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It's dead - Help

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rtylerwinslow

rtylerwinslow

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My car was running great. Better than it ever has. I thought I was ready for the track this Sat. and then it quit. At first it was a sputter that could be saved with a judicial "bliping" of throttle. Then it started happening more frequently. Then no amount of throttle would save it. Now, nothing. It won't start at all. I have replaced the ignition with a pertronix ignitor and coil and it has proven to work very well. I thought that since it sat for a while that it might be the gas or something clogging the fuel pickup in the tank. So I dropped the tank emptied the gas and put the tank back. Nothing. Next I changed the fuel filter. Nothing. Tonight I changed the fuel pump to no avil. I checked the body ground and the battey ground, both are fine. There is one thing I can think of. I replaced the fuel pump with the Moss Motors solid state pump. The pump that was on there before is the exact same one. I positioned the new pump exactly the same way to old one (that worked for years) was positioned. However, in the installation directions it says to install the pump at a 45 degree angle and my previous pump was at a much more shallow angle. I had my Weber carb rebuilt (completly) about 2000 miles ago, so I can't imagine it would be that. I'm really stumped. It was running so well after all my work for about a week. Now I am afraid I'll miss going to the track Sat. I would really appreciate any help you guys could offer.

Thanks in advance,

Tyler
 
Do you have fuel flow at the carbs? It should be a strong, steady flow. If not, work your way back. Does the pump have power?

If there is fuel flow, check the float chamber for fuel. If one or both are empty, you may have a bad float valve or two. If fuel is pumping and the float bowls are full, then the problem isn't the fuel system.
 
I haven't checked the float bowls, but the see-through fuel filter I have right before the carb has very little fuel in it (no more than 10 or 12 drops) and I can't get it to fill anymore. Should I still check the floats? The pump has power. I can hear it running like crazy, but it is making that sort of hallow, tapping sound it first makes when you switch the car on. It usually turns to a more muted, dull noise as it, I assume, fills with fuel, but I am not getting that noise. Do you have to prime the system or something after you replace a fuel pump? I even double checked that I have it flowing in the right direction.

Thanks again,

Tyler
 
Remove the fuel cap and try it again.

If that doesn't do it, pull the fuel hose off the carb and see how much fuel pumps out when you turn on the ignition. Be sure to safely catch the fuel in a glass jar or other gasoline-resistant container.
 
I agree with Steve too. Get yourself an old coffee can to catch the fuel. If you don't get any fuel out of the line after the ignition is turned on and know the pump is getting power - I'd start checking the fuel lines.

Another test might be to try to isolate the fuel pump to see if it works ok or not. I learned a long time ago that "new" doesn’t always mean "good".

Good luck.
 
I was thinking along the same lines as Bret.......he beat me to it. You have covered most of the bases, but the fuel pump is number one suspect in my opinion. I prefer the older ones with the points, at least you can hear that those babies are working!
 
I know it sounds like a fuel problem, but, at the risk of going against the flow...

Before tearing any more of the fuel system apart, take a few moments to make sure that you are getting spark and that your static ignition timing is right. Once you're sure the ignition is right, move on to the fuel system as described above.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I know it sounds like a fuel problem, but, at the risk of going against the flow...

Before tearing any more of the fuel system apart, take a few moments to make sure that you are getting spark and that your static ignition timing is right. Once you're sure the ignition is right, move on to the fuel system as described above.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not to disagree but while it could be something else - checking & eliminating a fuel delivery problem only takes a couple of minutes. By simply disconnecting the fuel line as described above – he’s either got fuel or he doesn’t. If he’s getting a decent flow of fuel then I’d start looking at the ignition timing as you’ve suggested.
 
True, but it takes only a few minutes to see that you have spark also. Regardless of whether it's fuel or spark, start your troubleshooting at the engine and work backwards through the systems. Remember when messing with the carb adjustments that you're supposed to have the ignition sorted out first.
 
Ok but remember Tyler had changed his filter to a clear one and and noted only a few drops in it with the pump running?

While my clear filter has never been completly full, it is always remained about 75 to 85% full. So if my B would crank over but wouldn't start - that would lead me to check the fuel delivery first.
 
"The pump has power. I can hear it running like crazy, but it is making that sort of hallow, tapping sound it first makes when you switch the car on. It usually turns to a more muted, dull noise as it, I assume, fills with fuel, but I am not getting that noise."

To me, that indicates that fuel isn't getting to the pump. I would suspect a clogged screen on the pickup or a plugged line between the tank and the pump.
 
You GO Joe! The pump souds to be suckin' air...
 
Could also be a cracked fuel line between the pump and the tank, but that's usually pretty easy to spot by the puddle...
 
OK, once again I thank everybody that has offered help. I really appraciate it. Here is what I am thinking. I'll run the fuel pump with it disconnected at the filter and see if I get a foutain. If that yeilds nothing, I'll disconnect the fuel lines from the filter and both sides of the pump. I'll go buy an air tank and a blow nozzel and blow each fuel line out to make sure the is no obstruction and no kink. If that doesn't work you will probably here the screaming from across the country. I apologize in advance for the profanity.

Thanks again
 
A few ways for the pump to be rattling without fuel moving. Could be a rip in the pump diaphragm (VERY rare) to a rusted off pickup tube in the tank. And all-sorts in-between. I've seen 'em "pinhole" the inlet side line and -not- leak. The pump just sucked air in lieu of the heavier fuel.
 
Ahh, do you really want to blow junk back into the tank, disconnect the line at the tank as well. If all else fails blow from tank outlet only into tank then plan on pulling tank to clean if that is where the problem was.
 
Gotta be cautious with the tank side line: if there is NO restriction, you can get a nasty "gas bath" by pulling it without a clamp on it... Caution is dictated here. Have a care. If you can tell how much is IN the tank, may I suggest a container large enough to HOLD it all, drain it FIRST and put two gallons back in to do the check on the supply line. If there's restriction at the tank pick-up, you'll need to do as Jack suggests and have the tank "boiled" and if possible, "linered".

BTW: I know "this sucks!" Keep a stiff upper lip: This too shall pass. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Joe is on to something wihch I can elaborate on. If the fuel hose has even the smallest crack, split, leak, etc it will starve the engine of fuel. You may never see the crack and it may never leak.

I had this very problem and it drove me CRAZY until I decided to replace the fuel hoses just to eliminate the possibility. Once off, I could see a hairline crack in the rubber hose near the hose clamp. That's all it took to intermitantly kill the fuel supply.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Once off, I could see a hairline crack in the rubber hose near the hose clamp. That's all it took to intermitantly kill the fuel supply.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hate sneaking into another thread, but how did this "intermiantly" sneak in. I have had a mildly annoying occasional die out, that I've been "correcting" by blipping the throttle like he mentioned. It occurs more frequently when the car is hot, since I've had more troublesome gremlins to chase, I've chalked it up to igntion, and planned on dealing with it in the future. But this might also tie in to having some hard starts when I shouldn't have had them. So I am curious.
 
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