Fell on my face tonight

[chrismoore701]

Well here is the history and story
1979 c10 frame off. New painless harness. Finished the build last year. 3,000 miles since build
Took her out sat and smelled something odd. Couldn't find anything. Later that night noticed voltage gauge reading under 12. Pulled battery cable and died. Confirmed alternator.
Bought an autozone special for $45 because that's all they had. Put about 50 miles on today and noticed she started to sputter. Kind of like plugged fuel filter. Then it got worse. She fell completely on her face. Had to limp home. Almost like a miss. No power shacking terribly. Then bam. Full power. Than on her face again

Any thoughts? Could the alternator have anything to do with this? Seems like a multiple miss. Like 2 or more cylinders. Was going to pull the plugs and check but anniversary tomorrow so I came to you guys to get some ideas before I tear into the issue

Thanks

[Matt Man]

I would check the float level in the Carb.

[cadillac_al]

Is your voltage gauge still going down when it acts up?

[chrismoore701]

Gauges all look normal now.

I checked the bowls this morning. Rear a little push of the truck and it dribbled out. Front it took some real pushing but it did dribble out. This seems logical. I guess a sticking float could make the truck do what she did. What would be the repair on this?

When I got home last night I left the truck idling while I moved cars to get in the garage. She died had a very hard time getting her started again and then died as I rolled into the garage. Packed up and took my wife's car to the show. History channel was filming at the local cruise night. New show. The cars of Volo or something like that.

[Jstock85]

Def sounds like carb. Had similar issue few months back. Double check with Geezer99 he's the go to carb guy in this community. I had to take the carb out and separate the top and bottom halves and clean out bowl and the needle. I also ran some marvel mystery oil in the fuel with the next fill up to help keep the carb parts lubed. no trouble since. Warning! if you've never done a carb be careful there is a **** load of small parts in there!!!

[SkinnyG]

Strangely, my truck slowly killed itself over the past couple years; less and less WOT power, until it started killing off mid-speed power, and then cruise, and worse. Despite new tanks, new pickups, new switching valve, new filters, new pump, and rebuilt carb, the issue was a plugged fuel hard line - I never suspected that.

[chrismoore701]

So here is what I found this morning. Pulled the front needle and seat out and was free and clear. Hit with carb cleaner anyway. The fuel pressure at the carb is 9 psi, so I have an open fuel line from the tanks. Here is the one thing I found that was off.

The driver side upper bolt for the rear bowl was loose and just sitting there. COuld this cause a vacuum leak or something else?

Thanks
Chris

[Jstock85]

From what i understand everything has to be nice and tight with carbs so that may end being your problem. Hope that was all it was!

[SkinnyG]

But don't over-tighten the two long mounting bolts on the front of the Q-Jet.

I use a socket on the end a 1/4-drive nut driver handle thingie, and tighten with one hand.

Over-tightening warps the Q-Jet, causing leaks. Common mistake on them.

[chrismoore701]

This is a holly. But same deal?

[Jgowin]

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

So here is what I found this morning. Pulled the front needle and seat out and was free and clear. Hit with carb cleaner anyway. The fuel pressure at the carb is 9 psi, so I have an open fuel line from the tanks. Here is the one thing I found that was off.

The driver side upper bolt for the rear bowl was loose and just sitting there. COuld this cause a vacuum leak or something else?

Thanks
Chris

Are you working on a Holley? If so check youtube, Holley has some really use full videos, one that I recently watched recommended 3.5 psi for fuel pressure. Your issue could be too much pressure but I would suspect if that were the case you would be flooding. When it's at operating temp and you shut it off is it steaming for the carb? If so it maybe running over.

[chrismoore701]

I am running a holly. But the thing with the pressure. Has been running the same pressure for almost a year with no problems

[Jgowin]

Originally Posted by Jgowin

Are you working on a Holley? If so check youtube, Holley has some really use full videos, one that I recently watched recommended 3.5 psi for fuel pressure. Your issue could be too much pressure but I would suspect if that were the case you would be flooding. When it's at operating temp and you shut it off is it steaming for the carb? If so it maybe running over.

Sorry I was thinking of IDF webers, I mess with VWs. I went back a rechecked and they recommended an ideal pressure of 5-7 psi, 7 psi at idle.

[Jgowin]

Originally Posted by chrismoore701

I am running a holly. But the thing with the pressure. Has been running the same pressure for almost a year with no problems

I would be thinking the same thing as well.

[truckin 79]

I would adjust the front bowl and probably rear bowl set a little higher, sounds like it is starving for gas. I always liked the to use holley clear sight plugs since you could set float level without getting gas everywhere. The gas should be right at the bottom of sight plug if using the brass set screw. It should almost dribble out bottom of sight plug when removed. You should not have to push on truck to make gas come out of sight plug. Good luck

[chrismoore701]

A friend of mine mention the ignition module. Can you test this?

[chrismoore701]

Started looking at the distributor and the red wire from the cap to the distributor was hanging loose.

Wonder if this could be the problem