What's wrong with my truck? Fuel? Dies on road

Sounds like it could be a vent problem. This used to happen on an old Chevy pickup I had. Ran great for several miles after start then would have a conniption fit and quit. After sitting awhile it would fire up and run fine for a few more miles. Drilled a hole in the gas cap and it never quit again.

 

I had the same symptoms in my 59 Nomad.........bad FUEL PUMP !

 

Report from the Repo garage:

Had little time, had family stuff, but I did;

1. Check all fuel lines front to back for cracks, wear, etc. Fine.

2. Examined the vent system. This may be the problem. I found two things:
a. The previous owner installed the under-bed gas tank and ran a vent hose to the filler, then capped it with a non-vented cap.

b. The vent for the carb was sealed with a vacuum cap rubber thingy.

3. Realized that problem always happens on a full tank of gas.

So tonight it drove fine. However, last time after breaking down on the road I tried removing the gas cap, it did not help.

So I'm thinking either the capped carb, or I have something in the tank that plugs the works when full. I'll see how it runs tomorrow.

Thursday I have to drive to the Bronx, I ain't going over the GW until I'm sure it's fixed. I plan to drop the tank tomorrow, it needs to come out anyway, the fuel sender is upside down (full means empty).

 

I am the Banana-in-the-tailpipe MASTER! But there's never a banana in MY tailpipe!

 

The sender is probably in right (I think they can only go in one way) That sounds to me like it is wired backwards... But I could be wrong...

Mike

 

DAM!!! I hate that when the ole banana in the tailpipe does not cure the problem.


Keep us posted on this we all can learn from it and I hope ya find it soon.

 

Yeah, let us know what you figure out!!!! So we can learn from it and sharpen out head-scratching, problem-chasing skills.

My bet is on junk in the tank sloshing around while moving and clogging up the fuel pick-up.

 

If it's not any of the really good suggestions mentioned above, it smells like a sunk carb float to me...

~Scotch~

 

Today I drove the hell out of her. Up the turnpike, 85 per, all over the BX, and no problems.

I DID NOT fill the tank. I will drop the tank when I have a few hours. Still no smoking gun. I just don't have the time to go through everything one at a time.

I'm still leaning towards something in the tank.

I did buy a fuel pump, but didn't install yet.

 

repoman, Did you ever find a solution to this?? I'm having the same problem.

 

If you have an HEI in that, the ignition modules start to fail when hot as they go bad. Can be a real PITA to figure out.

 

Got stuck 145 miles from home after my car started doing what you're describing on the highway. Ultimately ended up spraying my engine bay with gas as my fuel pump diaphragm completely disintegrated.

Hey, it lasted 36 years... thats not so bad.


Second guess would be the HEI Ignition module. If its still in cap and Epoxy-based, that would explain it.

 

definately check or change the ignition module, just for the fuuk of it!
any back firing going on? collapsing fuel lines?

 

fuel pump!

 

No backfiring and no dying...just bad stumbling, like running out of gas, but doesn't. I have a clear fuel filter between the pump and carb and there is gas in the filter. Would this mean the pump is working? Also noticed a lot of red sediment and this after just changing the filter because of sediment. I'm really thinking lots of junk in the tank.

 

Bort62 WINS! My problem was the "ignit" module. Took it to the auto parts store and it tested bad twice. Changed it out for $29 bucks and appears to be running fine now. How about yours repoman?

 

i found a little pod/seed off a tree in my gas tank after much parts changing. seem like it would float around and get sucked up the pick up tube, than when the suction from the pump was released it would come out and float around for a couple of days and do it again.

 

I had a really similar problem years back in a k5 blazer with a 350 q-jet and HEI, I beat my head against a wall for 3 weeks dicking with the fuell system and then it finally died completely. So now I chased it to no spark. Changed the little brain in the HEI as they are usually the problem, no change. I talked to my friend at the local parts house and he said to check the carbon contact under the coil that is where the Rotor makes contact with the coil. I found that it was almost totally gone, I replaced the contact and the coil while I was at it and that cured the whole problem. I hate intermitent problems. Just my 2cents.

 

i had the same problem, but it wasn't a bee. it was a plastic cap from a can of heet, or carb cleaner. took forever to find it. i replaced the fuel pump, lines, filter, and the carb. when it still acted up, i decided to drop the tank...and that's when i found it.