Well, my brother drove the car till there was no more gas. So now the car wont start and even after adding a few more gallons in it still wont start... it keeps turning over but just wont get there. So now I am guessing some junk got into a fuel filter or fuel pump or something like that. Does anyone have any good guesses at what could have happened and where I should start to fix this?

This is going to be my first real job in fixing the car and there is no rush to get it running again so this will also be some what of a learning experience. I have great mechanical experience and I have built single seater off-road vehicles from the ground up for a college senior design. But I have never done real work on a real car. What should I check first and how should I go about it? I have a Helminc Manual which def. kicks *** and looks to be extremely useful.

Will I have to drop the gas tank? ANy help would be greatly appreciated. Also, the car is a 1992 z28 with a 305, automatic.

Thanks

 

check fuel pressure? Check to see if the Fuel Pump is kicking on?

 

Where can I find a fuel pressure gage? any auto parts store? As far as the fuel pump, should I just be able to hear it turn once the key is in the on position? I know I can hear it on my truck but I never really noticed it on the camaro.

 

yeah it should make a noise when you turn the key but if theres already pressure in the line it wont. So what I would do is I dunno about the 305 but on my 2.8 theres like a tire valve in the back for the fuel line. (behind the intake manifold that is) Try pushing that little valve in, its exactly like a bike tire valve. You should see gas squirt out at ya. Now you released the pressure. Go back in the car and turn the key and listen.

 

I was looking at my HelInc manual and the procedure was different to relieve the pressure... so i'll prob just follow that and I think I am going to just pull the tank and check out the fuel pump and also the inline filter.

 

Does anyone know where I can find a replacement fuel pump and filter and everything else I need to replace... I am going to pull the tank down this evening and try and take out the pump and also replace the filter while I am at it.

Would pep boys or autozone or advance have what I need? Does anyone have part numbers?

Also, in my Helm Inc manual, it talks about relieving the pressure in the fuel system for my 305 TPI and says I need a fuel pressure gage ( J 34730-1 ) ... I have no idea where to find this or if I really need it. There is some fuel in the tank (~5 gals) and I also need to get that out, any ideas?

Thanks alot.

 

Any of the parts stores should have the needed parts. Get the pickup screen (strainer) as well.

You don't need to drain the tank. The extra weight is a minor issue, but not enough of one to go through the hassle of trying to siphon it out.

 

I ran over to pep boys and autozone and neither of them have the fuel pressure gage that the book talks about... most of hte people working also have no idea what I am looking for.

I will go out and get a new filter, pump, and strainer once i take it all off and know what everthing looks like.

The biggest thing right now is relieving the pressure in the system. Is there any other way of relieving the pressure? I need help asap, im just waiting on this to begin taking everything apart...

 

the number the book gave u is a gm tool number, dont worry about the number, just tellem you need a fuel pressure gauge.

On a side note, 57 no more 305 for u????

 

hmmm....i also had the same problem with my car...when i ran out of gas it wouldnt turn back on . Then i found out that the power wire i guess to the fuel pump got cut near the battery it was a minor little thing but had me thinkin i was gonna have to replace everything. All i did was tape it back together and recently bought a new terminal cable and came with a new wire to the fuel pump.

This is just to let anybody know about the same problem i had and just to look for simple things first before anything serious. Without thinkin bout the simple things i have done more damage than good but just gotta learn

 

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=300856

 

So there is pretty much no way to relieve the pressure without this fuel pressure gage? I asked the people working at autozone and at pepboys and no one knew what I was talking about except for those gages you use on the dash but not what the manual is talking about.

Anyone have a picture or know a place online so I can see what it looks like? I think its supposed to come with a bleeder valve or something...

 

Just do what crazy3rdgen said and locate the shrader valve on the fuel line. Make sure you have your eye protection on and have a rag handy. Take a small screwdriver and push the little pin in on the valve. Hold your rag over it when you push it in so it doesn't squirt gas all over you. It's just like letting air out of you tires except gas comes out. If you have a manual it should tell you haw to check the electrical system. Check it out before dropping the exhaust and rear end to take out the tank.

 

I thought that the valve was only on the TBI cars? I have a 305 TPI. I'll go and look for it otherwise I found the fuel pressure tester but I dont know where I would be hooking it up to??

 

The valve should be on the passenger side fuel rail.

 

Alright thanks, that saved some money, I got the rear end unbolted after breaking a sway bar bolt and a shock bolt

Now the problem comes in with the central brake line to rear which splits to the left and right drums... Do I have to disconnect it or can I get away with bringing the rear end down just enough before it is about to pull the central line off and just left the rear end sit on jack stands...? If I do this will there be enough room to just hang down the muffler and sneak the tank through or is it that much of a PITA and I have to drop the tank and bleed the brakes.

One last thing... Where can I find a shock bolt that is used on our cars and a sway bar bolt (not the U-bolt but the bolts at each end of the sway bar)?

Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the help