Next questions - fuel Filter not filling

[WarpathEngineering]

So in order to get the truck safe to drive, I replaced the fuel pump. The old one worked well enough but due to it's age it was leaking around the diaphragm crimp. While trying to diagnose the faltering/flooding issue with the choke, I noticed that at high idle (1500 rpm) there was very little fuel in the clear fuel filter between the pump and carb. I sat there for quite a while waiting for the choke to open watching the fuel level in this little filter. It pump seemed to cycle in strength but struggled to fill the bottom of the filter up to the filter material and you could actually see the filter material whiten as the carb demand would pulse and it started to suck more fuel. The dual canister system on the truck has been disconnected from the engine but is still attached to the fuel tanks. I first wondered if the new fuel cap I just bought wasn't vented so I removed it while the truck was running but that didn't seem to make a difference. Is this normal or any ideas?????

[cadillac_al]

I would put a gauge on it to test it for peace of mind. In my experience a healthy fuel pump will fill the filter. My truck ran fine for a couple years with a trickle coming in the filter. When I put a gauge on it, it only had 1 1/2 lbs of pressure. After I fixed the bad cam lobe it got normal fuel pressure 4-5 lbs and filter fills up fully. My other truck just got a new pump and it fills the filter now.

[WarpathEngineering]

Cam Lobe was not what I wanted to here!

Thanks, I'll try and scrounge up a fuel pressure gauge.

[WarpathEngineering]

In the event that it is a cam lobe problem, anyone have a suggestion on what cam to use. Planning on sticking with the stock heads, intake, carb, etc for now so I just need a replacement. Too much more goes wrong with this thing I might just jerk the engine and either rebuild it or get a crate motor.

[Dead Parrot]

I have seen those clear filters seem full, part full and empty and the vehicle run just fine. Don't know what the magic difference is.

If you have an old style tune up vacuum gauge, some of them had a fuel pressure range. Uses the back side of the needle.

Your clear filter is like a Fram G3 and not one of those outboard motor filters? Those outboard motor filters are designed for the suction side only.

[lgvl]

Not that it is much of a fix but you could always delete the mech. pump and install an inline electric one. It would be less work than swapping the cam. Good luck.