The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop AKKK GRRR Fuel delivery problem

My engine will only run for about 1/4 to 1/2 mile, before it stumbles and quits. (Chevy 327 with edelbrock 1406 with electric choke)

I'm figuring that the float is sticking because the fuel tank is full, and the electric fuel pump is pumping fuel all the way to the carb.

The rubber hose between the carb and fuel line gets plenty of pressure (i can feel it build up).

After the truck sits for a bit and/or if I tap the carb, it will eventually start pumping fuel into the manifold again...

any ideas?

Rod,
I had an old Ford 300 inline that did this. Come to find out it was a clogged fuel filter. The filter was the kind that screwed into the front of the carb. It was so clogged that fuel would barely trickle into the carb. If you let it sit for a minute or two, the residual fuel pressure would slowly fill the carb bowl back up. Then it would start back up and run for another 15-20 seconds. Once the fuel drained back out of the bowl it would quit again.

I drove myself crazy trying to figure it out. Once I discovered what it was, I wanted to slap myself for not thinking of it.

yes Rusty, pull that inlet filter and clean'er out, most likely oroblem, stuck float would be #2, bit of junk or bent pin

Bill

Hey Rusty,

I doubt that this could have anything to do with the problem but I'm running that same carb (with a manual choke) in my Jimmy and according to the documentation that came with it, those carbs aren't meant to run with too much fuel pressure from the pump. I can't remember exactly what the specs were at the moment but the max pressure seemed low compared to what you could run with a Holley. Just a thought, because you mentioned that you could feel the pressure in the line.

I'd also look into installing a primary gas filter,a big one down by the tank,and use the little one on the carb as a secondary filter. CarQuest has a fuel filter that fits a remote oil filter base (Ford size). If ya plug THAT up you need a new tank.
Seems like these old trucks get a lot of crud in the gas tanks,and the more you filter the gas,the less crud gets to the float bowl.
Speed

thanks for the info... i've been running TWO 3/8 inch inlet/output fuel filters into and out of a 3/8 fuel line... but no fuel pressure regulator....

I'll check the data that came with the carb....

i'd been running it quite a while before it started to have issues.

might be in your electric choke..............

I think i figgured it out... the elbow coming out of the bottom of the fuel tank was plugged up with junk.

I took the top off the carb and cleaned out a lot of very fine sediment... and cleaned the jets ect... it started and ran fine... but, back to the quitting...

I pulled off the fuel line at the carb and fuel was only trickling out... much less than the last time i checked it...

I pulled the fuel hose off of the rear filter, and hardly any fuel was coming out of the fuel tank... so i huffed and puffed and blew real hard into the fuel tank, i felt a bit of pressure, then poof, it let go and I darn near drowned in all the gas that came pouring out of the fuel line... after i reconnected everything, the fuel was pumping out at the carb like it is supposed to...

Nothing like a lot of hot air to solve the problem. We should send you to Washington.

Sounds like it's time to pull the tank & clean it.