At my wits end

[joehalford01]

Hey guys,

So I'm trying to get this pos 305 to run in my 65 pick-up and I'm frikin irritated right now . Long story short, it had a two barrel and original manifold, whole thing was a nasty greasepit; it got to where it would only run for a few minutes, then die. Then start right back up, run for a few minutes and die. Fuel pressure seemed ok, I noticed the carb was leaking fuel down the sides and probably needed a rebuild. I had a cheapie china stamped four barrel intake and an extra edelbrock carb, and an extra hei on hand, so I figured I would just swap it all over.

After finally getting it to seal (after having it apart and together again 3 times ); it's still doing the same thing. I guess it could be the same symptom, different cause if I installed something wrong; so any suggestions would be great. Before I tow it up to three rivers and push it off a cliff . Thanks guys.

[19GMC63]

Just start with he basics.
Is the fuel filter new/clean? How old is the fuel?

[ol Curt]

Is it possible a float is sticking?

[markeb01]

I'd also check the plugs and see if they are fouled. If it's been leaking fuel they easily could be. You might check the carb for an inlet filter, can't remember if the AFB's had those or not. Those bronze filters are notorious for clogging.

Next I'd grab a vacuum gauge and see what kind of reading it provides. Could be you still have vacuum leaks. I've read for years about using RTV for the intake manifold end seals instead of the kit gaskets, but never did it until last time. It was like night and day, I'll never use end gaskets again.

Another odd thing to check, perhaps a tailpipe got smashed shut. Not very likely, but severe back pressure from a plugged exhaust will also cause an engine to start and die right away.

[neto]

Well if you are going to push it off a cliff just drop it off in Madera, I'll take it. Just kidding. You say it starts, runs a few minutes then dies out. Sounds like you are running out of fuel. Check for cracks in the rubber fuel lines. It's doing the same thing even when you changed your intake, carb and HEI. So start looking from the fuel pump back for leaks. You can bypass the gas tank by putting a rubber fuel hose in a little gas tank before the fuel pump that way the your fuel tank is rule out. Good luck.

[joehalford01]

Appreciate the responses. I was seriously frustrated today. The plugs are pretty nasty, it runs pretty good for a few minutes before it dies though, would it run like that if the plugs were fouled?

I'll check those items out tomorrow, thanks guys.

[neto]

It doesn't make sense that it would die because of the bad spark plugs, I can see it missing. Check your carb to see if it squirts gas as soon as it dies.

[joedoh]

I see this all the time on old cars/trucks/motorcycles. the inside of the tank is filled with trash and it plugs up the line/filter when there is suction and starves the engine slowly. when there is no suction, the trash (usually rust scale) falls away from the line/filter and makes you think it is ok because you can blow through it. I had an 85 scirocco (I called it "the rock" because ithere was a dead mouse in the heater and I could smell what it was cooking) that did this same thing, filter never had an obstruction but you could watch the filter empty out and then the engine would die. Start it back up, couple minutes, die.


Check the inside of your tank with one of those magnets mounted on a collapsable antenna, stick it in through the filler and scrape the bottom, bet there is just a huge amount of rusty trash on it.

[taclem]

Definitely the fuel system, I would first check the fuel pump. I have seen many chevs do this sort of thing. Pump delivers good pressure but no volume. It will run for a while and then can't keep the bowl full. Another truck also did this and it turned out to be hole in the line from the tank, sucking air. The last item maybe a plugged fuel pickup in the tank.
Good Luck

[TimE]

Originally Posted by taclem

Definitely the fuel system, I would first check the fuel pump. I have seen many chevs do this sort of thing. Pump delivers good pressure but no volume. It will run for a while and then can't keep the bowl full.

I had this happen on my 65 longbed. It would run fine for a little while and then shut off. I was about 3 miles from home with no cell when this happened. I could spin the motor over several times(filling the bowl back up, as I finally discovered) and drive it about 50 yds or so before it died again. I refused to believe that it was the fuel pump b/c I could see fuel in the clear inline filter feeding the carb. Finally, as a last ditch effort, I replaced the pump and it then ran like a sewing macine again.

[BMSJaX]

I had this same problem a few weeks ago. Died on the road for no reason, would crank and start and die. I have one of those clear fuel things before the pump and it had fuel so I didnt think that it was a fuel problem. Turned out my carb filter was clogged with rust particles and my fuel line before the pump was partially clogged with some larger crap. I had put some of that carb/injector cleaner additive in my tank about a month before and all it did was loosen all the rust in the old tank and sucked it up through the fuel line

[DWright]

i had the same problem this past summer with my 250. the sock on the sending unit was plugged with rust so fine it looked like silt. i replaced the whole unit for like $25. havent had a problem yet.

['70GMCStep]

I agree with joedoh. Same problem on my '65. It would idle, and then if I stepped on it or even accelerated, died in it's tracks. Drained tank, inspected tank...looked like the bottom of a pond, gas was filthy.

Picked up a correct used tank, sealed up inside with that red stuff, new, clean sending unit and filter...problem solved. Can't guarantee it, but sounds too familiar. My hopes are with ya.

'70GMCStep

'70 GMCStep
'65 Chevy C-10 LWB

[TimE]

Any updates or news???