Need fuel system or carb help stuck oin Santa Rosa nm

[HWY-STAR]

Hello anyone that may can help out.
Long story short, bought a 70gmc in az, trying to get home to Rochester mn. I am in Santa Rosa N.M.
The engine is starving for fuel, changed both
Fuel filters then they plug up again.
No place to pull and clean the tank.
Any ideas or possible help would be a god send.
Thank you all for any help.
Danny

[jjzepplin]

Get some extra long fuel hose and put a gas can in your truck bed.

[special-K]

You need to safely put another gas tank in the bed. Any junk yards around?. Or find someone/some place that will let you work on it. one last thing is keep changing filters. How many times have you had to so far? It could be the crud will work through. Maybe get a big filter for a diesel

[MARKDTN]

If you can't get it to stop clogging filters, I would find a place and buy a marine throw tank and plumb it to the pump. Is it a single line pump or does it have a return line? Buy a couple 5 gal gas cans and get on your way. I did RT66 last year and passed through Santa Rosa. I did talk to the guy that runs the auto museum there. He might help or know somebody who can.

[tdangle]

1970 should be only one line, no return. I believe they started the return in 71. Good Luck

[SRU1436]

I agree, buy a portable gas tank and run it to the fuel pump. People do it all the time, it’s quick, easy, and it works.

[HWY-STAR]

Thank all of you for taking the time for giving me good advise.

I have changed the filter on the carb 3 times and an in line filter under cab once.
I am at a hotel, met one of the owners, very nice guy. He has giving me permission to work on the truck in the parking lot. I couldn't believe it. Everyone in this town seem to be very nice, down to earth people. I am very thankful.
I will try all the good advice from you all and start with the simplest fix and go from there.
Thanks again, Danny

[HWY-STAR]

Bad, bad, upon further inspection I found, water pump is weeping coolant through the weep hole, #3 plug wire was laying loose.
Oil puddle on pavement under rear main seal. This morning after sitting all night it was the size of a dollar bill.

I had 100% confidence in the condition of this truck trusting the PO.

Absolutely no preventive mantinance has been done, just fix as it fails.

PO words were turn key ready for cross country travel as he new I was 1600 miles away.
I just don't get it. How can PO opinion of mechanically sound be so far off of reality. I am so disappointed in the trucks condition. Now I can truly say I way over paid for this rig, so I will just except the things I can not change, and live with it.

I do feel sad and disappointed and let down for trusting someone, Danny

Update.....every time I open the hood for visuale inspection I seem to find other problems.
Took off breather housing, saw fuel puddled on top of carb at the accelerator pump where the shaft comes through the housing.

I found a car hauler that has room for my truck. So I think I just may pay the 1600 Dallas and give up the battle

[Ironangel]

Hate to hear your cashing in already, $1600 bucks would buy quite a few fixes along the way. Your welcome to camp out here a night or two and full use of my heated shop. If you break down within 100 or so miles I'll come get you! I have a tandem car hauler with a winch. The only thing you've mentioned that might be the game changer is the rear main seal, but if its only leaking a small puddle I'd go for it. One quart of oil per 500 miles aint nuthin. Good chance it's only the oil sender fitting or the rear china wall on the intake. I had the same fuel filter problem when I bought my second 72 C/10, three filter changes later I made the 500 mile trip home. One more filter in the carb and an inline filter and she run like a top for years now. I probably have enough Quadrajet gaskets and parts laying around to fix you up...Good luck and the offer stands... I'm 25 miles west of I-29, 80 miles north of Kansas City..."100 miles from Nowhere" PS. I'd call that ol boy that sold you the truck, see if he'll spring for a marine tank and some hose and fittings!

[HWY-STAR]

Thank you so much iron angel. That is very generous offer. I am undecided as to what to do.
I was going to replace the distributor cap, plugs and wires as I'm thinking the problem with fuel may be good. The plug wires look 30 years old, I am afraid to look at the cap, points and rotor.
Bozos shop here in Santa Rosa quoted me around 700 for HEI distributor, wires,plugs and I forgot to say the accelerator pump, (is leaking on the top of carb, as they do from bad diagram)

I can change all these parts except HEI, put new points in and the rest of the parts in the parking lot of the hotel.

So advise on what would you do

1-Tow home..1600 bucks ??

2-Have Bozos work on it, estimate of 700 ??

3-Fix in parking lot for around 120 to 150 guessing on the parts cost???

Any what would you do?? Help is very much appreciated.

Thanks, Danny

[HWY-STAR]

MARKTDN, Thank you for the info about the car museum. I met Bozo, the owner. quite a character and nice guy.
The museum was great, they have a lot of everything, car truck related neat stuff.
Five whole dollars well spent.
Thank again.

[HWY-STAR]

Iron angel, I am not sure how or what I am going to do yet. Thank again for you offering up so much help.
You gave me some very good, smart advise. I know you know what you are doing in shop.

Would you pm me your phone number? Just in case I need some help.
Thanks, Dnny

[RichardJ]

The ignition was good enough to get you this far, I'd leave it alone. Don't know how much fuel is leaking or what carb you have, but is it possibly related to dirt in the float needle?
Slap the side of the carb with a screw driver handle a couple of times and see if it will stop.
Get a tank and hose as suggested.

You have no way of knowing how much damage that guys $700 HEI can cause.

[HWY-STAR]

Yeah I was thinking about the HEI, good or possibly bad for an older Chevy crate engine.
I'm guessing was put in around 2006 has 30 to 40 thousand miles.
PO was not sure either, just guessing on year of replacement and milage.

The carb is a quadrojet.
Thanks for your good advice

[MARKDTN]

You have an HEI or you are thinking of putting an HEI? I'm with the above, the ignition got you this far, fix the fuel and keep going. If it was me, I would pull a plug or 2 and if they looked half decent leave them alone. I would buy a marine throw tank from WalMart/Tractor supply/AutoZone/wherever. If I could not get the fuel leak to stop I might buy an Edelbrock or Holley carb from a parts store and put it on. If the water pump is leaking, replace it. All of that will be way less than $1600 and how ever you get home. There is a NAPA in Santa Rosa, but none of the others. Maybe do the water pump there if it is really bad. There is an Orielleys in Las Vegas, NM if you can limp that far-looks like 60 miles. But I might just go back to Albequerque where there are more choices. Kind of depends on your skill level vs: how much time you have vs: your tolerance for breaking down. If I had the time, no way I don't drive it home. But that's me.

[RichardJ]

I am thinking more about the unknown quality of the mechanic charging the $700.

I'm having second thoughts about a spare tank in your bed. You've gone most of the way across NM and some part of AZ with changing filters. That's better range than you can get with a 5 gal can or even with a second can.

"special-K" suggested filter changing as an alternative to a spare tank and I'm leaning that way.

>>I have changed the filter on the carb 3 times and an in line filter under cab once.<<

I hope you don't mean the filters inside the carb. You don't need to deal with a leak on that fitting. Put two inline filters under the cab. Buy extra hose, hose clamps, extra filters and hit the road.

[HWY-STAR]

Thanks, I am thinking the same way. I think and hoping the tank has cleared out enough but will buy extra filters a, line and clamps.

The 700 bucks is for HEI distributor, plugs and wires, replacing the accelerator pump.
Parts and labor.

I have not paid for a mechanics labor in many years and the cost of an HEI dist is ???
Mayby 3-4 hundred in parts I'm not sure
I guess I will find out
Thanks

[geezer#99]

When you fill the tank go real slow.
Less chance of stirring things up.
And fill it more often. Don’t let it get below 1/2 tank.

[MARKDTN]

I would be careful on too many filters, especially on the suction side of the pump. I might put 1 on the suction side and 1 on the pressure side, but not 2 on the suction side. Eventually it will kill the pump diaphragm and may even send fuel into the oil. I would definitely get a spare pump to carry with you.

If 5-6 gal isn't enough, find a junk yard and buy a fuel tank out of something recently wrecked out of service. Strap it down inside the bed. It would need to be carbureted or if EFI able to take the pump out and replace with a sock. That would give you more capacity. I assume it should get at least 10 mpg so fill up every 100 miles until you figure out going further.

Another option might be take out the sending unit in the tank you have and cut 3-4" off the inlet tube. Put the sock back. That would have it pull fuel higher up in the tank and not get the stuff right on the bottom. Don't let it get below 1/3 or so. That assumes that the lines are not the problem or part of the problem. If it's as bad as it sounds, the sock is probably bad anyway. I would hate to ruin an original sending unit though.

[Wrenchbender Ret]

I would bite the bullet & get it hauled. If you have enough to buy a collector truck you probably can afford the $1600 without totally breaking the budget. The peace of mind & security will be worth it. You don't know what is next. That leaky water pump doesn't sound good either. Good luck.

George

[HWY-STAR]

Thanks to all of you.
I am hoping the fuel will, or possibly is cleared up. I pulled the carb filter and it did not look bad. The inline filter under the cab looked good also.
I am switching to HEI new plugs and wires, naturally.
I want to believe most of the problem now is in the ignition system.
I won't know untill tomorrow as I am waiting on the parts, like we all do. Lol
I will post back tomorrow as to what I find out.

Thanks again for all the very smart and thoughtful advise.

I know it's almost Halloween, but I am living a nightmare rite now with this truck.
Danny, off the road.

[MARKDTN]

How about a couple pics of the truck and engine compartment?

[Happy_dan]

Wow, this sounds like a Vice Grip Garage adventure. I am following this and hoping you get home safely and without much more incident.

[HO455]

I didn't see if your truck has a Qjet? If you're seeing fuel puddling up around the accelerator pump shaft on a Qjet that's a sign of too high of a float level. Possibly mis-adjusted or sunken either way it's an easy fix.

Having bought and driven worn out vehicles for most of my life I would like to add that old vehicles that have been driven little will start leaking like a sieve once you start driving them a lot. So the PO may have been honest about some things. It's also not uncommon for some leaks to get better as the vehicle gets driven more.

Personally I would get a spare water pump with some gaskets, 5 gallons of water and an alternator just in case and hit the road. But I'm also the guy who bought a generator and battery charger and MacGyvered them on to the old lady's Lexus after the alternator puked. It was 6:00 pm on a Friday. No one had a replacement alternator in stock and I had to be at work in 5:00 am the next day. Oh and I was in Seattle and had to drive home to Portland.

MARKET'S suggestion about modifying the pick tube is pretty sound but, instead of cutting it off you could just try bending it upwards. Pulling the sender would also give you a chance to see how much gunk is in the tank. If it is really bad you could probably suck most of it out before replacing the sender.

Good luck!

[HWY-STAR]

You guys are absolutely right. The oil leak is understandable and will not prevent me from getting home.
I flew in and drove out so I bought basic china tools to try to prepare for whatever. But no vise grips and I could have used one already.
If anyone wants some pictures I would gladly post them but I am old school when it comes to pictures. I can't figure out how to add them to a post.
If someone wants to post for me I can text pictures to them. Thanks

I do have a parts list but nobody stocks these old parts.
My plan is to pre order, alternator and belt, water pump and coolant, power steering belt and an accelerator pump, fuel line and filters from O,Riley's up the road one day before getting there.

Someone mentioned that if I could afford the purchase of this truck that could afford to have trailered home. NOPE. I spent my savings and very little inheritance money on the purchase. Gave myself 1400 dollars to get it home. Now I am on the credit card just to try and get home.

I dropped the truck off at Bozose Shop yesterday morning thinking I would be on the road that afternoon. The parts did not come in so hopefully they get here this am.
They are putting an HEI distributor, plugs and wires on. Quoted 450 yesterday. We will see if that estimate stays.

Thank you all very much for your advice and good ideas, I will keep them all in mind as this nightmare trip continues, I hope. Danny