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Old 04-13-2018, 10:59 AM   #1
divcoone
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Default Hill and fuel

‘31 loses power on a hill. Turn on electric fuel pump and engine picks up. Switched carbs with a known good one and same problem.
Anybody have any suggestions.
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Old 04-13-2018, 11:25 AM   #2
Kurt in NJ
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

What's not stock that it needs a fuel pump--- gravity is still working as I write---
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Old 04-13-2018, 11:36 AM   #3
divcoone
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

Gravity works here also. Electric pump was just an idea that solved the problem.
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Old 04-13-2018, 11:42 AM   #4
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

Which carburetor are you using?

What, if anything, are you doing with the GAV before the hill and on the hill?

What are you doing with the spark lever before the hill and on the hill?

I suspect that the fuel pump is enrichening the mixture in the carb due to the higher pressure overwhelming the needle valve. The richer mixture is giving you the added power on the hill.
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Old 04-13-2018, 01:00 PM   #5
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

Pick a smaller hill?
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Old 04-13-2018, 02:34 PM   #6
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

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Seems you have restricted fuel flow. You can see where by pulling the fuel line of the carb, and running fuel into a jar/can, and checking for full flow. If its a weak flow, the problem is between there and the tank. If you have a nice full flow, the issue is in the carb. If the problem is toward the rank, pull the filter bowl and check flow there. I suspect you will find it is a poor flow rate out of the tank, but only a test will confirm.

Just what I'd do...
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Old 04-13-2018, 02:40 PM   #7
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

Sometimes I open the GAV 1/2 turn and pull the spark up one notch just before an uphill climb. Seems to help.
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Old 04-13-2018, 03:04 PM   #8
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

Thanks for the reply’s. I’ll be back.
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Old 04-13-2018, 04:13 PM   #9
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

That’s a very common problem. Your fuel line is going into carb too far and hitting the screen. Just circumcise it a bit.
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Old 04-14-2018, 07:03 AM   #10
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

Doesn’t that hurt on a car that old? Should have done that at the dealer.
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Old 04-14-2018, 08:01 AM   #11
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

Lol
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Old 04-14-2018, 03:09 PM   #12
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

Quote:
Originally Posted by divcoone View Post
‘31 loses power on a hill. Turn on electric fuel pump and engine picks up. Switched carbs with a known good one and same problem.
Anybody have any suggestions.
Yeah, suggestion.
Tell us what equipment (for carburation) you are using on this '31 ?
I suspect that 'using a fuel pump' could mean that you are using a downdraft, but we are guessing at that.
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Old 04-14-2018, 06:45 PM   #13
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

No, it’s original Zenith. I’ll post some things later.
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Old 04-15-2018, 01:47 AM   #14
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

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Originally Posted by divcoone View Post
No, it’s original Zenith. I’ll post some things later.


Interesting. Never have seen or even thought about the use of an electric pump with stock updraft !
The original location of the zenith makes it low enough that gravity was sufficient to handle fuel delivery.
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Old 04-15-2018, 02:34 AM   #15
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

Might be low float level
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Old 04-15-2018, 07:29 AM   #16
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

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Originally Posted by hardtimes View Post
Interesting. Never have seen or even thought about the use of an electric pump with stock updraft !
The original location of the zenith makes it low enough that gravity was sufficient to handle fuel delivery.


I agree. There must be a plugged line or carb passage if it needs the help of a pump.
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Old 04-15-2018, 01:40 PM   #17
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

gas cap not vented,wrong cap?
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Old 04-15-2018, 02:24 PM   #18
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

Trim off most of the fuel line that extends beyond the ferrule.
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Old 04-15-2018, 06:46 PM   #19
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

I would say the only thing the hill is doing is causing it to pull harder, thus using more fuel. There is plenty of gravity as the gas tank is considerabley higher than the carb so the angle of the car on the hill shouldn't be an issue. As others have said, check fuel delivery.
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Old 04-15-2018, 08:07 PM   #20
Chuck Sea/Tac
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Default Re: Hill and fuel

Do you have an in-line non original fuel filter?
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