The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop I NEED HELP FAST!!!

I'm at work now I need the truck running soon.<

During lunch, I turned on the truck today like normal and let it warm up for a few minutes, but when I was driving out of the parking lot the truck didn't seem to be getting gas. It sputters. I thought maybe I just needed gas (since it was only a 1/4 full) so I filled it up. I checked the hoses to the carb, all seemed fine. I took the air filter off and revved up the engine, it sounded right. When it's on idle it sounds fine, but as soon as I gave it gas to leave the pump, it seems like the engine is not getting gas!? Max speed was appx 10mph. It worked fine this morning!?

2 months ago I put a new edelbrok carb & filter/hoses. Can you please help and tell me what could be the problem? Could it be the new fuel filter?
I have a '61 chevy short bed with a '65 283 engine automatic trans.

Thanks in advanced,

Not a mechanic but it sounds like your timing is off or the carb is badly out of adjustment.

Thanks jthuma94, but it's a new carb and it has been working perfectly the last 2 months up to lunch time today... : ( Can the timing/carb go bad that fast?

Check the pick up tube screen in the fuel tank. I had a similar problem with my 62. I took the sending unit out and removed the screen until i could flush the crud out of the tank

So you think the problem is in the tank?
How hard is it to get inside?

if the pickup is plugged you can clean it by pulling out the sender, but if it's that plugged, it'll mean the tank hasta come out and get cleaned out - I'd suspect more likely it's your fuel filter getting plugged again if you've got a rusty tank - check it - pull it off and blow it out backwards if you can, and check if there's a built in filter in the carb inlet that could be plugged - could also be something has messed up in the carb, like plugged or stuck float

Bill

Sounds like your fuel filter is plugged. Even though it was new, with all the crud in your tank and in the line it may take a couple fuel filters before all the crud is out. Now if you take off your tank and clean it, dump all the rust and crud out and flush your line it may be alright...
I would start with the filter...

My vote is for the tank or for the filter. It could be the carb or even the pump, but I doubt it.

first go tap on the side of the carb with the handle of a screw driver 4 or 5 good waks may fix it

More carburetor problems have been fixed by correcting ignition problems than any other single source...at least according to my twisted view of reality.

If you've still got the points in the distributor, check the gap. Odds are that the rubbing block has worn down and they're either barely opening or maybe not at all now.

It's still possible that the fuel filter is plugged. you can take the line off the carb and give it a coupla cranks to see if it's flowing fuel (make sure you have a fire extinguisher and no one from the EPA is watching) and/or take the airhorn off the carb and check for junk in the float bowls.

The other possibility is a vacuum leak. Make sure you haven't blown any hoses or caps off the vacuum ports of the carb or at the vacuum advance can on the distributor. I've done this more times than I like to think about when installing a new carb.

Let us know how it works out, k?

Thanks all for your imput, I will try these things later today and let you know how it goes!

Well, I changed the fuel filter & knocked the side of the carb with a screwdriver head.. I it's still riding rough after it warms up... ?
I have to check the distributor cap next.

You might want to look at the points, if the rub block is worn and the gap in the points is less that .016 it can cause ill running and seems like carb problem too. Points should be set at .106 to .018 to make the dwell proper.

chevyman32, you were right, it was the points!
Thanks all for your help.

Glad to be of help. I am in the middle of getting a GMC 248 running after 30 yr storage. I started it but in about 1 hr. of running it bent 4 push rods, I think stuck valves is the problem, I am going to pull the head today. I love these old straight 6's, the easiest engines in the world to work on and mostly bulletproof too.