Can anyone tell me if there is some kind of screen in the outlet of the fuel tank on a '60 F100?

I'm having an issue with the engine losing steam and clicking...the consensus is that it's running out of fuel at upper RPMs. Wondering if this was the issue, I blew into the outlet with a long hose and it felt like something may have dislodged. Someone suggested that the screen was gummed up...is there one, and how do I get to it?

Thanks.

 

No screen in the tank.
The outlet tube goes in the top of the tank and extends down to pick up fuel from the bottom of the tank. It sets very near the bottom and could be plugged or partially plugged by something in the bottom of the tank.
You can see the tube in the bottom of the tank if you take the gauge sender out and look in with a flashlight.
Easier to see if the tank is empty or near empty.

 

I'd check the fuel pump first

 

I didn't really get into the whole story...The pump is pushing 4.5 PSI, which I think is kind of low. I pulled the hose off the carb last night and cranked the starter for 15 seconds and got 14 oz of fuel. I was told that 16 is what should have come out. I think the pump is borderline, but the consensus is that the pump should be fine for the Edelbrock 600 I am using.

However, over a year and a half ago, I was at a stoplight on a steep hill. When I pushed the pedal to start going it choked and stalled out, and wouldn't start again. I rolled to the bottom of the hill and put 4 gallons of gas in it that I just happened to have in the bed. When I started cranking no fuel came out, even though I had just put 4 gallons in. I pulled the feed hose to the pump off and nothing came rushing out. I grabbed an old hose I had, mated that to the fuel line that runs to the tank and blew through it. It took a little pressure at first to overcome something, then it flowed right out of the hose. At the time, I assumed it was some kind of a vacuum situation or pressure differential or something, however, just in case it was rust or debris in the tank, I installed a clear inline 3/8" filter right out of the tank.

On Saturday morning I changed that filter after first pinching the hose. I also blew into the hose again just to see if something was clogging it. Again, I had to push to overcome some force in the tank, then it was easy to blow into it, however, when I released the pinch I had on the hose, the fuel didn't immediately fill up the new filter, not until I cranked the engine over.

That's why I'm leaning toward something in the tank. I have taken the sender cover off before but found it nearly impossible to see into the tank, even with a flashlight...by the time you put the flashlight over the hole, you can't see past it...maybe I need to do that outdoors.

 

Look at your fuel pump...does it have a glass bowl or a metal cannister held on with a bale and nut?

If so, this is where the fuel filter is.

Most ppl do not know that Ford installed the fuel filter in the fuel pump from 1952 thru 1972....so not only does it rarely get changed, but ppl not knowing where it is, install an inline filter instead.

If a glass bowl held on with a bale, the filter is ceramic, can be removed and cleaned. If a metal cannister held on with a bale, there is a corrogated paper filter inside (C3TZ9365A-Motorcraft FG16).

If there is a tomato juice sized metal cannister, it threads off/on. There is a cartridge fuel filter inside (C4AZ9365B-Motorcraft FG1A).

This type of fuel pump was introduced in the early 1960's and was the Ford replacement for the earlier pumps.

 

The Y block's been swapped out..it's a performance Carter fuel pump on a (gulp) SBC..the REAL issue is that the ghost of Henry Ford haunting me for my sins...I know that now.