's used on fuel injected GM engines that's an easy way to accomplish that. Mechanical fuel pumps have been working well since Henry Ford put one on the 1932 Model B flathead V8- - - -why mess with success?
Jerry

and you will likely have too much pressure with an electric. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Water in gas is probably THE problem....and start looking for a Rochester Quadrajet. You will fiddle with the Holley until the cows come home.

Ok that's made up my mind on the pump idea haha thanks for the help guys. i may change it to a clear bowled manual pump that way I can see the fuel being pumped through.

There's a reason my friends who drove MGA's kept the brass hammer used for changing the wire wheels handy- - - - -when the electric pump went wonky, just smack the floor board over the pump ahead of the right rear wheel. Sometimes it would jump-start the pump without even coasting to the side of the road!
Jerry