Bandit5

I put in a 350 HO deluxe crate motor about 4 years ago. It has been running good for a while. Over the past few weeks, I have been working on it again. Modifying frame to make room for exhaust, new sway bars, wonder, etc... nothing near the engine.

Anyway, driving in the city today, the car abruptly stops running. I pull it over, put it in park and start it up again. It kept stalling out as soon as it fired up. Sometimes I could keep it running by feathering the throttle, other times it just insists on dying. I make it another mile and it refuses to start. I get it running again, and it runs like normal... perfectly, for another 3 miles. Then it dies again and I push it into a gas station. I wait for the better part of a half hour and try to start it again. It takes some coaxing, but it runs perfectly once again. This time I was able to get it another two miles home.

What could the problem be?

Additional info: About 10 miles before this started happening, I had topped it off with 89 octane fuel at a Sunoco gas station. The stock fuel filter is still under the car, and there is an inline filter a few inches before the carb. My thoughts were either bad gas or a clogged up fuel filter. Does anyone have any other ideas before I start replaciong stuff till it runs right again?

scooter500

iTrader: (1)

Once had a car quit until the fuel filter was replaced and over the years have had 2 cars quit until the electric fuel pumps were replaced. Can you smell gas in the carb when it is stalled?

Bandit5

I always smell gas in and around this car, so yes.

Captain Morgan

What about the ignition module? Sometimes they get hot and stop working and chevy's are known for them to go bad. If you take the module down to a local Advance Auto they can test it for you.

Only weird part is that you can keep it running by feathering the throttle. Is that all the time or just that one instance?

Bandit5

I kinda doubt the ignition module... if it were bad it wouldn't fire up in the first place.

I cleaned the carb and replaced the fuel and air filters, which was part of regular needed maintenance anyway... still stalls out. I figure it is the fuel pump. Will be replacing that with a higher capacity Carter tomorrow. Hope it works.

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

I don't doubt it.

But, before you drop the tank, get a fuel pressure gage on the car and see if you've got fuel pressure when these things happen. If no, probably the fuel pump. If yes, it ain't the fuel pump.

Bandit5

The ignition module is only a few years old MSD 6AL. If it was the old stock one, then I would suspect it at this point. I don't have an electric fuel pump in the tank, I took that out when I did the engine swap. I am using a GM mechanical pump, same as the 64-66' Corvette. If the fuel pump doesn't fix it (need a better one anyway when I get some more horsepower) then I will look into the ignition module.

Bandit5

Checked the old pump. Pulled the line off the carb and no fuel was coming out of it. Replaced it with a higher volume Carter fuel pump, and it is running great again. It is gonna take a few weeks until I am totally convinced that the problem is cured. But right now I believe that did it.