Frustrated and need HELP - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

TheSeeker · 10-30-2010, 04:01 PM

Hey everyone, I am at my wits end here hoping one of you can help me out. I am having trouble with my truck starting, and staying running. Here is what it does. When I go out to start the truck I pump the gas pedal one to two times, then turn the key, no start. So I wait, pump, turn key. Usually fires up then chokes out. 3rd time, starts but runs rough unless i hit the accelerator to even it out. To me, this sounded like a fuel problem. So I popped the hood, and see gas leaking from the carb. Went to Napa and bought a gasket kit, and a new accelerator pump and installed. No more gas leak and the old pump was trash. Anyway. It fired up after a few tries and idled rough so me, with the help of my wife inside the cab, and buddy tuned the carb for a while. Seemed to run OK now and drove like this for 3 days. on the 4th day, it did not want to start again, so I inspected and replaced my plug wires, which were burnt through from touching the manifold. Now it started and ran for awhile, then choked at a stop light. Which brings me to today. I have had it with this now, because I cant go more than 5 miles without dying at a stoplight. My question for you all is if you think it maybe is fuel pump related? The see through filter is ALWAYS empty when I go to start it, and I'm thinking either that or maybe the carb is not holding enough fuel to keep it running. The carburetor is stock qjet and doesn't leak anymore. The fuel pressure is also kind of low on the stock gauge but I don't know if that is the old gauge or just a worn out original engine problem. Thanks for any insight one the problems.

FYI. I still have everything from the rebuild kit from napa and a new float I just didn't have time to pull the carb off and rebuild that day. I want to get the truck running well enough to get to my garage first.

sleepingbag · 10-30-2010, 04:24 PM

Could be insufficient fuel pressure, or poor ignition. Pull your cap off and see if the contacts are corroded, just dont detach the wires. I put new cap, rotor, coil, a nice set of belden wires and plugs in mine and my truck drives like new. (I was having some of the same issues) All for less then 100 bucks, all good Echlin quality.

TheSeeker · 10-30-2010, 04:37 PM

Would poor ignition be the cause of dying at a stop light?

*stich626* · 10-30-2010, 04:43 PM

sounds like the pump isn't keeping up..
is a rubber line going into the pump(sucktion side) colapsing?
the fuel rubber line can do this with age,, and stop or limit fuel to the pump. also the tank has a sock on the end, it might be full of crap..
you said q jet..
is the q jet fuel filter still in it..
it's in the carb at the fuel line ,the line comes off, and then you turn the nut and the filter and a spring are in there, it is a brones filter and if it's full of crap, the fuel will showly get to the carb fuel bowl..
with the glass filter empty, I'd say its the rubber line or the sock..
pumps do go.. but the 6" rubber fuel line is cheaper to replace. than the pump..

TheSeeker · 10-30-2010, 04:55 PM

Sounds like a good place to start to me! Ill inspect the fuel line and look for the filter in the carb. Is the sock you mention the one on the sending unit inside the tank? If so, ill look at it but i replaced the sending unit about a month and a half ago. Thanks keep the ideas coming haha.

*stich626* · 10-30-2010, 04:57 PM

also, start it, and leave the gas cap off..
if the filter(glass ) fills and stays filled or half full. and no die'n
your tanks vent is funked

TheSeeker · 10-30-2010, 05:03 PM

If it is the tank vent, how would I go about fixing that? Would I need a new tank?

GMan69 · 10-30-2010, 05:06 PM

One more thing. There are plugs in the base plate of the carb between the primary and secondary throttle bores. They are notorious for leaking and will allow the fuel bowls to drain. Seal these plugs with epoxy as part of your rebuild and you will solve that problem.

cdowns · 10-30-2010, 05:11 PM

have you done a tune up air filter gas filter sparkplugs points clean and gaps for both, dizzy cap and rotor checked vaccume hoses for cracks and dryrot checked timing

*stich626* · 10-30-2010, 05:32 PM

is this have a later engine with an egr valve..
it might be sticking open.. if it has one

sleepingbag · 10-30-2010, 06:40 PM

Whats the old saying, it takes 3 fuel pumps to clean a gas tank?

Like I said, I chased a problem like this for over a year and it was all due to poor ignition. A seafoam treatment down the carb was also helpful..

sleepingbag · 10-30-2010, 06:46 PM

Getting better results after replacing the wires points at ignition to me..

sjarrett71 · 10-30-2010, 09:22 PM

The first part of your post sounded pretty familiar to me. That is exactly what my truck was doing, leaky carb and all. I fixed the leak, and then found a leaky fuel line at the pump. I replaced it and now it starts on the first try. I would check for dry rotted fuel lines from the tank all the way to the carb and replace any that are questionable.

DZL1 · 10-30-2010, 09:35 PM

Have you checked the air/fuel mixture adjustments? Mine where so out of whack that i needed starting fluid just to get it to start. I beleive the correct adjustment is turn them 2 full turns counter clockwise after you have turned them in all the way. Dont quote me on that. Theres a thread somewhere on this board about carb adjustment. Hope this helps.

DZL1.

10-30-2010, 04:01 PM	#1
TheSeeker Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 337	Frustrated and need HELP Hey everyone, I am at my wits end here hoping one of you can help me out. I am having trouble with my truck starting, and staying running. Here is what it does. When I go out to start the truck I pump the gas pedal one to two times, then turn the key, no start. So I wait, pump, turn key. Usually fires up then chokes out. 3rd time, starts but runs rough unless i hit the accelerator to even it out. To me, this sounded like a fuel problem. So I popped the hood, and see gas leaking from the carb. Went to Napa and bought a gasket kit, and a new accelerator pump and installed. No more gas leak and the old pump was trash. Anyway. It fired up after a few tries and idled rough so me, with the help of my wife inside the cab, and buddy tuned the carb for a while. Seemed to run OK now and drove like this for 3 days. on the 4th day, it did not want to start again, so I inspected and replaced my plug wires, which were burnt through from touching the manifold. Now it started and ran for awhile, then choked at a stop light. Which brings me to today. I have had it with this now, because I cant go more than 5 miles without dying at a stoplight. My question for you all is if you think it maybe is fuel pump related? The see through filter is ALWAYS empty when I go to start it, and I'm thinking either that or maybe the carb is not holding enough fuel to keep it running. The carburetor is stock qjet and doesn't leak anymore. The fuel pressure is also kind of low on the stock gauge but I don't know if that is the old gauge or just a worn out original engine problem. Thanks for any insight one the problems. FYI. I still have everything from the rebuild kit from napa and a new float I just didn't have time to pull the carb off and rebuild that day. I want to get the truck running well enough to get to my garage first.

10-30-2010, 04:24 PM	#2
sleepingbag Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pomona Park, FL Posts: 151	Re: Frustrated and need HELP Could be insufficient fuel pressure, or poor ignition. Pull your cap off and see if the contacts are corroded, just dont detach the wires. I put new cap, rotor, coil, a nice set of belden wires and plugs in mine and my truck drives like new. (I was having some of the same issues) All for less then 100 bucks, all good Echlin quality. __________________ 1967 GMC 3/4 ton Fleetside 350 ci Chevy I'd rather do it myself and spend the extra 500 dollars

10-30-2010, 04:37 PM	#3
TheSeeker Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 337	Re: Frustrated and need HELP Would poor ignition be the cause of dying at a stop light?

10-30-2010, 04:43 PM	#4
stich626 Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: hingham ma Posts: 1,721	Re: Frustrated and need HELP sounds like the pump isn't keeping up.. is a rubber line going into the pump(sucktion side) colapsing? the fuel rubber line can do this with age,, and stop or limit fuel to the pump. also the tank has a sock on the end, it might be full of crap.. you said q jet.. is the q jet fuel filter still in it.. it's in the carb at the fuel line ,the line comes off, and then you turn the nut and the filter and a spring are in there, it is a brones filter and if it's full of crap, the fuel will showly get to the carb fuel bowl.. with the glass filter empty, I'd say its the rubber line or the sock.. pumps do go.. but the 6" rubber fuel line is cheaper to replace. than the pump..

10-30-2010, 04:55 PM	#5
TheSeeker Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 337	Re: Frustrated and need HELP Sounds like a good place to start to me! Ill inspect the fuel line and look for the filter in the carb. Is the sock you mention the one on the sending unit inside the tank? If so, ill look at it but i replaced the sending unit about a month and a half ago. Thanks keep the ideas coming haha.

10-30-2010, 04:57 PM	#6
stich626 Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: hingham ma Posts: 1,721	Re: Frustrated and need HELP also, start it, and leave the gas cap off.. if the filter(glass ) fills and stays filled or half full. and no die'n your tanks vent is funked

10-30-2010, 05:03 PM	#7
TheSeeker Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 337	Re: Frustrated and need HELP If it is the tank vent, how would I go about fixing that? Would I need a new tank?

10-30-2010, 05:06 PM	#8
GMan69 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Hernando, MS USA Posts: 1,152	Re: Frustrated and need HELP One more thing. There are plugs in the base plate of the carb between the primary and secondary throttle bores. They are notorious for leaking and will allow the fuel bowls to drain. Seal these plugs with epoxy as part of your rebuild and you will solve that problem. __________________ George Morgan Hernando, MS '69 C-10 swb fleetside '72 GMC swb Stepside

10-30-2010, 05:11 PM	#9
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Frustrated and need HELP have you done a tune up air filter gas filter sparkplugs points clean and gaps for both, dizzy cap and rotor checked vaccume hoses for cracks and dryrot checked timing __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

10-30-2010, 05:32 PM	#10
stich626 Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: hingham ma Posts: 1,721	Re: Frustrated and need HELP is this have a later engine with an egr valve.. it might be sticking open.. if it has one

10-30-2010, 06:40 PM	#11
sleepingbag Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pomona Park, FL Posts: 151	Re: Frustrated and need HELP Whats the old saying, it takes 3 fuel pumps to clean a gas tank? Like I said, I chased a problem like this for over a year and it was all due to poor ignition. A seafoam treatment down the carb was also helpful.. __________________ 1967 GMC 3/4 ton Fleetside 350 ci Chevy I'd rather do it myself and spend the extra 500 dollars

10-30-2010, 06:46 PM	#12
sleepingbag Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pomona Park, FL Posts: 151	Re: Frustrated and need HELP Getting better results after replacing the wires points at ignition to me.. __________________ 1967 GMC 3/4 ton Fleetside 350 ci Chevy I'd rather do it myself and spend the extra 500 dollars

10-30-2010, 09:22 PM	#13
sjarrett71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Rolla, MO Posts: 2,463	Re: Frustrated and need HELP The first part of your post sounded pretty familiar to me. That is exactly what my truck was doing, leaky carb and all. I fixed the leak, and then found a leaky fuel line at the pump. I replaced it and now it starts on the first try. I would check for dry rotted fuel lines from the tank all the way to the carb and replace any that are questionable. __________________ -Scott- Last edited by sjarrett71; 10-30-2010 at 09:23 PM.

10-30-2010, 09:35 PM	#14
DZL1 One day..... Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ocala, FL. Posts: 702	Re: Frustrated and need HELP Have you checked the air/fuel mixture adjustments? Mine where so out of whack that i needed starting fluid just to get it to start. I beleive the correct adjustment is turn them 2 full turns counter clockwise after you have turned them in all the way. Dont quote me on that. Theres a thread somewhere on this board about carb adjustment. Hope this helps. DZL1.



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