No Power?

[eric wissing]

I got the tank back in my 48. Put about 2 gal.s in so I could drive to the gas station. After 3 blocks I had no get up and go, didn't seem to matter how much I stepped on the gas. It didn't want to die just wouldn't pick up speed. Filled it up and same thing all the way home at about 10 mph. I checked the throttle, seemed ok. It revved up in the driveway. I again drove a few blocks and the same thing. At first zipping around and then no power?? Eric

[Brad Lustig]

Do you still have the original vented cap on the tank? You may be building up a vacuum causing the fuel starvation. Another problem could be some debris in the carb and/or fuel pump. Once you get your problem solved, you need to add at least one inline fuel filter.

[Normspeed]

Brakes dragging, or emergency brake not releasing?

[eric wissing]

Same gas cap, I actually took off the filter because it was mounted low right before the fuel pump and was next to impossible to get to. The brakes might be the issue I noticed it was pulling to the left. The tank is clean as a whistle. Hmm, always something!! Thanks, Eric

[62rebelP23]

not overlooking a vacuum leak maybe?

[Plymouthy Adams]

Got your tank back in............could you elaborate on why it was out and what was done to the tank while removed from the vehicle?

[JIPJOBXX]

Check exhaust to see if there might be a blockage in your muffler or exhaust pipe. I had this happen to me and it turned out to the muffler had separated inside and was blocking the exhaust.

[eric wissing]

Got your tank back in............could you elaborate on why it was out and what was done to the tank while removed from the vehicle?

I had the tank cleaned and lined because of crap that was causing the float not to seal.

The exhaust should be fine, muffler. All of the pipes from the manifold back are excellent.

I thought it was strange that after a few blocks it would lose power but not die. I will have to try it again. I would push my foot down but no results?? Eric

[eric wissing]

I should add that when I sealed the tank I ended up blocking the flow but I drilled some holes into the internal fuel filter-pickup. I thought I had great flow after that. It starts up fine and could get up to speed with no problem. Eric

[James_Douglas]

I should add that when I sealed the tank I ended up blocking the flow but I drilled some holes into the internal fuel filter-pickup. I thought I had great flow after that. It starts up fine and could get up to speed with no problem. Eric

Eric,

How long after the tank was treated did it sit open to the air ? The tank sealants are notorious for not sticking if the tank is not neutralized after it is boiled out and also not allowing it to air dry after the application for several days.

If I do a tank with any of the sealants, after getting it back from the shop, I wash the thing out with a water and baking soda solution several times, then rinse several times with tap water.

I then put it into a 250 degree oven for 3 hours to dry it well. If it will not fit then I air compressor it dry and then run a blow dryer for 30 minutes through it. When out of the over/dryer and at room temp I treat the inside. Then I let it sit for a week.

I will bet that your sealant is not sticking and clogging up your feed.

James

[eric wissing]

James, I will check that. I let it sit for a week before sealing it and after sealing it another week before reinstalling it. This will really suck if that stuff is coming loose. Eric

[norrism1]

Eric.. Did you by any chance remove the fuel pump and reinsert? The pump lever may be on the wrong side of the cam. Will run at idle allowing filling of carb bowl but after short drive like you mention it only can pump enough to keep it running but have no throttle response. I know this is way off but I have seen it happen before.

Norris

[eric wissing]

Eric.. Did you by any chance remove the fuel pump and reinsert? The pump lever may be on the wrong side of the cam. Will run at idle allowing filling of carb bowl but after short drive like you mention it only can pump enough to keep it running but have no throttle response. I know this is way off but I have seen it happen before.

Norris

Norris that sounds exactly like what it was doing. I undid the gas line at the tank, flows fine. I pulled the line right before the carb and turned it over several times, nothing. I think I was lucky getting it home now because I have to really pump the pedal to get it to fire up now. I didn't do anything to the fuel pump but I am wondering if that is bad now? Maybe an obstruction somewhere between the tank and pump. I looked inside the carburator and float and the gas is very clean. Maybe I will get a pump, probably not a bad thing to have as a spare even if I am wrong here. Eric

[Dodgeb4ya]

Did you install the little brass compression fitting between the line and the gas tank inner pickup tube?

Bob

[eric wissing]

I did install that. If I hadn't read about other people here on the forum losing it, I don't think I would have known it was even there. Eric

[Normspeed]

If you think it may be fuel starvation, check the fuel line from tank to pump inlet, including filters and fittings, for leakage. Even a tiny amount of gas seepage can turn into a sizeable air leak under vacuum, and that can decrease what the fuel pump will put out.

If the cap is not venting, you can pull over when it loses power and go take the filler cap off. If you hear an inward whoosh, that could be the problem.

[eric wissing]

Norm, I am going to check the line from the tank to the fuel pump. It is messy with a full tank disconecting the line from the tank. I was curious about the cap too, I put a rubber gasket that I got from Tim on it a few months back but I hear no whoosh when I removed it. I am going to take my air hose and blow through the line. I think my fuel pump pooped out on me, I ordered it at worse I will have a spare. Eric

[bob westphal]

I had the same problem with a '35 PJ I restored. The slimy sealant came loose and plugged everything up. I finally drained the tank, removed it and cleaned out the sealant the best I could with a vacuum cleaner. I carried around a tire pump with a fitting I made so that I could blow out the fuel line when it plugged up. I had to do this about 4 or 5 times before it finally stopped plugging. I have never used a tank sealant again and haven't had a problem other than needing to replace a couple filters. I clean the crud out tanks with gravel and a vacuum cleaner.

[eric wissing]

Shel,

Good ideas, I was thinking about a way to check to see if the pump actually worked. It will be a day or so until the pump shows up so I can check those lines. Thanks, Eric

[eric wissing]

I undid the line at the tank and before the fuel pump. I used an air hose and blew through the line and there didn't seem to be any obstruction. I stuck 3' of hose into a can of gas, stuck that on the supply side of the pump, put a hose on the outlet side, undid the coil and cranked it over for maybe 20 sec.s ? There might have been enough to fill the carb. I hooked everything back up and now I don't seem to be getting any gas to the carb? I tried turning it over with the gas cap off, no difference. I will try to disconnect the line from the pump to the carb next to see if anything at all flows. I have to charge the battery. I think the gas fumes are getting to me. Eric

[greg g]

Remove the bottom of the diaphram area of the fuel pump. there should be a fine brass screen in there, there might be debris blocking this screen. This will allow enough fuel to start and idle but will starve the carb at higher speeds. Also while it is apart check the bolt holding the chamber cover tot he pump. If it is like mine it is a hollow bolt and schmutz can also collect in there causing all kinds of problems. The test you did with flow should yeild 6 to 8 ounces on 12 strokes. You can count the strokes by the fuel pulses.

[1just4don]

When you filled the tank with gas,,,did you put all regular in there OR did you fill using the ethanol blend,,,the e-10 stuff?? IF you used the e-10 it makes a great solvent,,,it loosens more stuff than even straight gas. Does the directions allow e-10 on the inside coating ?? Or does it address it?? Or too old of sealer to know what it was then??

I think I would gentle blow backwards from carb fitting with a white or light colored cloth tied loosely over the inlet side of the pump,,,NOW going to be the exit side and 'see' what gunk comes out!!???? IF its all rust,,,then just screwing the connections could have loosened enough,,if its old crud from before the tank came off,,,OR you might be able to see IF its the coating going thru the line,plugging the pump. OR did the pump have a rubber hose on either end?? The e-10 will eat those too!! Even IF you filled all regular,,,truck drivers have been known to goof up and put e-10 in the regular pump,,,doesnt take much to eat up rubber, specially OLD rubber. newer rubbers are e-10 stable!!

I specificly remember the summer in high school I worked for a rancher way out west in no mans land. 175 miles from home, was returning after a weekend home and my Plymouth died on the end of his lane,,,1/4 mile walk,,,MUCH better than the 18 miles to a town you could blink and miss,,,38 miles to a store!! It was a SHORT walk compared to what it could have been.(no cell phones then)(just walk and thumb) MY rubber hose before the pump collapsed inside(and NO ethanol back in the middle 60's). Did yours???

[eric wissing]

Greg, I took off the bottom cover. The screen and bolt were pretty clean. I re-installed them and again turned it over to see how much fuel I was getting. This time none. I will try again tomorrow with the hose in the gas can. Either the pump has died or there is some blockage between my tank and the pump. The air passed through fine and it definitely flows from the tank fine.

Don, I don't think I have ever used the ethonol (sp?) in my car. But I did replace the short rubber peices between the pump and gas line and between the tank and gas line. I really don't want to replace all of the steel line in the car. I don't think it would be a terrible job if I had the car really off the ground. The line goes all over the place!! Eric

[eric wissing]

Well, I couldn't wait so I went ahead and used a gas can as the supply to the fuel pump. I turned the engine over 12-16 times and didn't get a tablespoon of gas. So maybe the pump is shot. The timing of its failure sure was bad. I was thinking I had boogered up something. Eric

[james curl]

Eric any breach in the fuel line no mater how small will demish the amount of fuel sucked from the tank, however you can blow through the line and it will appear to be OK. If you take a straw and stick a pin hole into it above the fluid line then suck on it you should get a demished amount of fluid compared to a straw without a hole. You might try adding some postive air pressure to the fuel tank and see if any leaks in the fuel system appear on the floor. I had this same problem on two different cars and postive air pressure in the tank allowed me to find the problem on both, a new hard line from the tank to the pump fixed one and a new rubber hose between the tank and the hard line the other.