85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles
 

Hello all, I'm having a strange issue.
My t/a has a 310, tpi heads, eddy rpm intake, heddman shorties with a holley 600 vac sec and an inline electric pump.

Just took her out on the maiden voyage, she was idling and driving fine, high and low rpm. Suddenly it just sputtered and died.. pulled over and she just cranked and cranked.. looked in the carb and she wasn't getting fuel (full tank, fuel pump was on (wired on a dip switch), yet pumping the carb didn't spray fuel.
Waited about 10 mins and turned pump back on..suddenly it would spray, and fired back up.
Driving home, I took a hard left and it just died.. fired right up again. Mile up the road..died yet again, also not getting fuel.

Once I got it home, she once again fired right back up.

Basically, she will run fine for a while, and suddenly not get fuel, I can wait like 10 minutes and suddenly it will.
The carb was rebuilt 2 months ago, and its a new inline pump putting out 6psi.. checked my float level and they appeared correct, maybe a little low. Neither fuel filter is plugged,
and the pump is putting out clean fuel. I raised the primary float some by one turn, suddenly its flooding like all hell..

I'm not sure if I just need a higher flowing pump (running a 6psi Precision brand pump), floats need raised, or if my carb needs replaced.

Also, the throttle lever wants to stick while driving..involuntary cruise control isn't very fun lol.
Any ideas?

Re: 85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles
 

Probably trash in the tank stopping off the pickup in the tank.

Assuming the car was originally TPI.

Did you remove the factory in-tank electric pump?

Changing the float level won't help get fuel to the carb.

Yes it was tpi, the in tank pump removed and in its place, a hose with a fuel filter on it is there. I just got a new carb today, issue still there. Driving just fine, across all rpm's and gears, out of no where it sputters and dies. Usually after 15 mins/5 miles. Pump the carb and Nada, no fuel in the bowl. Wait about 10 mins and she fires back up. Could the fuel filters being clogged or partially clogged do this?

Doesn't matter if I'm doing 20, 60, 80.. will do it all just fine for a bit.

Re: 85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles
 

does whatever you put in the tank stay put or is it flexible? kinda sounds like its coming out of the fuel when you turn and drive and then settling down when stopped so you can start it


i just used the stock pump and a fpr, has worked fine for many years. sometimes pumps having to draw fuel have issues. the stock one is a pusher and being in the fuel keeps it cool makes it last a long time. my stock pump is the original from 87

Re: 85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles
 

Sounds like it's air locking. Loosen the cap when it stall and see if it's got pressure.

Its a hard rubber line with a fuel filter on the end, it sits at the same depth as the factory pump and doesn't move.
I tried removing the gas cap and going that way, but the same thing happened.

I think its my pump, its a Precision brand (from Orileys), which seems to be airtex parts..and all of their "high quality" engineering. I've had 3 sieze up on me already..
It was driving the other day and died again, same thing, not getting fuel. Turned on the pump, it was on but not actually pumping. Whacked it with a wrench and it started working..its brand new as of 3 weeks ago, with all new filters as well.

Replaced the carb (I rebuilt my old one. Wanted to rule out that I boffed something up), no change. Tried removing gas cap, no change. Replaced rubber line in engine bay/fuel pump, no change. The only thing left is the pump, unless I'm being an idiot missing something obvious (which has happened before lol).

Getting a holley blue with reg. This Fri..

Re: 85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles
 

I hope the rubber line that you have submerged in the tank is submergable. If not the gasoline will eat it up in no time.

Re: 85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles
 

I also haven't had good luck with the blue pump. It's very noisy, its particular in where you can mount it, and the motors seem to burn up quickly. If I was you I'd go back to a fuel injection pump and run a regulator.

I don't mind noise, my bird has straight true duals with stacks, and I'd prefer hearing so I know its working.
Can the blue's or reds be mounted in the engine bay? Same as the factory pump with reg?
I pulled the pickup yesterday to check the filter, the line is alright. Its actual fuel line

Re: 85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles
 

They cannot be mounted in the engine bay. They are suppose to be mounted lower than the bottom of the fuel tank as closely as you can get to it ( this is why they are picky). They're designed to push fuel, not pull fuel. There is a difference between regular fuel hose and submergible fuel hose. Submergible is a ton more expensive too.

Re: 85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles
 

I removed the in-tank pump, and put a metal tube in it's place. Ran a filter in between the tank hard lines, and the hard lines on the body. Put a Carter P4070 in place of the windshield washer fluid, and a filter and fuel pressure gauge in between it and my eddy 1405 carb, and I've had no problems. O'reilly fuel pumps are absolute garbage.

I'm now realizing they are indeed garbage..
I'm not sure if its specifically submergible line, but I've had it in tank for 8 months and its holding up nicely.

Hm..sounds like I need to relocate the pump closer, tho I'm weary of putting it on the underside of the car since its an off roader/mud vehicle. Short of getting one designed for one of the carb'd models, or running a holley or carter one inside the car.

Re: 85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles
 

even more reason to put a stock type one back in the tank, no mud is going to get to it there

Problem fixed, fuel pump was over heating and shutting off. Relocated it to in tank, problem went away. Thanks all for the help

Re: 85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles
 

🤞

Re: 85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles
 

the stock one is a pusher and being in the fuel keeps it cool makes it last a long time. my stock pump is the original from 87

Re: 85 t/a stops getting fuel after a few miles