The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Strange Occurance '51 1/2 ton

My truck has been driving great. But yesterday...and again today, as I was coming up my hill in third gear (as usual) I noticed I was losing power, almost like it was chugging. It was fine going up till I got to the steepest part, then it was as though I was getting starved for gas. Stepping more on the gas didnt help.

I put a new fuel filter in just last fall. I changed the air filter when I got home, but it didnt look that dirty to me. Havn't taken it out again due to heavy rains

Can some one give me some other possible causes for this sudden occurance. Have had the truck 6 years, and havn't experienced this before. Thanks.

Bad Fuel pump or clogged filter would be my guess. Anytime I have had a problem with it starving for fuel on a hill that was the cause. Something is causing the fuel level in the float bowl to be low and as you go uphill the angle of the float bowl changes and causes the lack of fuel. I would check the pump pressure after the filter.

Good luck
Neil

good tips , what would happen if you shifted into 2nd..

Check the filter, float, accelerator pump and fuel pump in that order. Also check your gas level, your gage may be off too.

I am pretty sure this is not the problem, but a dented gas tank can be the culprit too. Sometimes a dented gas tank can move the gas away from the fuel line causing the engine to starve when climbing hills. But in your case you said that the truck has been running great until yesterday.

Wouldn't hurt to check your wires either. Once in a while a loose wire on the ignition or coil will give the same effect when climbing a hill. It feels like it is starving or chugging.

These new fuel mixtures will about eat anything they touch, of the rubber persuasion. On a tour a couple of weeks ago, three of us lost our fuel pumps before the day was done.

I've since put a 6-volt electric on my 52, and haven't had a problem. In fact, it sure starts up alot easier than it ever did before.

May not hurt to check your vacumn advance.....and may as well check the timing just in case.

Did this strange occurance start before all of the heavy rains or after ? Could be water in the fuel or distributor cap is wet.

Thanks everyone...I'll check all those things you mention,.. or more precisely, have my mechanic check them.

Joker: don't know, I stayed in third since I was going too fast to shift to 2nd.
Bowtie: nope, it was dry. I don't take it out of the garage in the rain.

I appreciate everyone's help. Will let you know what the cause ends up being.

is this a four speed or three............

I just thought if it was lugging down going up a hill, you might down shift one gear to see what would happen..

good luck with the gremlin

these new fuel mixtures will about eat anything they touch, of the rubber persuasion.
use only the VERY best fuel line $$ can buy @ $6.00/foot
NOT the cheap stuff anymore. believe ME

maybe do this
http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h298/1951otter/?action=view&current=582585-R1-048-22A.jpg
if'n you have a tank that empties from the bottom.

joker..its a three speed. But , I have been taking this hill happily at 40- 45 mph in third gear for 6 years, never a problem till now.
thks

hey you might wnat to check the float in the carb it might have a pinhole leak in it

If you have a tank behind the seat, check the elbow or fuel shutoff at the bottom of the tank. That spot is notorious for catching trash.

Ok guys...It WAS the Fuel Pump.!!!
New one being installed weds.

Thanks again for all your expert assistance.

SO!! New NAPA fuel pump for the '55 235 chevy engine ended up being a dud. Drove out of the shop went 75 yards and it went dead.
My mechanic came to my rescue, and saw the fuel filter wasn't getting nearly enough gas. Pushed it back to the shop, new pump due tomorrow.

Why is it nothing is ever easy???
(yes.. '55 engine in a '51 1/2 ton)

Final entry:
New NAPA pump is perfect! Between the newly cleaned out carb, and the new fuel pump I'm getting plenty of gas, and its running smooth as silk...even up the steepest hill.

Thanks everyone for your help.

I'm assuming from the picture and text that you are advocating soldering a pipe in to the tank with a screen soldered over the end to catch rust or other junk that might get into the fuel line?? So what do you de when the screen gets cloged with crap, that is how do you clean that?
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL