Thread: Embarrassing trip today

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I decided since today was a beautiful fall day that I should take a ride. Stopped and got $20 worth of $3.05/gallon Mobil Super, took off down the road and was going to visit a friend. The car for some reason didn't really want to run very well - felt like it was starving for gas. I know it couldn't be the carb as it is set up for a warmed over 351W and has always run fine tho a bit rich. Figured that I got a slug of crud or the fresh gas moved some dirt to the filter. The car came to a rest along side the road - deader then Elvis. I got some help and we pushed it off the road and I thumbed a ride the 2 miles home for some tools and my truck. The filter is clear, all of the lines are clear, and the fuel pump spit out a couple of ounces about 6 feet when I stroked the arm (pulled it off).

Looking at the arm on the pump - there is virtually no wear. This makes me wonder - did I lose the eccentric on the camshaft? Yes, I'm aware that there are two versions and if I could recall back 8+ years, would probably say that I did the research and used the right one. But, that's a push even for the best of us and from all that I've seen - not really any difference in the two versions in what they do.

The car came home, behind my truck on a long rope

OK - my dilemma. I really do not want to disassemble the front end of that engine at this time!!! The camshaft wont go anywhere, the timing gear cant go anywhere as they are both bolted in place. If indeed the eccentric comes loose, I don't believe that it can even get off the camshaft snout. So that leaves a bolt - and that will possibly end up in the pan sump if it was to come totally loose and escape the eccentric. Of course, I'll need an electric fuel pump and since I have no real useable room under the car without lots of relocation work, it will be at the engine, bracketed to the existing fuel pump bolt holes so I can use the current fuel line arrangement.

NOW - with all that said, tell me why it will or will not work - and my thinking is not misguided HELP

Put the pump back on in hook up the inlet only, now put a short piece of line (bent down toward the ground) on the outlet side and crank the engine. If it pumps a steady supply of fuel (into the pan you put under the line) then I would question vapor lock.

If it doesn't pump fuel, good luck with the electric pump mounting!!

Elvis is dead??????????

Geezer - I would have suspected that it was vapor locked too, but at 54* ambient and the engine at less then 180*,very doubtful. Also, I had been out in the car at 90* a while back with no problems.

RC - I hope that wasn't upsetting news for you about Elvis. Get hold of your emotions, he isn't in that donut shop in Alabama

Like Geezer2 said, check out your pump into a bucket. If you indeed lost the eccentric I'm not sure I would mount an electric pump at the engine. Most want the suction line to be as short as practical below the tank. You would have a very long suction line.

Originally Posted by rspears

Like Geezer2 said, check out your pump into a bucket. If you indeed lost the eccentric I'm not sure I would mount an electric pump at the engine. Most want the suction line to be as short as practical below the tank. You would have a very long suction line.

Roger - I know, I know but you haven't seen the clap trap under the back of my '31 with that '32 tank. My only saving grace for a rear mount would be an in-line gearmotor type if I can find a low (5-6lb) pressure version. A regulator would just be more engine clutter, but.........

I just noticed there is other info in your post, I hope you get your fuel woes figured. But that Elvis thing though--WOW!

Originally Posted by rc57

I just noticed there is other info in your post, I hope you get your fuel woes figured. But that Elvis thing though--WOW!

I know. Sorry to be the bearer of sad tidings

I would look into the obvious common problems first, before you tear the engine down.

Is there a stone filter in the carb fuel inlet? Sometimes those plug up.

Did you look inside to see if you are getting an accelerator pump shot? That would settle that question.

Can I assume there might not be an ignition problem? You might pull a wire off, hold it close to a plug, and have someone crank it.

the only thing that holds the eccentric on the front of the timing gear is the cam bolt what keeps it from spining is a bent part that hooks in the dowel hole in the timing gear or a longer upper dowel pin that run thru the solid eccentric ,the cheaper one has the bent down tab .hope no cam bolt is in your oil pan. it not hard the spray some carb clearer down the engine to see if it fires ?

This is what happened to my friends car.
His car ran fine for years. Went in & got gas. Got a few miles down the road & it quit. Fiddled w/ it on side of road- nothing. Flatbedded it home. I went over to help him out. I told him to check his gas receipt. Yep- he filled it w/ diesel! Won't run on diesel.

OK a bit more information

There is no ignition problem as it will run if there is some gas passing through the carb. It would fire, run for a while then quit. There was a rattling noise in the front of the engine that was never there before this excursion, but that might be just from a very lean mixture causing some detonation. And with a full MSD ignition - pulling a plug wire can light off more then a spark plug - and yes, I do know that from personal experience

There is no stone filter in an Edelbrock carb ( I set it and many others up so am 'intimate' with the innards)and no accelerator pump shot as there is no fuel getting to the carb. I pulled all of the gas lines and gave each a blow out and all are clear, including the filter. I even loosened the gas cap just in case the roll over/vent was plugged

My recollection with the eccentric is hazy at best, but I do not like the two piece version but who knows. I do recall having a problem with the drive pin for that eccentric, but the bolt is an ARP and had Loc-Tite on it.

Could not be diesel fuel as the station I stopped at doesn't sell that stuff

I wasn't going to, but I'm going to pull the timing cover off tomorrow. If there's a problem with an eccentric or bolt, it can be corrected (this is when I wish for a two piece cover)

OK - got the timing cover off. I forgot how many bolts hold it on plus that @#$% harmonic balancer. My puller is packed away, pending an eventual move so I had to get a loaner from Advance Auto Parts.

I found my problem - I had (notice 'had') the crappy stamped sheet metal 2 piece version with the drive tab instead of the cast with the drive pin. The tab had eaten itself and spinning on the bolt and wasn't driving the fuel pump arm enough to pass fuel. It had also distorted the center. I have a new one piece version along with the drive pin on order (and I have 3-4 of the eccentrics which are also packed away and at the bottom/back of the stack of treasures in a 10x20 rental storage room, same place the puller is located).

Now - I can go rake acorns in the yard.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions

Sorry Dave, but when I read your last prograph I burst out laughing.... I had this vision of you standing at 10 paces,rake in front of you, eyeing those nasty acorns mumbling under your breath about clean tidy storage buildings where one lovelee put ALL your treasures safely away, and the acorns line up shaking in their tiny shells awaiting for the battle to begin.

E l e c t r i c f u e l p u m p . . .