The Ford Barn

Chris · 09-27-2016, 11:31 PM

Over the weekend a good friend and I drove my 53 Ford 350 miles to the coast. On our way, I noticed the car was loosing a little power on grades. It got worse and worse, would just bog down and only wanted to idle...wanted to die if you gave it gas. About halfway there I stopped by a friends house who had a used fuel pump. We installed it and went on our way. Car did great until reaching our destination...pulling into town it started doing the same thing. We looked the car over and saw nothing obviously wrong
Returning home, we made it about 70 miles before it started acting up. Same symptoms only now it was doing it more and more. Just before a major mountain pass, I decided to check the float levels (dual carbs). They were low, so I adjusted them and made it a few miles before the problem returned. It did barley make it up the pass, coasted down but struggled the 15 miles before the next town. Car would only run at idle or if I barley feathered the throttle. Any more throttle and it would want to die. I'm picturing just enough fuel getting to carbs to let it idle.

In town, I bought a 6 gallon gas can and the last 9 feet of fuel line they had. Rigged it together and the car sailed the 180 miles home with out a hiccup doing 65 MPH

So, I presumed plugged gas tank or line. The entire fuel system is only a year old, the tank was cleaned, rebuilt pump, carbs and all fuel line replaced (except about 2 feet where it goes up over frame...I think the body has the be removed to replace that portion)
But, to my disappointment the tank looks new inside, I blew backwards through the pickup and when looking in the tank see nothing coming out and air rapidly blows through. I had my wife use the compressor to blow the fuel line from under the hood, while I watch under the car. Again, plenty of air passes and nothing came out of the line that could have obstructed it. So I'm baffled. I did pull the push rod and the fuel pump end is worn...although I'm not sure if it's enough to do anything. I think I'll try a new pump, push rod and install a 6V "backup" fuel pump on the car and try that. I sure hope it's not the cam lobe going flat.

Does anyone else have any ideas or suggestions?

09-27-2016, 11:31 PM	#1
Chris Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 2,976	Drove my 53 Ford 700 miles with a fuel starvation problem, now I'm scratching my head Over the weekend a good friend and I drove my 53 Ford 350 miles to the coast. On our way, I noticed the car was loosing a little power on grades. It got worse and worse, would just bog down and only wanted to idle...wanted to die if you gave it gas. About halfway there I stopped by a friends house who had a used fuel pump. We installed it and went on our way. Car did great until reaching our destination...pulling into town it started doing the same thing. We looked the car over and saw nothing obviously wrong Returning home, we made it about 70 miles before it started acting up. Same symptoms only now it was doing it more and more. Just before a major mountain pass, I decided to check the float levels (dual carbs). They were low, so I adjusted them and made it a few miles before the problem returned. It did barley make it up the pass, coasted down but struggled the 15 miles before the next town. Car would only run at idle or if I barley feathered the throttle. Any more throttle and it would want to die. I'm picturing just enough fuel getting to carbs to let it idle. In town, I bought a 6 gallon gas can and the last 9 feet of fuel line they had. Rigged it together and the car sailed the 180 miles home with out a hiccup doing 65 MPH So, I presumed plugged gas tank or line. The entire fuel system is only a year old, the tank was cleaned, rebuilt pump, carbs and all fuel line replaced (except about 2 feet where it goes up over frame...I think the body has the be removed to replace that portion) But, to my disappointment the tank looks new inside, I blew backwards through the pickup and when looking in the tank see nothing coming out and air rapidly blows through. I had my wife use the compressor to blow the fuel line from under the hood, while I watch under the car. Again, plenty of air passes and nothing came out of the line that could have obstructed it. So I'm baffled. I did pull the push rod and the fuel pump end is worn...although I'm not sure if it's enough to do anything. I think I'll try a new pump, push rod and install a 6V "backup" fuel pump on the car and try that. I sure hope it's not the cam lobe going flat. Does anyone else have any ideas or suggestions? __________________ Thee Inland Emperors