Spent a Frustrating Day Trying to Revive My '52 Cambridge

[JerseyHarold]

My son and I want my get my '52 Cambridge running again before he goes back to college in another month. There is a fuel delivery issue and I need ideas on what to do next.

First, a little background: In the mid-nineties I re-did a lot of the car mechanically. I sent the tank to Gas-Tank Renu and replaced all the lines (metal and rubber) as well as the fuel pump. I also had the carb rebuilt by a professional rebuilder.

The engine hasn't been run since 1998 (it seems like only yesterday....). We pulled the fuel sender and there was a half-inch layer of evil-smelling golden brown liquid that I siphoned as best I could. We got about 6-7 ounces out of the tank, but there was still a thin layer that the siphon couldn't withdraw. I'm reluctant ot disturb the drain plug because I'm concerned about the stength of the tank at that point. We poured-in a little over a gallon of fresh gasoline and started cranking the engine. The carb started leaking around the throttle plate pivot and the liquid coming out was more vile than the stuff we got out of the tank. I took off the fuel inlet to the carburetor and I got some nearly-black liquid out of the line when we cranked the engine. See the attached picture. After that, I couldn't get anything out of the fuel line when cranking.

My questions:

Could the gallon of gas be lower than (or just at the level of) the pickup point in the tank and that's why I don't get anything out of the fuel line anymore when cranking?

Should I try opening the plug on the tank to drain whatever stuff is in there, or should I siphon it again?

Could the rubber fuel lines be deteriorating internally causing the "fuel" to darken on its way to the carb?

The throttle plate pivot points did not leak with this carburetor years ago after it was rebuilt. You can see the fresh liquid under the carb in the picture.The needle valve in the carb may be stuck and causing it to dump gas so I shot some Gumout in there to free it. Is it safe to assume that once the engine starts running there won't be liquid gasoline near the pivots and the area will be under a vacuum so I won't have a leak?

Finally, the question I'm most concerned about: Could the Gas Tank Renu be breaking down and contaminating the fuel?

All thoughts appreciated. Sorry about the long-winded post.

[Young Ed]

I suspect its just old nasty gas. The dark stuff may be either from the rubber lines or rusty lines between the tank and the carb. If it does happen to be the tank liner I believe its lifetime warranty.

[Plymouthy Adams]

flush the sytem, add the gas only a gallon at a time and disconnect the line at the input of the fuel pump..use the exhaust of the shop vacuum and get a good seal and pressurize the tank a bit and watch for good clear fuel to emerge. when clean and clear,.connect the line to the pump and diconnect the line at the carb..turn engine till clear clean gas is present I would recommend a cleaning of the carb if possible..should take but a few minutes..do ensure the float and needle/seat are functioning..once the line from the pump to the carb is running clear and the carb bowl has been cleaned..try to start it at this time..

[greg g]

Tim has given some sound advice. There depending on the style of fuel pump you have there is also a brass screen either internal to the lower chamber of the pump of between the glass bowl and where it attaches that can also be fouled with goo.

[54Illinois]

I would by-pass the tank with a gas can, and run the car like that, not driving, idle. I would drop the tank and flush out the old gas, then you can blow the fuel line with compressed air.

Flush out the tank with water or something besides a solvent. Then you could see if the tank liner is shot. Dry the tank by compressed air or air.

My 2 cents!

[JerseyHarold]

Based on the suggestions I got here, we did some filling and flushing of the gas in the tank. I got the fuel to be just slightly more golden than fresh gas, decided that was close enough, and put the plugs back in and reconnected the fuel line. After a bunch of cranking the engine chugged into life. It ran a little rough, seemed to smooth out, then died while running at fast idle. I started the engine several times and each time it would run a few minutes and then die. At one point it backfired a little bit through the carb when trying to restart, then started and ran. At that point I got frustrated so we quit for the day.

There a few issues that need to be addressed. The car steams out the exhaust and where the manifold attaches to the block. When I put the engine in back in the '90's, I switched manifolds because the donor engine was set-up differently. I didn't use sealer on any of the bolts or studs (some studs unscrewed from the block along with their nuts when I removed the original manifold). I later learned this was not a clever thing to do. I have some questions:

1. I'm trying to avoid pulling the manifolds off the engine if I can. Can I drain the radiator, un-do one fastener at a time, put sealer on it, then reinstall and go to the next one?

2. What sealer should I use?

3. I'm thinking that the stalling issue is carb related because the engine also stumbles when I try to give it gas (accelerator pump). How can I pin it down?

On the positive side, I'm very pleased that the engine started today. The oil guage went right up to 40 PSI and the generator is charging real well. When I think about it, the engine behaved the same way the last time I ran it back in 1998.

All ideas appreciated. Sorry for the long-winded post.

[busycoupe]

The accelerator pump seal is probably leather. If it was dry for years it probably shrank. Now that it is sitting in fresh gas it will swell and the problem may fix itself.

Dave

[Plymouthy Adams]

the accelerator pump is only there to aid in the transitioning from the idle to high speed circuits..if you give it the gas quickly you should be able to over come this with but a slight hesitation as you are not under load..if you do get it to the high speed jets and it runs smoothly odd are your pump is not working properly..you can see if the pump is shooting any fuel whatsoever by watching inside the carb throat when you work the accelerator with engine off..if it shoots a nice steady sptream it is funcitioning..often you can revive these a bit with an overnight soaking in some good oil..

did you remove the carb and give it a good going through prior to trying to start the car..it does not take much obstruction in the high speed circuit to cause you a bunch of problems..

on the start run and then die..did you see if choking would keep it running? if so..I would definitely look at the carb and give it a good once over..

[MarkAubuchon]

Pull the carb apart and clean it out. I guarantee you, if you left gas in the bowl its gummed up. Buy a can of carb cleaner, and carefully take everything apart and clean it out. Make sure you also pull the aluminum plugs and remove the jets and needle valves.