i just got a '78 F-150 with a 302 and a c4. the engine runs great . . . when it wants to. i drove it home yesterday, and it ran fine at first. then i stopped at a store down the street to get screws to put on the license plates. as i was pulling out again, it died, and i had to push it back into the parking lot. then it wouldn't start. sounded like it was out of gas. it would crank and turn over just fine, but wouldn't start. so i caught a ride to a gas station, got a gas can, and put a couple gallons in it and it started right up. i figured that was that, cursed the fuel gauge, and drove it down the street to fill it up the rest of the way. after getting gas, it started up just fine again. so i drive some more, til i'm nearly home, then stop at a burger joint. after getting my burger, same thing happens as before. it cuts out after i get out of the parking lot, like it just ran out of gas, and i coast into another lot, screw with it for a while, to no avail. if i poured gas in the carb, it would start right up, then die. then, it suddenly starts up again, and runs fine all the way to the 7-11 a few blocks from my apartment. this time, i leave the truck running while i go in to get some beer, and a few minutes later, i come out to find it's died. same thing again. won't start, won't start, won't start . . . starts! then runs fine. this morning, when it was light, i went out and to mess with it. there were kinks in the line, so i got some longer fuel lines and installed those, started it and drove around, then stopped for a few minutes outside my house, and started it again . . . and it died!

does anyone have any idea what might be happening here? the truck has an electric fuel pump with a manual on/off switch on the dash, and you can hear it pumping when it's on. i don't know what could be the issue here. i know there's a more logical explaination that just "dang truck is ornery about starting."

 

Welcome to the site.

This is called the "Hot start" condition.

I'll find you some other threads to read

 

hey, thanks, you guys are great. i just wish i could get the picture site to work so i could actually post some pictures of my beast! i'll try it again later.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...g-problem.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...art-again.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/4...when-warm.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/3...dnt-start.html

 

Where were the hoses kinked? If they were kinked on the inlet side of the fuel pump, the pump might be ruined now and you should replace it. If they were kinked on the outlet side-- no problem to the fuel pump. This is assuming the stock. block mounted mechanical fuel pump.

I also had a similar problem with a plugged fuel filter. It sure sounds like your problem is a fuel starvation issue.

 

no, it's not the stock pump. it's an aftermarket electric pump. it was kinked on both sides. but it ran fine kinked until i try to restart it warm. i looked at some of the posts linked to this one now, and i think it might be the fuel getting too warm. the hard fuel line to the carb is loose and lays against the block . . . think i'll try to reroute it.

 

could also be the ignition control module on the drivers side fender if it is the factory duraspark try to start it when it wont start and let off the key quick if it fires up or tries to replace the ICM. just another option to look into

 

hey i fixed the problem! i think it was because of the metal fuel line laying against the block. i mounted the electric fuel pump on the fender, then ran rubber fuel line behind the brake master cylinder, along the firewall, and over the air cleaner into the carb to keep it away from everything hot. i started it and ran it up to temp twice after that, and it started fine after five minutes of sitting each time! thanks for the help, guys.

 

glad you fixed it. the fuel was more then likely boiling before it reached the carb and vaporlocked .

 

ok, a few days ago, you all helped me out with a problem of my truck not hot starting. i rerouted the fuel lines away from the engine block and that seemed to solve the problem. but now i have new problems. it won't STAY running now. here's what happened today as an example. got in the truck, drove five miles to the auto parts place, hung out for a bit, then got back in the truck, drove a few blocks, and it dies in the middle of the road at a stoplight and won't start. an hour and a half later, it starts up and runs fine all the way home. i drove my vw back to the auto parts place and got a new fuel filter and put that on and drove it around. seemed to make a difference. seat of the pants meter says a good amount more power. truck is spinning tires now. so later i drive it a few blocks to the wine store. i loved that; parking my rusty old beater by an acura right in front of the snooty wine shop hahaha. shopped for a few minutes, started up the truck, drove one block to the grocery store, and it dies in the driveway. i push it to a parking spot, go in, shop, come out, start it up and drive home.

ok, sorry for the long post, but i wanted to be detailed.

now, what the hell is wrong with my truck?!? argh!

old guy at the auto parts store (mustang fella) says he's sure it's the fuel system. he thinks i might have sediment in my tank that gets stirred up when i drive and then settles down after it's parked a while.

again, i have an aftermarket electric fuel pump mounted on the inside of the fender, with soft fuel line routed along the firewall to keep it away from the heat.

sometimes the truck will stumble off idle if i really gas it at a light. and sometimes it won't.

 

If it abruptly stops, not sputters to a stop, it is most likely ignition, not fuel, and it sounds like you have the classic "Duraspark box going bad" symptoms.

 

I think you have a loose wire somewhere on the ignition system.

Is it stumblimg when dying or "Just Die" ?

 

Your fuel pump should be located closer to fuel tank. Most electric pumps push better then they pull. But your problem probably loose wire like Mil1ion suggested or maybe module.

 

it doesn't just die. it stumbles, sputters, and dies a slow, painful death over several seconds. then it will crank and crank, but won't actually start for a good long while. sometimes it stumbles coming off of idle, too.

 

oh yeah, did i meantion that it will start up fine if i pour some gas in the carb? then it dies after it eats through that gas.