gonefishn

Hi,

Was idling the 66 for about 20 minutes when all of a sudden it just stalled and wouldn't restart. I was helping bring in groceries therefore wasn't there to tell how it stalled (sputtered, suddenly, etc).

The next day pumping the throttle the engine started briefly, stayed running a bit by throttling a lot, then stalled.

Checked the coil and the resistance seemed fine.

Checking the carburetor site hole the bowl is completely empty.

I've never had a fuel pump fail but could this be a symptom of a failed fuel pump?

Can't think of any other cause for the lack of fuel.

Thanks,
John

dkleather

Sounds like it could be the pump. Visually check the pump to see if the pivot pin has worked out. Check the short rubber line from the metal tank line to the pump for gas. If gas leaks there, the line to the tank is okay. No fuel to the carb could be a clogged filter so check that out at the carb line. Depending on the type pump you have, there have been numerous posts about the Airtex type pumps failing when the pivot pin works its way out. I've had the pin cause failure and also had an internal valve failure on my last two pumps within the last three years. One was an Airtex and one was from a restoration supplier. Dave

Gary's '66

Had mine start to walk out a couple of times so made two homemade "keepers" that I put through the bolts on each side. Now that pin can't move more than an eighth of an inch to either side.

Gary

gonefishn

Thank you. I'll check if the pin fell out or not.
I'll check the filter although there weren't any earlier signs of the engine sputtering from lack of fuel.

If the pin didn't fall out could a fuel pump completely fail where no fuel is pumped?

vetsvette2002

Did you LOOK IN THE TANK to verify you had fuel in the tank? Gauges have been known to be less than accurate.

gonefishn

Yes, that was the very first thing I did (and redid once more to be sure).
Actually my wife asked me 3 times too.

dkleather

Yep, when my first reproduction pump failed I got flatbeded home. Took the pump apart and found one of the interior valves had come loose and had banged around inside jamming the pumping action of the diaphragm. The valves hadn't been staked in place. That pump had maybe 3k miles on it. Dave

gonefishn

Thanks Dave. I'll put in an order for one along with a few other items I have been wanted to get. Hopefully I won't get the Airtex type pump you mentioned with the faulty pin design.

Gary's '66

Well, in case you do, here's a pic of how I've managed to keep the pin from coming out of mine. Hard to see the "keeper" on the left but it should give you an idea of how to make a couple of them. As you can see, the pin WANTS to walk out but, can't due to the keeper. I installed them many miles ago with no issues since.

Gary

leif.anderson93

Made for me by forum member "MRG"...simple design, great result...thanks again John

Gary's '66

Nice work. Someone always comes up with a better mousetrap or, in this case, pin trap!

Gary

6242

Not sure if your '66 has the same pump as my '62, but I made a fatal mistake of using ethanol gas on a short trip. Parked in the garage, and a week or so later could not start it. The filter was full of black particles and so were the carb bowls. Now I had real problems. Checked entire system from fuel tank to carb. All rubber hoses had deteriorated and the fuel pump diaphragm had turned to mush. Carb rebuilder said it was full of rubber particle, how they got past the filter is still a mystery. Replaced all rubber exposed items with ethanol friendly (hoses, pump,etc.) and have had no problems. Best of luck in your search, and let us know what you find. Skip

gonefishn

Prior to placing an order for a new fuel pump I thought I'd first test it even though I convinced myself it was the fuel pump.

Cranking the engine with the fuel line off there was plenty of fuel being pumped and with good pressure. Checked the filter and it was clean too.

Adjusted the float level slightly although it was tight and couldn't have changed.

Cranked the engine for a while and checked the float bowl and still empty.

Any ideas what could be causing this?

Thanks!

Gary's '66

Three things that come to mind would be a blockage, stuck needle or bad float.

Gary

63split63

A bad float would usually cause flooding .

midyear

maybe the needle and seat stuck closed??

Frankie the Fink

Complete wild card...try your test again with the gas cap off...

Gary's '66

You're right. Guess two out of three aint bad.

Gary

gonefishn

After the fuel pump was confirmed functioning forgot to mention the type of carburetor.
The carburetor is a Holly 4160 #3367. All stock plumbing and all.

That was the only thing I could think of too but is that even possible?
Wouldn't the fuel pressure push it out of the way unless it really seized up somehow?
I put a small wire into the sight hole and could move the float up and down.

I'll try that first since I think your implying a vacuum was created in the tank. Prior to my test I did open the cap to measure the fuel level with a wooden stick like I use to when nothing worked much when I first got the car. Maybe this allowed the pump to work, with pressure, only long enough for my test but not when the carb was hooked up.

Probably can't get to the car until Thur/Fri or Sunday. Not knowing what is causing this is driving me

Has anyone ever heard of the needle getting stuck in the seat?
(Had the 66 for 30 years and never seen this either)

Thanks,
John

Frankie the Fink

A needle getting stuck in a seat isn't impossible I guess; I think it would have to be from a jammed float though. The vitron or rubber material 'welding' to a valve seat in the presence of gasoline (a solvent of sorts) would be unlikely. Debris jamming a needle valve open would have different symptoms of course.

Now - the path from the end of the fuel line from where it mates to the carb onward to the needle valve seat doesn't occur by magic. Its a passage and could well be clogged...