The Ford Barn

jwaldrich · 03-17-2019, 05:27 PM

1940 322 CI was running sweet when all of a sudden it coughed and died. I've determined that it wasn't getting any fuel so I purchased and installed a rebuilt fuel pump and "no joy".

Poured gas in the carb and she fired right up and dies when the gas is gone.

Disconnected the output line on the new pump, cranked it and no gas getting through the new fuel pump. Car has roughly half a tank so not out of gas.

Bought and installed an electric fuel pump (inline) bypassing the mechanical one. STILL no joy. It isn't getting gas to the carb.

Blew lp air into tank and fuel sprays out of the feel line from the tank. Blew back the other way as well to ensure no blockage.

Ideas?

Bob C · 03-17-2019, 06:16 PM

I had a flex line between the fuel pump and metal line come apart inside one time and you could blow back to the tank but not the other way.

Bob

paul2748 · 03-17-2019, 08:07 PM

Check all fittings for tightness. It might be sucking air instead of gas.

fortyonerag · 03-18-2019, 05:00 AM

Hole in the pickup tube inside the tank?

jimTN · 03-18-2019, 07:19 AM

you are getting air in the line somewhere between the pump and the gas in your tank.

jwaldrich · 03-18-2019, 12:06 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jimTN

you are getting air in the line somewhere between the pump and the gas in your tank.

Will buy a rubber fuel line today to run from the tank to the fuel pump and see what happens.

Ol' Ron · 03-18-2019, 12:17 PM

What kind of electric pump did you buy. I've had the same problem and found the line going into the pump must be lower than the pump. I then put alittle air into the tank to prime the pump. I made a lupe that is about 5" below the pump.Works fine now.

jwaldrich · 03-18-2019, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimTN

you are getting air in the line somewhere between the pump and the gas in your tank.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol' Ron

What kind of electric pump did you buy. I've had the same problem and found the line going into the pump must be lower than the pump. I then put a little air into the tank to prime the pump. I made a lupe that is about 5" below the pump.Works fine now.

I wondered about the elevation of the pump. The line feeding the pump was below the pump. I finally got it to "trickle" but not enough to run the car.

I mounted the pump on the fender well so it was stable. Not quite as high as the tire is tall.

JSeery · 03-18-2019, 03:33 PM

Works best as close to the bottom of the tank as practical.

Ol' Ron · 03-18-2019, 05:31 PM

Yep JSeary has it again

4dFord/SC · 03-18-2019, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwaldrich

I wondered about the elevation of the pump. The line feeding the pump was below the pump. I finally got it to "trickle" but not enough to run the car.

I mounted the pump on the fender well so it was stable. Not quite as high as the tire is tall.

Mine works well mounted to the rear cross member.

Tinker · 03-18-2019, 09:50 PM

Might want to also replace your fuel line after the tank clean or replacement. Nothing like a fresh line. It's not too expensive if you do it yourself.

Mike in AZ · 03-18-2019, 10:53 PM

Plumb a line to the pump from a can of gas. If you get a flow of gas from the pump, then problem is between pump and tank. I hope. Good luck. Mike

Tinker · 03-18-2019, 10:56 PM

Your picture looks familiar, the highway man. Any relation?

T Scott · 03-19-2019, 01:38 AM

I was told that with a leaky diaphragm, the laSalle pumps could dump fuel into the crank case. I'm not sure this is the case, but since the bottom half of the pump is a vacuum booster for windshield wipers it is probable that there is no fuel drain to prevent such fuel dump. Frankly, I never inspected my 37 laSalle fuel pump for a drain.

In any event, I installed two Facet low pressure electric fuel pumps, filter and pressure gauge on the frame rail in the engine bay. They are in series with one being a back up.
No problems drawing fuel, no carburetor flooding and easy filter access.

03-17-2019, 05:27 PM	#1
jwaldrich Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Orting Wa Posts: 290	1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved 1940 322 CI was running sweet when all of a sudden it coughed and died. I've determined that it wasn't getting any fuel so I purchased and installed a rebuilt fuel pump and "no joy". Poured gas in the carb and she fired right up and dies when the gas is gone. Disconnected the output line on the new pump, cranked it and no gas getting through the new fuel pump. Car has roughly half a tank so not out of gas. Bought and installed an electric fuel pump (inline) bypassing the mechanical one. STILL no joy. It isn't getting gas to the carb. Blew lp air into tank and fuel sprays out of the feel line from the tank. Blew back the other way as well to ensure no blockage. Ideas? __________________ John from Kapowsin T&A Guy

03-17-2019, 06:16 PM	#2
Bob C Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: So Cal Posts: 8,751	Re: 1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved I had a flex line between the fuel pump and metal line come apart inside one time and you could blow back to the tank but not the other way. Bob

03-17-2019, 08:07 PM	#3
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 3,982	Re: 1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved Check all fittings for tightness. It might be sucking air instead of gas. __________________ 48 Ford Conv 56 Tbird 54 Ford Victoria

03-18-2019, 05:00 AM	#4
fortyonerag Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 541	Re: 1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved Hole in the pickup tube inside the tank?

03-18-2019, 07:19 AM	#5
jimTN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Powell, TN Posts: 2,509	Re: 1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved you are getting air in the line somewhere between the pump and the gas in your tank.

03-18-2019, 12:17 PM	#7
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: 1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved What kind of electric pump did you buy. I've had the same problem and found the line going into the pump must be lower than the pump. I then put alittle air into the tank to prime the pump. I made a lupe that is about 5" below the pump.Works fine now.

03-18-2019, 03:33 PM	#9
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: 1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved Works best as close to the bottom of the tank as practical.

03-18-2019, 05:31 PM	#10
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: 1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved Yep JSeary has it again

03-18-2019, 09:50 PM	#12
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: 1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved Might want to also replace your fuel line after the tank clean or replacement. Nothing like a fresh line. It's not too expensive if you do it yourself.

03-18-2019, 10:53 PM	#13
Mike in AZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Waddell, AZ Posts: 2,540	Re: 1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved Plumb a line to the pump from a can of gas. If you get a flow of gas from the pump, then problem is between pump and tank. I hope. Good luck. Mike

03-18-2019, 10:56 PM	#14
Tinker Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: MN Posts: 7,053	Re: 1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved Your picture looks familiar, the highway man. Any relation?

03-19-2019, 01:38 AM	#15
T Scott Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: East Boothbay, Maine Posts: 279	Re: 1940 LaSalle Fuel Starved I was told that with a leaky diaphragm, the laSalle pumps could dump fuel into the crank case. I'm not sure this is the case, but since the bottom half of the pump is a vacuum booster for windshield wipers it is probable that there is no fuel drain to prevent such fuel dump. Frankly, I never inspected my 37 laSalle fuel pump for a drain. In any event, I installed two Facet low pressure electric fuel pumps, filter and pressure gauge on the frame rail in the engine bay. They are in series with one being a back up. No problems drawing fuel, no carburetor flooding and easy filter access.