Fuel Issues-318

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kickywow

kickywow

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i have 1971 dodge dart swinger with fuel issues, it has a 318 engine,the problem i have is that the engine seems to be starving for gas, after 2 - 3 minutes it will die, the fuel filter is positioned after the fuel pump and doesn't seem to fill, the fuel covers the bottom of the filter but on the other cars i have seen they have been at least half full. I bought a new mechanical fuel pump to try and fix this problem but i still have the issues, im hoping some of you experts out there may have some answers for me? maybe the cam? electric fuel pump worth it?
 
Filter installed backwards
Clogged "Sock" in the tank on the pick up
colapseing fuel lines....from the heat
bad pump, even if it is brand spankin new
 

Try running a hose from your electric fuel pump to a can of gas, sitting higher than the pump, and see it it still dies. If not, then you probably have a problem inside the tank such as dirt, plugged fuel pickup sock, etc. If it still dies after a couple of minutes, hook the hose / gas can up just at the mechanical pump intake and see what happens then. Good luck.
 
tank properly vented ? Leave the gas cap off and see if it still starves. Check the small piece of neoprene fuel line at the tank also. They can coilapse.
 
last thing i have to do is check out the tank but now i cant even test if ehat i changed worked because the car wont start anymore and when i pulled off the main coil to distributor wire it was wet inside.
 
I think Red is on to the problem and Rumble brings up some very good points too.

When you say the coil wire was wet, was it water? I've never been to B.C. but I have been to Port Angles in Washington state and it was way wet there.

Once you get it dried out, let us know what you find.
 
pump is good i tested it came to an even 6 psi, and for the vented tank it never had a gascap in the first place and i also dont have the gasket in between the filler tube and the tank so it is vented, the neoprene line at the tank is brand new because i put the tank back in, there is a bunch of lines out the drivers side of the fuel tank but ive been told they are just breather lines
 
thats what im saying, now im no expert i just looked it up in the book, but 6 should be good, the filter wasn't filling up and it just dies
 
and does anyone have the gasket or whatever it is for inbetween the tank and filler tube?
 
kickywow said:
thats what im saying, now im no expert i just looked it up in the book, but 6 should be good, the filter wasn't filling up and it just dies
Click to expand...

You're right KW. 6 PSI is plenty, Im thinking that you have some sticky floats. Best guess over the internet. The only other thing I can think of is vapor lock or ignition problem.

When it dies, can you still get a squirt out of the accelator pump?
 
Kicky wow is looking for the Rubber doughnut that goes on the filler tube, and acts as a gasket on the tank filler opening.

I Know kickywow, and his car. somthing that he has not said is that the car has been sitting for YEARS. he did put the tank in that seamed in good shape, but Who knows about the lines from the tank to the car. I think you told me that a hole bunch of rusty water came out of the lines when you first hooked it up. Maybe there is a bluged fuel line.

I have been trying to give kicky wow advice, but I am far from knowledgable when it comes to tuning/trouble shooting.

Could this be somthing other than Fuel issues?????

the car has been sitting for a decade or so, with a brand new rebuild, he has never seen this engine run in any other car.

He compared the gas level in the fuel filter to my 1973 340 car, and my filter was half full. I sugested that he had a pluged line, or a bad lobe on the cam. But with 6 psi, I think the cam is good.

Once you get it running again, take out your sending unit and inspect it, and the sock. call me if you do, I'll give you my extra lock ring and gasket.

See you later kickwow...what a cute name :)

Phil
 
ramcharger said:
You're right KW. 6 PSI is plenty, Im thinking that you have some sticky floats. Best guess over the internet. The only other thing I can think of is vapor lock or ignition problem.

When it dies, can you still get a squirt out of the accelator pump?
Click to expand...

not sure i will check this, till then, thanks
 
mrtires24 said:
I Know kickywow, and his car. somthing that he has not said is that the car has been sitting for YEARS. he did put the tank in that seamed in good shape, but Who knows about the lines from the tank to the car. I think you told me that a hole bunch of rusty water came out of the lines when you first hooked it up. Maybe there is a bluged fuel line.
could this be somthing other than Fuel issues?????

the car has been sitting for a decade or so, with a brand new rebuild, he has never seen this engine run in any other car.

He compared the gas level in the fuel filter to my 1973 340 car, and my filter was half full. I sugested that he had a pluged line, or a bad lobe on the cam. But with 6 psi, I think the cam is good.

Once you get it running again, take out your sending unit and inspect it, and the sock. call me if you do, I'll give you my extra lock ring and gasket.

See you later kickwow...what a cute name :)

Phil
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info Phil. Water in the fuel will cause some serious havoc. It's also indicative of rust problems like clogged filter socks and carb flooding/leaning out.

The eccentric that bolts on the cam is fine, never really heard of one trashing out yet, and with 6 psi, it's fine.

Fuel line, pickup sock or line from the tank should be checked first.
 
A couple other things you can check are, the next time it dies and you pump the accelerator pump, if no gas squirts into the venturi's you can say that the carb is empty for sure. On Demon and Holley carbs, and who knows what else, the last fuel line fitting going into the carb may have a fine mesh screen in it that can get plugged. Also, years ago I had a 360 that when it got hot the little square thingey (I think it's called the reluctor) in the distributor would crap out then when the engine cooled down she'd start right back up.

Terry
 
also good but ive replaced the carb line to the carb from pump, and the distributor. and i cant get it running now im lacking spark!
 
I'd hook a hose to the inlet on your mechanical pump and straight into a jug of fresh fuel.

If it runs fine after that, you know the problem is from the end of your fuel line at pump to the tank. Localize the problem.

The carb may be gummed up. Running crappy gas to a gummed up carb is not going to help. Doing what I mentioned, has gotten cars that haven't run in years running. Last time was a 70 318 Dart, hadn't run in 8 years. It really loved the VP! :toothy10: Only fuel I had sitting around.

If the car has been sitting a while take some STRONG solvent (acetone, lacquer thinner), fill the hard line, and blow it through with pressurized air into a towel. Do this until the line blow clear. You'd be surprised at the garbage you get. Shellac, spiders, webbing, it's crazy.

Pull the sending unit as that will give you a clue off your tank internal condition. Had some pretty nasty socks on the ends of sending units that have sat. Most are totally deteriorated.
 
I like cracks sugestiont of running the car from a jerry can.

You will know for sure if the problem is from the pump back, or from the pump forward.

Great idea

also do what some people sugested by when the car stalls, Pump the throtle while looking down the carb. If no gas squirts out, then you know your carb IS DRY, and you do have a fuel problem.

Hope you get it running soon. sorry I couldn't stop by on Friday.
 
Check to see if you get spark from the coil wire. If the cap is full of condenstation, you won't get spark to the plugs.

BTW, your avatar is cracking me up, lol!
 
Hey nick, I got my car's fuel line all in, and guess how much fuel pressure I had?...15 PSI!!!! yeah a little too much. My car would keep craping out. the 1/4 inch return line was too small, so I will have to run 3/8 line back. I thought I was going to be done, and I could lend you the tool...looks like I will need it for a bit longer.

Have you looked into headers?

where going to have to get the exhaust soon. this week, or next, My car is way too loud. you have to hear it now that it idles.

did you get your's running

Phil
 
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