Hey there ford community! I fell in love with these things last year and got a stepside, and after about 10 miles of driving it died like it ran out of gas (gauges don't work). Waited half an hour, put some gas in, and made it about 5 more miles and it wouldn't get over 35 and couldn't really go uphill, and then died like it ran out of gas again. Changed fuel pump and ignition system a few weeks later, made it about 10 miles again. Same death.

Now it won't really start- it turns over and gets going for maybe 4 seconds and then peters out. Changed fuel pump again to no avail.

Any advice on what's going on? Any advice on where to start looking to figure it out? Motor is a ford 302- I don't know anything about cars and got this one to learn, but it's quite an uphill battle starting from zero.

 

What did you replace when you said the ignition system? I battled this same issue a while back. A few ideas:
Check the points in the distributor....I was told they can get warm and stick.
Get new plugs and wires and more then likely needing a distributor cap.
Lastly, check the float after it dies (pull the air filter and the top of the carb...possible the float is stuck down. Fill that reservoir up, put it back together and see how long it runs.
Just a few thoughts.

 

Was your truck being driven regularly when you got it or was it a sitter? If it was not driven for a long time your fuel tank and lines may be gummed up.

 

I would suggest check for spark.

It's very common for people to throw parts at these things as part of a tuneup and while they mean well, the quality of modern manufactured replacement parts is so bad it usually causes problems they were hoping to solve. In particular here, the ignition condenser.

 

If not that and assuming you are running the original gas tank still - check to make sure you are running a vented gas cap. Sometimes you'll be able to tell - if it acts like it ran out of gas - as you remove the gas cap it will have a vacuum suction sound.

What it needs is a two-way vented gas cap because as the fuel leaves the tank bound for the engine the gas cap vent is the only way it can replace the fuel in the tank with air to compensate - or on hot days when the heated air in the tank needs to escape, otherwise pressurizing the tank.

Just a thought....

Chad

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Don't throw parts at it or you will turn into one of those people that say "classic cars are way to expensive to own, when they are actually much cheaper to repair than new cars.

Now that you KNOW it's going to die, go to the parts store and buy a spark tester. As soon as it dies, put the spark tester on and crank it to see if it has spark, also after you do that, take off the air filter and look down the carburetor, #1 make sure the choke is OPEN, #2 push on the throttle and make sure it squirts gas.

After you have done that come back with results.

 

I had those symptoms in a previous truck. Plugged fuel filters were the problem. In this case, there were two filters, one in the carb and one in the fuel line. They would become clogged with very fine rust particles from the tank and, for some reason, would shut off fuel supply only intermittently. Filter replacement fixed it but a rusty tank was the root cause.
Eric

 

First and Foremost, Welcome to FTE! In addition to other member's comments suggest try my backyard mechanics quick timing check by removing #1 plug, with ignition off insert finger in #1 opening then turn the engine over and as soon as compression forces finger out of the opening check rotor position to ensure pointing to #1 plug wire then check the position of the timing mark.

Before the 'qiuck test' suggest gently seat carb idle mixture needles then back out approx 1 1/4 turns. This is just a quick check to determine if timing is in the ball park, keeping in mind if able to get the engine running one should be able to fine tune from there and any adjustment with the idle mixture needles then one needs to go back and check timing, and vice versa?

Seem to recall new members are required to have X number of threads/post before eligible for posting pic's thru FTE forum. If U feel pic's could possibly help member's diagnose U would have to either use an online photo storage source, or I prefer using my digital camera and posting pic's directly to computer using " insert image" logo located along the top of the thread.

Again, welcome to FTE, keep members posted and looking forward to your input!!

 

Go with Ericj's approach. Determine if it's fuel, or spark, then go from there.