Took the 51 fleetline (53 235 w/Langdon 2bbl, 3speed) out for the first real good run of the season, all went well except when I was a few blocks from home it started to surge badly. wouldn't idle and as soon as I took my foot off the gas it dies. Im guessing its a carb problem, but it was running OK earlier. any ideas?
Vacuum leak, loose carb to manifold loose manifold to engine. Stick a gauge on it see what it pulling for vacuum at idle speed if you can get it to run at idle speed.
"Old gas? Today's gas doesn't last much more than a month." ??????????? I dunno, this spring my cars all started and ran fine with gas I put in them in October - about 6 months old. I'll take all the 6-month old gas you guys want to give me ! <!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
I dunno either. The F-100 and Galaxie start up fine on gas that sat all winter. The chevy doesn't run very well until I put a fresh tank full in it. The '58 BMW m/c wont run at all if the gas sits for more than a month. If I don't run thru a tank in a month, I have to drain the tank every time. It won't even idle unless the throttle is WFO. I've tried putting Stabil in it, but it runs like **** with that in the gas too. The lawnmower will burn anything.
Is surging usually from a lean or rich condition?, or maybe either one? What should be me first first step? Change fuel filter, change fuel, check for vaccuum leaks. if that doesnt work go to plan B?
either one. Va***m leak could make it run, but not idle. Flooding same thing. If over flowing gas, it could drive ok but when coming back to idle, just flood out and be hard to start. Happened to me last year with little pieces of something getting stuck in the needle/seat and overflowing the carb at low speed. And I had a filter at the pump, the trash came from the fuel line between the filter and the carb. Steel line, no rubber. Go figure? Look at the simple **** first, look at a plug, black or white? or normal brown? Frank
I tried using a cheap Spectre fuel pressure regulator one time, and it would do that to me. I took it off, and no more problems. Otherwise, vac leak or crud somewhere...
Thanks guys! i pulled the top off the carb and there was a lot of sediment at the bottom of the bowl, cleaned itk out and it seems to have fixed it.
Still having issues, may have to sacrifice a honda civic to the old car gods. Now it starts OK and runs until it warms up, then it slowly starts to surge, and then it dies, I can get it started but it wont idle. Any ideas?
Did you put in a fuel filter after you cleaned the carb out ??? Pull the carb again and clean it good. Sounds like dirt in there again.
Any chance you have an air leak between the fuel pump and the tank? A small leak will downstream of the pump can play hell with flow and pressure. Also Im not chevy literate but is there a flex hose between the hard line and the pump to allow for engine movement? If so check it. It can look fine externally but be messed up inside. Similar to a brake line. If its funky inside its like trying to drink throug a flattened straw. I replaced mine with a piece of hard line cut in half and with the ends offset and a loop of neoprene line in between to address the movement.
Sounds strange but what ignition do you have in it? I have a 235 with a Clifford and Holley four barrel that was doing the exact same thing - stranded me a couple of times before I figured it out -what can I say I'm slow. Any way it turns out the points in my Mallory dual point were not set right. Set them up and have not had a problem since - 1500 miles and counting.
Check fuel pressure, Sounds like lose of pressure, We had the same problem with Iron Head Steve's 50 last week end, a new fuel pump and all is well. I pulled the top of the carb off when it died and he had 1/2 bowl of gas when it got warm the pump couldn't keep up with demand. "Thats something that happens when you get old"
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