Ive got a 54 chevy 210, recently installed a 350 SB with TH350. It was running great for a few months then started surging / choking at speed. Replaced the fuel filter (there was just the one at the time) by adding one high micron filter before the fuel pump and one lower micron filter after the fuel pump. The car ran well for about a month or so, then started surging again. There was a fair amount of debris in the filters so I changed the filter in front of the fuel pump again but it is still surging. The car starts right up, and drives fine until cruising around 35 mph and then starts choking / surging. Once it starts choking I have to pull over and put it in park and it runs fine. A few other details, the issues started after I moved from CO to MA. Maybe the carb needs to be tuned to accommodate lower altitude? The car sometime struggles when shifting from 1st to 2nd. Sort of a pause like it's going to choke. Lastly, the filters I installed in front of the fuel pump were clear glass and could see a fair amount of debris accumulate. Any thoughts? I was sure it is fuel delivery related but other threads here lead me to believe it could be a whole lot of things. I am admittedly learning my way with this stuff. Very little experience. Any advice on where to start would be appreciated.
I’d sure guess you have debris in your carburetor. You could try burping it but more than likely you’ll have to disassemble and clean it out.
I have an off-topic "M-word" that....even with a new fuel tank it does that when the lil clear glass fuel filter has some "stuff" in it. Cost me a small fortune and a lot of cruise time until I fingered-it out. (Cruis'in the Coast) 6sally6
Those glass filters are problems. We have seen them leak, break and even cause fires. Also sounds like the tank has Debree inside and is clogging the fuel line and filters. Any car that has one of those filters on it that come into our Hot Rod Shoppe gets removed and replaced with a Wix 33002 or NAPA 3002 (same filter)
Thanks everyone. I didn't think it would be the gas tank as it was replaced about 15 years ago. I'll look to replace the tank and clean out the fuel system.
15 yrs sure isn’t recent. Disassemble and clean your carb after cleaning your fuel system. Be sure to poke around all your small orifices with a needle and a high pressure air gun. It’s already in your carb causing the symptoms. You could try burping your carb before disassembly.
15 years isn't old at all for a fuel tank. But if you're still getting debris, it's coming from somewhere. Is it definitely debris that is causing the issues? When this happens, is your fuel pump hot? I've had mechanical pumps do this intermittent surging when they were in their way out.
I don't know for sure but there was a fair amount of debris floating around. Hadn't thought to check the temp of the pump.
A roadside fix if it's surging is to pour cold water on the pump and cool it off. If that does it, it's the pump.
"Shade-tree" carb cleaning....... With engine idling.... pull the carb open about 1/2 to 3/4. Before the engine 'runs away' clamp your hand on top of the carb and hold the throttle open pulling a huge vacuum under your hand. Just before the engine dies remove your hand (with the throttle still pulled open) and let the engine 'catch-up' and start to gain RPMs. Slam your hand back down on the carb and nearly choke it down again Rinse & Repeat. Pulling such a huge vacuum 'should'***** any trash on through the carb. Works for me but.......I gotta Ford! 6sally6
You didn't mention which carburetor you are using. I'm running an Edelbrock 1406 and it has internal filters in case anything gets past the external. I experienced a similar situation with my car after it sat for over 2 years with gas in it. Turns out the Ethanol did a number on the rubber hoses. Basically, the internal filter was caked in fine rubber particles that were small enough to make it through the external filter.
If I recall, it was internal to the carb. I chased the fuel issue for quite sometime before I bought the rebuild kit.
Don't forget to replace the fuel pump also. I got junk in my fuel system, and it took out my fuel pump not long after cleaning the system up. Since replacing the fuel pump about 6 years ago it's been flawless, but cost me a 90 mile tow when it went out.
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