Frustrated, angry and confounded
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: Fort Wayne, IN
Frustrated, angry and confounded
Howdy!
We just brought home a 1978 F-150 2 wheel drive. It has a 351m engine in it. (automatic tranny)
We just put a new fuel pump on it Friday thinking that would solve the problem. It was hard to start and wouldn't keep fuel in the fuel line (Had to keep priming it) we got it started and it run fine.
I just drove it approx 15 miles on a shakedown cruise. The automatic choke stuck a little but if I would rev the engine it was ok.
We drove around the countryside and everything started working as it should. We pulled it into the driveway and it died and won't restart.
We tried to start it and it would fire but would die instantly
Does anyone have any ideas on what is going on? it has sat for about 5 months.
Also I keep priming the pump but it won't seem to keep fuel in the fuel line.
We just brought home a 1978 F-150 2 wheel drive. It has a 351m engine in it. (automatic tranny)
We just put a new fuel pump on it Friday thinking that would solve the problem. It was hard to start and wouldn't keep fuel in the fuel line (Had to keep priming it) we got it started and it run fine.
I just drove it approx 15 miles on a shakedown cruise. The automatic choke stuck a little but if I would rev the engine it was ok.
We drove around the countryside and everything started working as it should. We pulled it into the driveway and it died and won't restart.
We tried to start it and it would fire but would die instantly Does anyone have any ideas on what is going on? it has sat for about 5 months.Also I keep priming the pump but it won't seem to keep fuel in the fuel line.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
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Likes: 24
Frustrated, angry and confounded
Maybe there is so much devris in the fuel tank that it's plugging the pickup tube filter?
How about if you put little bits of fuel directly into the carb,will it keep running then?
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How about if you put little bits of fuel directly into the carb,will it keep running then?
[font color=red]Dennis
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Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
Frustrated, angry and confounded
Be very carefull when dribbling a little fuel into the carb, a backfire or spill can turn you into a human torch!
Just go thru the systems slowly and bring them all up to spec. Start with the fuel system since that is where you have started. A carb should not require priming to start again after being shut down. If you are running the carb dry in normal driving something is plugged up and restricting fuel flow. It can be on the intake or output of the pump. Check the Garage and Workshop forum for a tip on how to check the fuel inlet side.
Also, why get angry? -It is just a simple mechanical problem to be figured out...
Just go thru the systems slowly and bring them all up to spec. Start with the fuel system since that is where you have started. A carb should not require priming to start again after being shut down. If you are running the carb dry in normal driving something is plugged up and restricting fuel flow. It can be on the intake or output of the pump. Check the Garage and Workshop forum for a tip on how to check the fuel inlet side.
Also, why get angry? -It is just a simple mechanical problem to be figured out...
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 482
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From: lake ariel usa
Frustrated, angry and confounded
I think mil1ion has a good idea try swappin in a new filter and try to see if the old one is full of junk. If its not bad try running a long hose from the pump inlet to a gallon jug or gas can full of gas and see if itll run for along time.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 851
Likes: 15
From: Elkton, MD
Frustrated, angry and confounded
also check the rubber fuel line that comes out of the tank and connects to the steel line, those like to rot out after time, which would loose the vacuum from the fuel pump.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 82
Likes: 0
Frustrated, angry and confounded
My '78 did that as well, and that was after a completely new fuel system from tanks to carb. Turned out to be the ignition module, for about $13 at any auto parts store. For that price you might as well get one anyway, you'll need it sooner or later.
Good luck.
Chris
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,217
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From: Yelm Washington usa
Frustrated, angry and confounded
if it has dual tanks I would check to make sure that the valve is not sucking air from an empty tank or has partially closed and wont open back up.
dj
dj
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 954
Likes: 2
From: 15 miles west of Venus
Frustrated, angry and confounded
The starting and dying instantly is interesting.
Pull the air filter and start it and let it die. Immediately look down the carb and work the throttle. See if you see fuel coming out of the accelerator pump nozzles.
There are two ways the coil gets power. During start, the resistor is bypassed because the coil is getting voltage from the one of the little terminals on the starter solonoid. It will be the one that is directly above where the cable to the starter connects.
In the run position it is fed through the inline ballast resistor between the ignition switch and coil.
Pull the above mentioned wire off the solonoid and see if it still starts as before.
Pull the air filter and start it and let it die. Immediately look down the carb and work the throttle. See if you see fuel coming out of the accelerator pump nozzles.
There are two ways the coil gets power. During start, the resistor is bypassed because the coil is getting voltage from the one of the little terminals on the starter solonoid. It will be the one that is directly above where the cable to the starter connects.
In the run position it is fed through the inline ballast resistor between the ignition switch and coil.
Pull the above mentioned wire off the solonoid and see if it still starts as before.
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 108
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From: Easton, Pennsylvania
Frustrated, angry and confounded
Indiana,
If all the above check out ok and it has a catalytic converter you might check to see if it is plugged.
A plugged one will cause it to start and die like you described.
Hope it helps... Good luck with it
Don
If all the above check out ok and it has a catalytic converter you might check to see if it is plugged.
A plugged one will cause it to start and die like you described.
Hope it helps... Good luck with it
Don
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 372
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From: east texas
Frustrated, angry and confounded
My '78 sometimes won't fire either. I had the part that took the points/condensor replaced. Now I know that wasn't the problem. The next time it happened I took a circut tester and checked. Was no voltage to the coil. New box too. I then checked to see if new part was working and surprise!! it was fixed??? Been about 3 months now hasn't done it again. No idea what I did to make it run.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 134
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From: Fort Wayne, IN
Frustrated, angry and confounded
Howdy!
Just wanted let you all I got It fixed
It turned out that the rubber fuel line back by the dual tank valve had a hole in it put all new rubber hoses on and Started it up and let it run for 30 mins shut it down and came back 4 hours later and it Started just like it should. 
I had to by pass the rear valve cause the rear tank leaks will pull it out and fix it in the spring.
I would like to THANK everyone for all the good ideas and tips and will keep reading this site.
Indiana Trucker
Just wanted let you all I got It fixed
It turned out that the rubber fuel line back by the dual tank valve had a hole in it put all new rubber hoses on and Started it up and let it run for 30 mins shut it down and came back 4 hours later and it Started just like it should. I had to by pass the rear valve cause the rear tank leaks will pull it out and fix it in the spring.
I would like to THANK everyone for all the good ideas and tips and will keep reading this site.
Indiana Trucker
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