Please help!...

[c-tenkid]

Hello guys it has been ALONG time since I have gotten on this board.

My old truck hasn't been registered since 05 because of the problem I am having.

The truck has a 350 small block in it.It has vortec heads,Performer RPM,1406 carb,Bla bla bla.

The problem I am having seems to be fuel related.It has done the same thing with 2 different engines.The last engine I couldn't figure out the problem and though the cam had went flat.After replacing that engine with this one and still the same thing I know it is the truck..


It starts up idles fine.You can rev the motor freely and it sounds nice and crisp.Take the truck for a cruise down the road going easy on it and she's fine.


It's whenever you climb a big hill or mash the gas that the problem starts.

The truck just quits accelerating and will eventually die.I installed a Fuel pressure gauge tonight and ran it inside the cab temporarily.What I found was right after you start the truck it goes to 7 psi.Then it creeps up to 14 psi.I then took the truck down the road romped the gas and it did the dieing thing.The fuel pressure went to 0 the truck died and would not restart for a couple minutes.After getting the truck to refire and driving it easy home the fuel pressure never came back.It stayed at 0.Even though the truck would run and idle fine with 0.

I pulled the pickup out of the tank.It's a replacement one.Still a 5/16 like original.

One thing I noticed is there's no sock.There is the spot that holds the sock but no sock.Does it have to have the sock?I am assuming it fell off.

Also with the pickup still being 5/16 could that be the problem.I would estimate the motor makes somewhere around 300HP.

Thanks for any help.I want to get it back on the road again so bad.But this problem is ruining my old truck....

[tomtuna1978]

take the gas cap off and go drive it. if that fixes it you need a vented gass cap.

[muddobber]

i ve had similar problems on two of my trucks and it was lots of rust and trash in the tank. the trash would clog up the sock or the pickup and after a few minutes of sitting it would settle to the bottom of the tank. i fixed this by removing the tank and putting some large gravel and nuts and bolts in it and shaking the p!$$ out of it. I then rinsed it very good and reinstalled with a little alcohol. fixed my problems. hope this helps. just remember to put a good filter before your pump

[c-tenkid]

Muddobber you bring up a very good point.I have never had a fuel filter before the pump on this truck!

I have always had one right before it goes into the carb.

The tank in my truck is in decent shape.I remember the last time I cleaned the old gas out of it there wasn't rust inside the tank.(It was replaced right before I got it)

Tommorow I am going to buy a new fuel pump.Install it and see if that helps the problem.If not than I am going to buy a 3/8 pickup assembly.

If all that doesn't help I am going to give up again and keep working on the 396 for my nova.


and BTW tom I have tried the gas cap and it also did not help.Thanks for the suggestion though...

[Shyguy]

I had a similar problem and it was caused by the rubber fuel line just before the fuel pump collapsing. There is another rubber fuel line back under the cab.

Danny

[smoked68]

I had this years ago and it was the fuel pump. Something about the diaphram going bad, anyway it would run great then die. Wait a few and it would crank and run good again. Fuel pump.

[c-tenkid]

Well yesterday I ordered an edelbrock performer RPM fuel pump.It's rate to 600hp and doesn't need a regulator.

Also ordered the fittings to hook it up.

I went out in the garage and smelled gas really bad.Only to find the gas tank steady dripping out the bottom on the driver side!

I took the truck out of the garage and plan on using the fuel cell out of my nova for a while until I can afford a new stock style tank.It sucks it already needs replaced.

Keeping my fingers crossed this works.Would love to get it legal again!

[Longhorn Man]

a filter before the pump is never a good idea. It can cause, or worsen, vapor lock. Any restriction on the draw line reduces the pressure inside. When you reduce the pressure, you reduce the boiling point. This is one of the reasons fuel injection has the pump in the tank, pressurize the whole line, so that would raise the boiling point.
As for the sock on the pick up, personally, I'd rather suck all the crap out and into an external filter, than keep it in the tank to continue causing problems.

[c-tenkid]

Just thought I would update this thread abit.


After talking to a bud that described the same thing my truck was doing.He said the problem turned out to be the fuel line.

So I removed the line that goes from under the cab to the front near the fuel pump and found it to be very clogged.I cut it up and used a piece of bailing wire to dig all the crap out.

I replaced the stock line with some summit 1/2 inch aluminum tubing.

I also installed a 12 gallon fuel cell in the bed.With 1/2 inch rubberline going to the aluminum....

Also changed the cam in the motor and put a new intake on it.

Hope to be back up and running right within a few weeks....

[tim21391]

i have one before the pump one after the pump and two in the carb.. my gas is filtered great with no vapor lock..