Restoring Rusty

[Titomars]

Originally Posted by Chaplain

I'm finding that I don't bounce back like I used to.

Boy, Do I know that song!

[Gregski]

This is a live update from the field... here is our field correspondent The Greg

Thank you Ron... yes here I am with Rusty at the scene of the crime. We have replaced the glass inline fuel filter right in front of the carb and made it here without the truck wanting to stall at the stop signs or quit running while parked

we've been idling here as I type this for about 5 minutes (yes I am a slow one finger Blackberrian, non of that dual teenage thumb action for me)

I am being told we are about to shut her off... Him I'm sorry... apparently Rusty is a he

more as the news develops

now back to you in the studios

[Gregski]

I am being told we have a visual of that replacement fuel line...

[Gregski]

FUEL PROBLEM - GOOD NEWS!

It appears as though eliminating the glass fuel filter has fixed the problem, but it still may be too early to call it a permanent fix.

The truck started, on the second try but it started.

Drove it around some more and shut it off, waited about 10 minutes and it also started, again on the second try.

The plan is to drive it in to work tomorrow (10 miles), shut it off wait 10 minutes and see if it will start.

Maybe test it at lunch time, and then again when I come home from work.

If we really want to be geeky we can put the old line with the inline fuel filter back on and in theory the problem should come back, don't know if it's worth the tax payers money, hee hee to do so, but we may do it for science.

If this works, then I am guessing a clogged / dirty inline fuel filter? Maybe the particles are so small the filter does not have to look like the bottom of my aquarium back in college to be considered dirty, who knows!?

[OldBlue4Life]

Originally Posted by Gregski

If this works, then I am guessing a clogged / dirty inline fuel filter? Maybe the particles are so small the filter does not have to look like the bottom of my aquarium back in college to be considered dirty, who knows!?

I'm no fuel filter expert by any means, but when I slapped one of these exact same "sick looking" glass filters on my truck and one on my car, I thought I was the man...until my uncle, his buddies, some auto techs at work, and a few other people more old car savvy than myself told me they were a horrible choice and I should replace ASAP. It's been a while, so I can't remember exactly their reasons, but nonetheless, I think they're bad news. When no one mentioned this to you, I figured I had just been misinformed and they were fine to use, until you encountered your problems...
But I'm glad to hear Rusty's doing better now.

[rgunlock]

I've seen a number of threads on this site about folks that had bad engine fires that were blamed on glass fuel filters cracking or breaking. No personal experience with them, but for my build I'm sticking to the metal canister type inline fuel filters just on principal. I'm betting the problem was the kink in the rubber line on yours - glad to hear its behaving now!

[rich weyand]

Some of those fuel filters have a one-way check valve. Now, I am not saying you put it on backwards, but, um, did you put it on backwards?

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by rich weyand

Some of those fuel filters have a one-way check valve. Now, I am not saying you put it on backwards, but, um, did you put it on backwards?

This one does not have such a check valve it is just a fine screen inside a glass tube. Also it says IN on one end and OUT on the other so I am 107% sure I installed it the correct way.

Now that I look at it while it is empty there is a bit of residue on the glass looks like someone sprinkled some pepper in there, maybe it just did it's job and cleaned fuel for as long as it could.

[rich weyand]

Originally Posted by Gregski

This one does not have such a check valve it is just a fine screen inside a glass tube. Also it says IN on one end and OUT on the other so I am 107% sure I installed it the correct way.

Now that I look at it while it is empty there is a bit of residue on the glass looks like someone sprinkled some pepper in there, maybe it just did it's job and cleaned fuel for as long as it could.

In which case you may have another problem. Have you changed out all the soft rubber fuel lines yet?

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by rich weyand

In which case you may have another problem. Have you changed out all the soft rubber fuel lines yet?

yes sir, did that when I dropped the tank a few weeks ago

[motornut]

Originally Posted by rich weyand

Some of those fuel filters have a one-way check valve. Now, I am not saying you put it on backwards, but, um, did you put it on backwards?

Glad it's fixed.
Speaking of valves ...
If it was for a Quadrajet, I'd check this valve can go sideways and block the gas flow.
I removed mine

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by motornut

Glad it's fixed.
Speaking of valves ...
If it was for a Quadrajet, I'd check this valve can go sideways and block the gas flow.
I removed mine

Dang I didn't even know there was a valve for the Q-Jet carbs and I even replaced my fuel filter in it. I bet some guys are lucky if theirs has the spring, mine didn't and and leaked pretty bad till I put one in, but again didn't know there was a valve to go with it.

[77K10Silverado]

Wouldn't that keep it from starting the first time? Not real sure how those work though..

[Titomars]

Originally Posted by 77K10Silverado

Wouldn't that keep it from starting the first time? Not real sure how those work though..

I would think so myself, but since I have never seen one with a check valve in it. I am not sure how they work. I do know those little see through filters are nothing but trouble. I have seen many issues around them over the years.
Best fuel filter I have seen is a K&N fuel filter. Aluminum housing that the housing unscrews to access a cleanable stainless steel screen.

[Gregski]

Fuel Problem Update - Looking Good

Made it to work ok, truck ran great, drove in the 10 miles and shut it off, about 30 minutes later he fired right up on the first try.

At lunch time we will make a few test runs and test starts to confirm, but so far Looking Good!

as always a huge thanks to all of those who contributed your input and ideas, very much appreciate it

[77K10Silverado]

Good deal!.

[rusty76]

Cool.

[Gregski]

Perhaps a final Fuel Problem update before we put this issue to bed and move on to something else, leaking, squeaking, or ticking...

At lunch time the truck started fine on a second try (perhaps since I did not crank it long enuff on the first try) but it fired, ran, and I drove it a bit, all went well

so that's that, about to head home soon

[Gregski]

let me catch you up on what me and Rusty have been up to the last couple days...

I've been dealing with Tires Squel When I Brake - Why? issue that I brought up in a different thread.

What I thought was tire noise coming from the front brakes when I braked, was actually coming from the rear on the passenger side.

So I bought two new Wheel Cylinders (and learned they are not called brake cylinders, go figure) $9 bucks each, and spent one evening replacing them, here are some pics

[Gregski]

I was able to replace both slave WHEEL cylinders without tearing apart the entire brake bracketry springatalogy ecosystem, not my style as I like to do things right and take it all apart and clean it, but I just wanted to stop traumatizing pedestrians at crosswalks if you know what I mean

replacing the bad cylinder (both technically) stopped the truck from squeelin like a pig when I brake now as well as both of them now have a matching 5/16ths Zirk bleed nipples instead of one being 3/8ths (which bugged The Greg)

[Gregski]

tonight, it's Friday night and it's time to tie up some loose ends, when we yanked the transmission we ordered a new boot / gator for the shifter, as well as new pedal pads when we pulled the clutch and brake pedal twins

so here is a looksie at the replacements, complements of LMC Truck

[Gregski]

slipping on the new shifter gator was easy

second pic - old and new boots, (the old one is on the left, I love telling you guys the obvious)

[Gregski]

I checked my order twice and specifically ordered the 74-84 pedal set, instead of the 1973 type, yet what did Rusty come with, the darn '73 gas pedal... will this bother The Greg?

Lesson Learned - Earlier model years used prior year parts, GM loved doing that.

[68post]

Originally Posted by Gregski

I checked my order twice and specifically ordered the 74-84 pedal set, instead of the 1973 type, yet what did Rusty come with, the darn '73 gas pedal... will this bother The Greg?

Lesson Learned - Earlier model years used prior year parts, GM loved doing that.

Yes they do... always be wary of being close to a changeover year, it does happen every freakin time (ask me how I know ). My 2000 3500HD , order body parts and engine parts for a '96 diesel suburban , mechanical/ undercarriage parts for a '9x one ton, Bilstein made rear shocks but not front shocks, ...etc..

[Gregski]

alright guys, Greg had to step away for a minute talkin' about a wire wheel and some paint for this gas pedal bracket or something

so I decided to put them rubber pads on the pedals for him and mount the gas pedal real quick, for those of you who don't know me my name is Joe, but Greg's Ol' Lady calls me Joe Good E. Nuff (I have no idea why?)