<VV> Fuel Issue

[Steven J. Serenska]

Hello Everyone:

Thanks very much for all the helpful suggestions concerning my fuel 
issue.  It was good to hear from many of you again.

I will provide an update when the problem is solved.  Until then, I 
compiled everyone's advice into a to-do list.  It is below.

Thanks again.

Steven J. Serenska
Bristol, RI


Try to isolate which area it is.  The car should run for a few seconds 
on a good shot of starting fluid.  That would eliminate the last 
possibility.  My money is on some gunk in the carbs, those passages are 
really small so it doesn't take much, some fuel may have dried out and 
then running the engine knocked it loose.  Try a good blast of carb 
cleaner down the vent holes and idle cluster holes.  You could also rig 
a line from the fuel pump inlet to a gas can and see if it runs off the 
can.  From there you can work through the carbs or lines, depending on 
the result.

Take the fuel line off between carbs and pump and crank the engine.  If 
you get fuel there then the problem is probably inside the carb.   If 
this is the case, Tap the carbs with a rubber mallet, possible that the 
needles are stuck to the seat. Late models have the bronze filter on the 
carb. Might check that too.

If that doesn't work, try disconnecting the fuel line leaving the pump 
and going to the tee.  Put a rubber hose on it and put the end in a 
large bucket and then crank the engine for two or three revolutions.  
See if any fuel is coming out.  If so, I would look for either plugged 
filter stones or stuck floats and/or needle and seats in the carburetors.

Also try unhooking the inlet line at the pump. put a hose to a container 
not in motor compartment. crank a little and see what comes out. If 
nothing , give that line a toot of air and try again.

If it doesn't seem to be a carb problem, disconnect the fuel line 
(coming from the tank) in the engine compartment (before the fuel 
pump).  Then, using compressed air, blow into the fuel line (with the 
gas cap off) and listen for bubbles. If you hear bubbles you may be able 
to rule out a clogged fuel line from the tank to the pump.

When using compressed air, crank down the air pressure.  If the filter 
sock is "gummy" you might actually blow it off the tube on which its 
mounted.  Also... if you filled the tank before the car was parked, 
you'll wanna be VERY careful how much air you inject into the tank 
especially if the surface the car is on happens to be sloped a bit 
towards the driver side..

Finally, since the fan belt could be involved in the problem, or at 
least things changed when it was changed,  I would consider it possible 
you bumped the vac advance while you were working and upset your 
timing.  Since I never cinch the vac advance jam tight in my cars it 
could easily happen.

Dark green Krylon spray paint is a fairly good color match if you spill 
gasoline on the neighbor's grass.  :)