Fuel filter?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Peterborough Ontario
Fuel filter?
The other day while driving home my 1979 started to spit and sputter but seem to pass. I was thinking maybe some bad gas. When I went to start it last night it fired up but died within seconds. Seems to be starving for fuel. I'm thinking fuel filter or maybe fuel pump.
Where is the fuel filter located? How much of a PITA is it to change?
I'm assuming the fuel pump is in the tank. Is this correct?
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
Where is the fuel filter located? How much of a PITA is it to change?
I'm assuming the fuel pump is in the tank. Is this correct?
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,039
Likes: 670
From: FL
If you still have the stock Q-Jet, your fuel filter is located in the carb where the line attaches. The fuel pump is located on the front passenger side of the engine. You can see where the lines come off the frame to the fuel pump.
My $0.02. Check the soft fuel lines from the tank to the frame lines and from the frame lines to the pump. I usually replace mine every couple of years.
My $0.02. Check the soft fuel lines from the tank to the frame lines and from the frame lines to the pump. I usually replace mine every couple of years.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Peterborough Ontario
The carb has been replaced with the Edelbrock performer 600 or 650 cfm carb.
So does that mean the filter is in line somewhere? When I do find it do I need to pinch the lines prior to removal or is there no fuel in the lines until it is fired up?
Thanks again.
So does that mean the filter is in line somewhere? When I do find it do I need to pinch the lines prior to removal or is there no fuel in the lines until it is fired up?
Thanks again.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,540
Likes: 51
From: Lexington Park Maryland
I'm not sure about Canada (I see you're from Ontario) but here in the States the gas companies have been adding alcohol to their fuel....., which can lean you out a bit and cause "stumbling" off the line. Pull a spark plug and see if it appears to be burning lean. However, I also agrree with the other forum members that it's most likely a clogged fuel filter/line.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,373
Likes: 6,371
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
The stock system uses a fuel filter in the carb. The EDL carb does not have a filter provision, so many Bubbas put an in-line filter on the car back at the gas tank. Bad idea. A filter on the suction side of a mechanical fuel pump will cause the problems you describe with just a small amount of restriction in the filter (diaphragm pumps don't "suck" very well). Check to see if Bubba put a suction side filter in the car when the EDL carb was installed. If there is, remove the filter and install a filter on the pressure side of the fuel system (between the pump and the carb).
Other than a few odd cars, such as the Vega, carbureted cars don't use in-tank fuel pumps.
Other than a few odd cars, such as the Vega, carbureted cars don't use in-tank fuel pumps.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 370
Likes: 0
From: Peterborough Ontario
No fuel filter to be found.
I took the fuel line off the side of the carb and tried starting to see if any fuel would come out of the line and not a drop came out. Does this mean that that the fuel pump is shot?
Thanks again for all the replys.
I took the fuel line off the side of the carb and tried starting to see if any fuel would come out of the line and not a drop came out. Does this mean that that the fuel pump is shot?
Thanks again for all the replys.
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