Help! Fuel pump issue?

[cstanley]

okay, desc. of problem goes like this.
when i actually have somewhere to be, the truck runs for about 5 miles (sidestreets and go-betweens) before it dies from, i guess, fuel starvation. after it sits a while, it'll run again.

recently, it's done it to me and it won't run again for about 24hrs, which means tow truck. what i've noticed is this: the clear fuel filter will empty itself, and fuel will only sporadically pump back in, but never filling it up. i can see this when i crank it. pump, pump, no more pumping. then after sitting, it will start pumping again and begin to fill the filter, and therefore the line to the carb. then it will eventually crank and burn the fuel in the filter until it's empty, but no more fuel entering.

i removed the small qjet filter in the carb, while still keeping the inline one, but that didn't help. even when the filter is full of fuel, i can't smell any gas in the carb (read my lips. no new fuel.)

what gives? the pump is only a few years old, and there's almost no rust accumulation in the filter. lines from the tank to the pum seem good, not kinked, and fuel flows through.

anyone else experienced similar? it's a rochester qjet carb, 350 motor.

[sleepyboy]

i had the same problem; junk in the fuel filters from sediment in the tank. Had to drain the tank. I also added a fuel pressure guage prior to the carb to re-assure myself I was getting fuel.

[jsbgump]

Could have a partially clogged sending unit from trash in the tank

[BrianJordan]

the pump it self could be partially clogged, pull it and check it and all filters. allso pull the sending unit and check the screen for trash.

[cdowns]

pull the intake line to fuel pump and either suck on to see if you can set up a siphon or use a vaccume pump if you don't like the taste of gas// if you dont get a strong flo chances are crap in the tank// i'll usually pull the tank remove sender and use my power washer to blast the hell out of the inside of the tank to remove the crap, also B-4 powerwashing i'll boil about 5gallons of water add spic-n-span with the tank upright add the soapy solution and then once the craps loose power wash for 20-30minutes after powerwashing i also use an air hose to run air to remove remaining moisture// replace tank put in 2gans of drygas and fillerup

[cstanley]

i'll give these a try. thanks everyone. now, where'm i gonna put a full tank of gas....mmm

[woodridge]

Check the two rubber hoses too make sure they are not colapsed or fraying on the inside acting as a check valve.

[scotto0609]

Chased a similar problem on my 78.It would idle all day and even run fine for a while and i did everything short of dropping tank. It was a brand new fuel line collapsing,after the second line failed I went to hose shop and got a reinforced line.problem solved.