The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Another gas tank issue

Has anyone ever had a problem while running the fuel to lower levels in the gas tank on these 1/2 ton c 10's? Mine is a 62 with the tank in the back seat..
A couple times when I was pretty low I hit a corner with a slight grade and my truck died.. I assume it is because the gas was low enough that it sloshed to one side while making the turn, thereby sending air into the mechanical fuel pump and drying up the carb. It didn't take much time, just a few seconds.. Both times it happened on the same freeway off ramp that I always use.. So there I am trying to roll to a safe place on the freeway as to not get bulldozed into a guard rail by the traffic behind me.. Pretty scary stuff considering there is no shoulder there..
Is there a solution for this? I know I could always just keep my gas tank at least half full, but that's not always realistic.. I was thinking about remounting my gas tank so the drivers side tilts more towards the floor? The gas line comes out of the gas tank directly underneath the floor on the drivers side..
The only problem with tilting the gas tank that I can see is that it may mess up the accuracy of the gas gauge/fuel sending unit..
Anyone ever had these problems?

Richie Blue,

Are you sure this is the problem! The carburetor itself holds a slug of fuel in its bowl and the combined amount in the lines and fuel pump should be taken into account. It doesn't seem like sloshing fuel, even with a low tank could do this..unless it were very very very, darn near empty.

I wonder if there could be an existing restriction in the fuel line that is exacerbating the situation. How about fuel filters, are they clean or have they been replaced lately.

Stuart

The fuel filter is new.. About 6 months old at most.. there was a kink in the rubber hose connection between the fuel filter and the carburetor.. But when i tried to completely starve the fuel line at that kink point by squeezing the kink shut with my fingers while the truck was running, nothing happened? But, I straitened out what appeared to be the kinked area.. I shortened the connection, straitened it out and re-clamped it..
I also checked the actual fuel pump itself.. I'm to understand that those things tend to start leaking fuel before they start going bad.. I saw no leaking.. it looks clean.. But, the fuel pump is one a the few items left that I have not yet replaced.. Along with the distributer.. I did put in a new ignition coil in and replaced the generator with an alternator and put in magnetics where the points use to be.. But the last time the truck did this was when I was still running the points and generator.. So I'm sure it's not because of those items.. Another thing I have not replaced since buying the truck is the actual spark plug wires..

You may want to check the float level in your carbrator. Sounds as though the float could be adjusted up a bit and allowing more fuel in the bowl of the carb. If the carb is full the motor should run a small minute or more with out a fuel supply.

Thanks westratedel.. I'll look into the carb float thing.. Though I wouldn't know what the stock level/height of that float was suppose to be if it hit me in the face.. Basically I have nothing to compare it to is what i'm saying.. However, it does make sense to me.. I run it by my mechanic buddies and see what they think as well..

yup I agree with west .I think ya need to up the fuel level in your bowl a bit ..seems it is set to low..ya might at worst case get a stumble in a clover leaf with very little fuel in the tank not a complete shut down condition.
I have had a jeep CJ in the past that would starve out for fuel goin round the on ramp when it was really low on fuel ..it would stumble a bit but not die.
but that was in my youth ...i try an keep mine filled up ..to me fillin at half a tank dont seem so much a hit with todays prices ..if i get fuel more often ..lol..an since i go to the local sheets everyday at lunch time for coffee at 3am, when the gas gaug hits 1/2 ..i just fill up then.
Tim