OK guys, my first real post with a question...I hope I have got this right. I know this is for the 50's trucks and thats what I have but it has a 72 Torino engine, still I thought you guys could help, I think the question is pretty generic. Some backstory first:
I recently bought the truck (55 F100) and the previous owner had changed out the original engine with 351C and transmission from a 72 Torino. It mostly runs. I started it and drove it on the trailer and then off at home and she ran while I pulled it around my cul-de-sac and then backed it into the garage where it died. I thought maybe it had ran out of gas. I left it for a couple of days until I was ready to mess with it. I put 3-4 gallons of gas in it but could not get it to start. I talked with neighbor who was old enough to have driven some of the older cars. (Disclosure: I'm only 32 and the oldest car I have owned was an 89 truck.) He told me I needed to pump the gas three times to engage the automatic choke before turning her over. I was succesful at doing this once and she ran for 5 or 10 minutes. Since then I have not been able to duplicate it. I can prime the carb and she will run (rather roughly) for a few minutes but once you try to give her a little gas she stalls. I probably need some more education (still learning) but it seems that she is not getting gas from the tank. Must have originaly because I dont think an engine would run for 5 minutes without taking fuel from the tank...any thoughts on this? I appreciate the help, take it easy on me. I am a newbie to the forum and old trucks. Really looking forward to some fun restoring and driving my truck. Thanks in advance...

 

Welcome Crazy!

First order of business is to check the fuel line - from the tank to the carb. Expect to find crud everywhere starting with the tank, the pickup tube, the lines themselves, any filters, and the carb. Clean / or replace then retry.

Enjoy the ride.

DW

 

If it starts when you prime it, it's probably not ignition.

Could be a sticky float in the carburetor, or could be a failing fuel pump. Could be the fuel filter is stopping up. I would start with the filter, as that's the cheapest, and most likely to fail.

Had it been sitting for a while, when you bought it?

(Oh yea, welcome to FTE )

edit: FortyNiner beat me to the punch!

 

Thanks guys...so fast with the responses. Yes, he told me it had sat at his shop for about a year or so after he replaced the motor and trans without much done to it. Then he decided to sell it so he got her running and then about once a month or so he would move her out to the front of his parking lot for better visibility. He said pobably moved the truck 5 or 6 times in the six months he waited to sell her.

 

Welcome to the board!

From what you describe I dont think its a very serious issue. You're right, for some reason its not getting fuel. The first thing I would do would be to loosen the fuel line at the carburetor and see if gas leaks out when you crank it. If it does then the fuel pump is probably working and the problem is inside the carb (the float is probably stuck).
If its a stuck float you might get lucky by gently tapping on the body of the carb with the handle of screwdriver (don't beat the tar out of the thing, just enough to try and "jar" the float and needle)

If its not leaking gas when you pull the fuel line off then either the fuel pump isn't working or the line is plugged somewhere. Just keep working backwards until you get gas flowing.
You could pull the fuel line loose at the pump and blow backwards towards the fuel tank to check for a blockage.

(note: it would probably be a good idea to have a fire extinguisher handy)

Good luck with it
Bobby

 

Welcome to the forum!!

I agree with the other guys... Check that fuel filter. That 351 C should have a fairly big cartridge filter built into the fuel pump.

You can also get a relatively cheap fuel pump test gauge at an auto parts store & do two tests: first, disconnect the fuel line from the carb and use the test gauge to check pressure while a assistant cranks the engine. It should be 2-3 psi. If you have pressure, check for volume of flow by putting the disconnected line into a coffee can and have your assistant crank again. The fuel should squirt in pulses, but it should pump a few ounces by cranking a few seconds.
If you get pressure but low flow, check filters and the tank for crud. If you have low pressure, replace the pump.
Dan

 

I love this part. Score another 1 for us old people.

 

Well I didnt want to call him "old" because now that I am in my thirties guys in their fifties dont seem as old as they used to. SO I tried to use some tact and say he was "old enough"...didnt work huh?

Seriously though, he has been a wealth of knowledge to me with this truck, not to mention all the help I have gotten from reading old threads on this forum. Awesome place for everyone to get together.

Thanks for all the input, I think I will pull the fuel line off the carb and work my way backwards. Also, I am going to replace the fuel filter anyhow, I have to think it is pretty old and could use replacing anyway.

 

If your going to get a test gauge I would suggest a combination fuel pump pressure/vacuum gauge if they still make them.

 

I had a 351C in my truck at one time, great engine, still have it but not in my truck. What carb? 2V or 4V What do the points look like, where is the timing set? Can't be to much wrong, it runs, just needs some TLC

 

Thanks oldmerc, I will look for the combo when I head to the parts house. My 351C is 2v. I havent looked at the points or the timing yet. Honestly didnt think about the timing on it.

 

That was it... I just liked the way you termed it.
Welcome aboard.