Engine stalls when accelerating long distances

I searched this and could only come up with posts about stalling when accelerating, like bogging down on take off. That is not my problem. My car takes off fine, it'll roast the tires and pull hard up to 65mph. My problem is if I stay in longer than that it will start cutting out like its not getting fuel. I replaced the fuel pump with the cheaper holley mechanical one I think 110gph. Didn't do anything.

Edit: It's not an rpm thing because I can get to 90mph if I do it slowly, and 65 to 90 quickly, the problem is only when trying to get to 90 from a dead stop under hard acceleration.

It's a 1964 Galaxie
1977 460 all stock
Holley 750 va***m secondaries with factory jetting
floats set to sight plugs
22lb va***m at idle

 

I'd bet you didn't swap the fuel line from the tank foward when you stuck that fuel hungry engine between the frame rails did you..?
Rough guess, a 5/16", "maybe" a 3/8" OEM fuel line ?

A 3/8" would be the minumum diameter to use for a cruzer, 1/2" for a hot rod engine.

Also check for a bent or kinked line somewhere. Many cars have a short rubber line between the tank and fuel line, replace that if it's original.

Remove/loosen the fuel cap and blow air backward from the feeding line to the pump.."back into the tank". Make sure there's nothing blocking the flow. Not to worry, in 64, there were no inlet filters in the tanks to blow off...!

Remember, a 3/8" line would be a minimum from the tank all the way to the carburetor. All filters clean and 3/8" min. inlet and outlet...?

One other quick thought...fuel level in the float bowl...is it at the correct level ?

Mike

 

And, even though the culprit is probably one of the above, what does your air cleaner look like?

I had a truck that stumbled like that and it was due to restriction on the air intake. Smashed fender. Disconnected the cold air hose and it ran fine.

 

Yeah, sounds like a tank venting issue.

 

Dont forget to make sure the vent is not blocked or restricted.

Justin

Voodootwin beat me to it.

 

You need to check the pump volume.

http://www.drivegreen.com/Auto_Service_32_Fuel_Pumps.htm

 

Yeah I had thought about that, I took the tank out to clean it and took one of those huge oil galley pipe cleaners and ran it down the lines with solvent from the front and back and as far as I could and flushed the lines with B-12 chemtool. Everything seemed to flow good, but I'm thinking the stock line is too small too and now you confirmed it. It had a 352 so it's a 5/16 line, dangit.

It's a huge 14x4 open air cleaner element.

It's a vented cap, I'll take a look at it. I'm leading more towards the fuel line now.

 

Everyting you described sounds like fuel starvation.

My guess is a clogged fuel filter not letting the pump deliver fuel. There is almost always an OEM style filter between the pump and carb, and many carbs also have a br*** screen at the inlet. And don't forget that a previous owner may have installed a filter after the tank if it started getting rusty, so check for that.

If all the filters and screens are clean, try making a quick run without the gas cap - IF you can do it without spilling fuel everywhere. If you can make the high speed run without the cap, that would indicate your tank is not venting properly.

If the issue still happens, it's a fuel delivery problem. So that would be your pump (inadequate volume) or your fuel line from tank to pump, or your fuel line from pump to carb. I like to replace the rubber hoses in the fuel system at least every couple of years. I've seen some nasty stuff come out even when I didn't have a problem. Carefully blow out the steel lines with an air hose and an ***istant, and make sure the line doesn't seem to be blocked.

If everything still checks out, you may need to increase the size of the fuel lines, the carb inlet fittings, and/or needle/seat. Good luck.

 

Also check the fuel filter. If partially clogged, only so much fuel can p*** though.

 

Check the inlet filter on the Holley also. If it's still inside the inlet fitting then toss it and get a good inline filter instead. Most people either don't know it's there, or forget it's there.

 

Do the sintered br*** screens not flow well? It has brand new ones (two) as the carb is a double feed model 3310.

It also has a brand new filter before the fuel pump, all lines and tank were cleaned and all rubber was replaced. No hidden old filters anywhere. I've been over this car extensively.

Sorry I should have mentioned that stuff first.

 

How'd the screen look on the tank sender, has the tank been lined?

 

Those things are junk. I toss them and get an inline filter.

Another vote for a too small fuel line. My '65 Biscayne came with a 283 and a 3/8" fuel line. Checking the catalog, big blocks had 7/16" fuel lines. When I went with a 454, I ordered and installed the bigger fuel line.

 

The sender was replaced, the screen on the original was brittle and cracked and was floating in the tank. The tank was just cleaned with solvent and shook it around a lot, the little flakes and crumbs left over where va***med up It was easy to see the inside of the tank, its pretty damn clean. I just didn't seal it, never really liked the idea of the sealer, I'd rather it just be metal.

 

I'll toss the br*** screens and see if that helps. As with others I'm thinking I will be buying some bigger steel line to bend up.

 

I mentioned the liner because I've seen it dissolve and coat a plastic pickup sock, almost clogging it completely.

 

I bought a nice sintered br*** filter for a 59 ford my brother had. It stated on the box "not recommended for engines producing over 300 horsepower". They just may not flow enough fuel for your needs. worked well on a stock 86 ford truck 302.

 

That validated my hesitation on the liner, thanks for sharing.

 

Thanks for the info! I think I'll start looking for some high flow filter options before I tear out the old fuel line just yet. Granted my engine isn't near 300hp stock, but it may still be holding things up in the fuel flow department.

 

Secondaries aren't getting fuel as the fuel is sloshed up against the back of the bowl and the metering plate is exposed.
Common problem in drag racing and we add extensions w/notched floats to move the jets back into the fuel. But i don't think that carb has a metering block, it has a metering plate, right? Borrow a double pumper with jet extensions and see if the problem goes away.

 

Sounds like fuel starvation,,,

Does the 64 have a screw on canister filter made into the fuel pump,,if so change it. HRP

 

I've heard of that, just didn't think my application was that extreme to need it. I do have an edelbrock double pumper I could mount to see if that helps. Since it's jets are down in the bowl it shouldn't be effected by acceleration.

It doesn't have the original engine. It's a 460 bigblock and the fuel pump is a holley pump http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hly-12-460-11

 

how much rubber hose do you have.

 

I have about a 3 inch piece to connect the tank hardline to the pump and an 11 inch piece to connect the hardline comming from the pump to the carb and it makes a slight 45 degree turn to get to the carb.