fuel delivery problem. 73 camaro.

[Jok3r]

so my 73 camaro is not getting fuel to the carb after sitting for 8 months. I got the car to run by gravity feeding fuel and its runs perfect. So it has to be the lines, pump, or sending unit right?? *i pulled all of the rubber lines out and checked them and they are all good. my mechanic said the rubber ones are usually the ones that go bad and not the steel hard lines. he also that mechanical fuel pumps usually dont go bad. and i dont know if sending units have a tendency to gum up or not.
what do you guys think it is? what should i replace first and test out? im thinking a 50$ fuel pump since its the easiest to replace.

[rchaskin]

If everything is factory to the car, and you plan on driving it alot, I would replace it all.
I have a 71 Nova that had the factory tank, and it looked great on the outside but was really rusty on the inside.
The tank / sender / fuel lines are really not hard to change. Neither is the pump.

Good luck.

[sam 74]

if its been sitting for a while you probably have some crud in the line, i would at a min. have the tank cleaned and sealed, if you can afford a new tank go that route, you can clear your lines with an air compressor and blow through the lines back into the tank and that should clear any clogs, but the crap will go back to the tank which is why i say to at a min clean it out, and remember to remove the cap before pressureizeing the lines.

[David Pozzi]

Remove the gas cap & blow air into the fuel line to see if its blocked.

[Jok3r]

hmm. i like the air idea. i have a compressor that will do the deed so i will try it tomorrow. i already disconnected the 3" rubber line from the sending unit to the steel hard line that runs the entire length of the car. and removed the line to the fuel pump, as well as the lines from the carb to the pump. so i will run air from the back of the main hard line to the front. then to the tank if the hard line is not clogged.
I plan on replacing it all soon, but i want to get it running around in the mean time. then i will be saving for a fuel cell and holley blue electric pump.
thanks for tips guys! i need an outsiders perspective sometimes.
and thanks david im gonna try it. Im a big fan of pozzi racing BTW if you didnt know!

[Blown73]

It is probably just vapor locked from sitting. Pull the feed line to the pump and blow air into it (not too much pressure) and it should flow. Once it's to the pump, it pretty much takes care of itself. You may need to pull a fitting up the line to get the air out between the carb and pump if it isnt filling the bowls.

Good luck!

[Red67Mustang]

If it was running when you parked it; start with the basics. Checked the fuel filter yet? It could easily be clogged with crud from sitting.

Good luck.

[cornfedbill]

I have had the fuel pump diaphragm get dried out can crack from sitting too long. Gravity feed the pump itself and see if it is pumping up to the carb. If nothing else, it will tell you whether to look in the front of back of the system.

[Jok3r]

so i ran air thru all the lines. a little crud came out but not not much at all, it didnt seem clogged. still didnt feed fuel. the filter on mine looks fake, the fuel just goes straight thru it, Im getting a new one soon.
i pulled the pump. its completely locked up. no movement on the lever at all. i tried forcing it to move but it wont budge and i know they are supposed to have around half an inch of play in order to pump. its a 20$ part at oreilleys so i'll pick one up this weekend. i wish i would have checked it first, but everyone said that a mechanical pump wont go bad. I'll post up when i get the pump in.

[Jok3r]

i didnt think of that red67. definitely a good idea, i will try it if i need to.

[Joker]

New fuel pump is in. Car runs great. But now im leaking like crazy from the passenger side of the carb. Gas all over the intake and valve cover. I shut it off before anything could catch fire. But kinda scary. I cant figure out what would be leaking accept the fuel line connection. What else would leak on the carb. Eddlebrock 600 btw.

[Red67Mustang]

That much fuel leaking sounds like maybe a needle valve stuck open in the float bowl (maybe due to crud in the system) and letting fuel leak out through the fuel bowl vent. Typically though at least some fuel leaks into the venturies making it run horribly. Just one idea.

Good luck.

[Jok3r]

so i guess i have 2 acounts here lol. my phone logs in as 1 and my computer as another.
anyways, after messing with the car for a bit i noticed i was leaking a ton gas from under the passenger door. i didnt notice a small 3" rubber hose in between the two main hard lines and it was in terrible shape. there was no good way to replace this line without dumping fuel all over the place, and my self, so i just cut in half and put a bucket under the line and hoped it wouldnt siphon from the tank and keep pouring. it did. so i pulled the small hose attatched the sending unit, which drenched me in fuel and plugged it with a thin crayola marker lol. i was able to replace the middle hose at that point, but im pretty lucky not to be on fire right now.

[Cdet73'SS]

Make sure your lines and filter are clear and check the lever on your fuel pump for any weird grooves, i have a 73' chevelle with a 750 holley single pump that was only getting a pound or two of pressure. I pulled out my pump and found the pin that rides on the cam actually wore a groove into the pump lever. Replaced the pump, now it runs 6-7psi all day.

[Jok3r]

leaking fixed. i just tightened up a couple of things around the carb and it stopped leaking. runs like a champ now.