Truck keeps dying??

[danheit]

Bought the 71 C10 last night, stock 350/350. Drove 90 miles home last night no problem. Drove to breakfast this morning, no problem. Started driving home from breakfast, truck was lacking power, died going up a hill. Started right back up, but cut off several more times before the battery finally died. Get towed home and find that the alternator belt had about 2+ inches of movement. Tightened it up, charged the battery, started right up. Went to drive to the auto parts store to get the alternator tested, cut off on the main road just outside my neighborhood. Right before the trucks cuts off, you can feel a loss of power. I initially thought it was a fuel delivery issue, but it's not. Definitely something to do with the power. Any ideas? Going to get the alt checked now.....

[Longhorn 70]

usually loss of power first is indicative of fuel problems. ignition us usally off and that is that. Do you have HEI in it?

[danheit]

Yes, has HEI. And, now I am thinking it may be a fuel problem. Before while it was running, the fuel was flowing nicely through the little glass filter, but I could really hear the carb sucking air. Now, I just went to start it up, and no go. It will fire over but not start. I went and looked at the filter and it's pretty well empty. Now, this could just be because it's been sitting a little while and the fuel drained back out, but I am tempted to pull the top cover off the Edelbrock Carb and see if there's fuel in the bowls. If so, maybe it's a carb issue. If not, then I will call fuel pump or sending unit. There's no telling sometimes with these old trucks, but thankfully they're easy to figure out.

[geezer#99]

Could be vapour lock.
Do you have a vented gas cap?

[Longhorn 70]

I am betting on fuel issue.....it almost sounds like a clogged filter or some other restriction.

[danheit]

Just messed with it a little more, I'm at a total loss. Alternator checks out good, and cracked the gas cap with no change (actually took it all the way off). I pulled the air cleaner to get a look inside and could see that the accelerator pump is giving me a nice solid squirt of gas when working the throttle at the carb. Got the truck to fire up, cut off, fire up and stay running for a few, long enough to pull it the rest of the way in the driveway. I am now wondering if the incredibly dirty open element air cleaner could have something to do with it. It isn't black and completely clogged by any means, but I wonder if it is choking me out a little too much. HOWEVER, I am not getting a dark smoke from running rich, which is what you would normally get with an air flow restriction (not enough air, too much gas). Next thought goes to the HEI..... (and I am not familiar with those so I am intimidated....)

[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by danheit

Just messed with it a little more, I'm at a total loss. Alternator checks out good, and cracked the gas cap with no change (actually took it all the way off). I pulled the air cleaner to get a look inside and could see that the accelerator pump is giving me a nice solid squirt of gas when working the throttle at the carb. Got the truck to fire up, cut off, fire up and stay running for a few, long enough to pull it the rest of the way in the driveway. I am now wondering if the incredibly dirty open element air cleaner could have something to do with it. It isn't black and completely clogged by any means, but I wonder if it is choking me out a little too much. HOWEVER, I am not getting a dark smoke from running rich, which is what you would normally get with an air flow restriction (not enough air, too much gas). Next thought goes to the HEI..... (and I am not familiar with those so I am intimidated....)

Really sounds like a fuel issue, as others above already stated. Check short flex line leading TO fuel pump--sometimes if old, they get mushy & can collapse after a little driving & starve pump inlet of fuel flow. Would be nice to know fuel pressure and pumping volume of your f-p. Rock A/P has fuel pumps for $10-$17, and higher

BTW: should you expect a dist. module, Rock A/P has one for like $10-$11; pickup coil for like $8.50. However I, too, agree w/earlier post that electronic failure is usually either a go or a no-go.
>> http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...039&cc=1030217 <<
s

[geezer#99]

Could be the module. They act like that.
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=390814

[Scott>72-GMC]

Possible extra inline filter??
Posted via Mobile Device

[FirstOwner69]

Typical symptoms that I've experienced when a fuel filter is plugging up.

[chevy88]

Fuel related, change the easiest thing first, replace inline fuel filter, and one at carb or add one ounce of gas into carb when it won't start next time and if it fires right away you know it's fuel and not spark.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Gumby]

A new HEI modual wont break the bank and good insurance anyways.

is an old truck, junk in the tank, runs until the pick up sock is full of crud, shut it off and alls back off with time and runs for a bit again.

[TBONE1964]

Get yourself a coffee can or something to hold fuel. Disconnect fuel line at carb and use a piece of rubber hose to place from the fuel line to the coffee can. have someone crank the engine and see if the fuel pump is pumping gas. You should get a good squirt(s) out of the hose into the can.

If not, make sure the fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump is not clogged. I then would replace the fuel pump and see what happens. They are not much money and can cause the problem you are describing.

[danheit]

well, it's fixed. Come to find out, it was an intermittent fuel issue, if there is such a thing. I couldn't figure it out, but after some tracing and digging, it turned out to be the NEW looking rubber hose going from the metal fuel line INTO the fuel pump. the line and the pump are offset from eachother, and the PO, when he installed the line, made it too long, and it developed a kink in it. No problem on initial startup, as the truck would still get fuel through the kink, but I kept noticing that after time the level in the glass fuel filter kept going down to about half of the filter. SO, I went to O'reiley's Auto Parts, purchased a Mr. Gasket fuel pressure gauge, went to Home Depot and got a brass T-fitting and 2 threaded male connectors, screwed one end directly into the glass fuel filter, the other got a hose on it, and the gauge went into the top. Stopped by Advance Auto, got a foot of fuel injection hose (stiffer hose) and replaced that small piece going to the fuel pump with a correctly fitting hose, also bent the metal line a little to angle it more towards the pump. Now I am running a steady 9# of pressure into the Edelbrock. Went out for a quick drive, let the truck warm up, no more problems as of right now. Tried to do a nice little burnout to see how the truck performed with it's new found fuel pressure, and was sadly disappointed.... I guess a longbed and a stock 350/350 don't like to spin tires. Oh well, at least I can ride around again! Thanks for all of your help guys!!!! Oh, and to prove my dedication, I was on my back in the driveway with snow melting and falling in my face, in my church clothes, doing all this. If that doesn't say I love my truck, I don't know what does!

[Gumby]

FYI

When you have a problem with a rubber hose wanting to kink, put a hose clamp or two in the midst of the turn and tighten it enough so that it holds the round shape it should.

[Longhorn 70]

Good Job Finding that one! We're all proud of you.

Sincerely.

[Steeveedee]

Excellent diagnostics. A good bet for this is to get a steel line that is curved properly and/or reform the old one so that another kink won't develop in the flex line.

[Sammy]

Now remove the glass filter and bury it under a rainbow some place and find something with out glass. Too many trucks have burned up using them a gamble you don't need.

[danheit]

Why have they leaked? Although I am using the glass filter, I have done away with the plastic barb connectors on the ends of it, and have screwed in brass connectors (one side goes directly into the T-fitting for my fuel pressure gauge). What is the source of concern on these? I actually like the glass filters as they allow me to see when the filter gets dirty and needs changed.

[kcsa75]

Originally Posted by danheit

Why have they leaked? Although I am using the glass filter, I have done away with the plastic barb connectors on the ends of it, and have screwed in brass connectors (one side goes directly into the T-fitting for my fuel pressure gauge). What is the source of concern on these? I actually like the glass filters as they allow me to see when the filter gets dirty and needs changed.

The concern is the glass breaks and spills gasoline all over your hot engine and starts a fire.

[danheit]

Fair enough, but is the glass breaking from something striking it, or is it from heat, or just general wear and tear?

[CC69Rat]

Just sanity's sake more than anything. I ran a glass FF on a 69 Camaro for years without a problem but just reading other's comments made me want to change mine out. I have the billet ones on both my trucks now.

Like others mentioned it's just peace of mind. We all work hard on these trucks and it would suck to watch it burn to the ground.

[Sammy]

History has showed it has happened to several here that have posted. Why chance it? If there was only 2 or 3 here that posted the cause was the filter I wouldn't have changed mine.

[danheit]

Well, you guys have gotten your point across. I will be swapping to a metal filter the next time I have off (before driving it) Bad part is that I have one on my CJ7 too!

[tarro]

Originally Posted by danheit

well, it's fixed. Come to find out, it was an intermittent fuel issue, if there is such a thing. I couldn't figure it out, but after some tracing and digging, it turned out to be the NEW looking rubber hose going from the metal fuel line INTO the fuel pump. the line and the pump are offset from eachother, and the PO, when he installed the line, made it too long, and it developed a kink in it. No problem on initial startup, as the truck would still get fuel through the kink, but I kept noticing that after time the level in the glass fuel filter kept going down to about half of the filter. SO, I went to O'reiley's Auto Parts, purchased a Mr. Gasket fuel pressure gauge, went to Home Depot and got a brass T-fitting and 2 threaded male connectors, screwed one end directly into the glass fuel filter, the other got a hose on it, and the gauge went into the top. Stopped by Advance Auto, got a foot of fuel injection hose (stiffer hose) and replaced that small piece going to the fuel pump with a correctly fitting hose, also bent the metal line a little to angle it more towards the pump. Now I am running a steady 9# of pressure into the Edelbrock. Went out for a quick drive, let the truck warm up, no more problems as of right now. Tried to do a nice little burnout to see how the truck performed with it's new found fuel pressure, and was sadly disappointed.... I guess a longbed and a stock 350/350 don't like to spin tires. Oh well, at least I can ride around again! Thanks for all of your help guys!!!! Oh, and to prove my dedication, I was on my back in the driveway with snow melting and falling in my face, in my church clothes, doing all this. If that doesn't say I love my truck, I don't know what does!

I think I would like to do the fuel pressure gauge as will to help me troubleshoot my problem. could you post some pictures of what you did to install the gauge?
Thanks!