mad accountant
Well-Known Member
Been fighting this intermittent problem all summer, and have had just about enough. Early this year my 69 BB Dart wouldn't start, no gas to the carb. I was pretty sure there was gas in the tank but I put a couple of gallons in anyway. A little down the carb and it fired right up. Ran fine for a couple of weeks (though I only take it out once or twice a week), during which time I put a new fuel sender in it, the one from Laysons, 3/8 line though I only have the 5/16 up to the motor. Then, it started running like it was misfiring or starving after 15-30 minutes, though the symptoms were not very noticeable-until you idled for a minute or two at which time it would die.
After doing this a couple of times I finally figured it was the fuel pump. I did blow air back through the lines just to make sure it wasn't plugged somewhere; no problems. Replaced the pump, no problems for about a month and then it started happening again. Put a clear fuel filter on it just so I could see what was happening, and sure enough after about 15 minutes of idling in the driveway from a cold start, you see the level drop in the filter, bubbles coming up from the pump until it was nearly dry and the engine dies. Next morning, fires right up, though the level in the filter shows about 1/3 -1/2 full.
Today, just to start ruling things out, I pulled the fuel line off the inlet on the pump, ran it to a gas can on the ground and turned the motor over. Not a drop ever went through the filter. So now I'm pretty sure it's the new fuel pump (yes, standard parts house version) but I want to make sure I've covered all the bases here. Anything else I should be looking at? Should I try another new mechanical pump or bag it and go straight for the electric? Kinda leaning this direction because I'm also thinking pushrod or cam eccentric, and an electric pump would rule those out....forever. I should probably mention that the gas in the tank was relatively fresh, and the only change in the last 3 years has been the fuel sender and fuel pump this year. Carb is Eddy 1407 on a .30 over 383, fuel line routing is stock.
Anything else for which I should test, go with another mechanical or an electric? I'll take recommendations on a mechanical or electric pump if anyone has one they've used and has been reliable.
After doing this a couple of times I finally figured it was the fuel pump. I did blow air back through the lines just to make sure it wasn't plugged somewhere; no problems. Replaced the pump, no problems for about a month and then it started happening again. Put a clear fuel filter on it just so I could see what was happening, and sure enough after about 15 minutes of idling in the driveway from a cold start, you see the level drop in the filter, bubbles coming up from the pump until it was nearly dry and the engine dies. Next morning, fires right up, though the level in the filter shows about 1/3 -1/2 full.
Today, just to start ruling things out, I pulled the fuel line off the inlet on the pump, ran it to a gas can on the ground and turned the motor over. Not a drop ever went through the filter. So now I'm pretty sure it's the new fuel pump (yes, standard parts house version) but I want to make sure I've covered all the bases here. Anything else I should be looking at? Should I try another new mechanical pump or bag it and go straight for the electric? Kinda leaning this direction because I'm also thinking pushrod or cam eccentric, and an electric pump would rule those out....forever. I should probably mention that the gas in the tank was relatively fresh, and the only change in the last 3 years has been the fuel sender and fuel pump this year. Carb is Eddy 1407 on a .30 over 383, fuel line routing is stock.
Anything else for which I should test, go with another mechanical or an electric? I'll take recommendations on a mechanical or electric pump if anyone has one they've used and has been reliable.
