Hi guys;

I have a fuel starvation problem, but it's not related to cornering. I know already that the pump is having problems bringing fuel to the carb. If I go through the gears hard (bringing them up to the RPMs), it eventually falls on it's face...runs out of gas..pump can't keep up. This is confirmed by the clear fuel filter being empty after stopping the car. When it's running, you see the odd little gas spew into the filter. I would say every 2-3 pump strokes, I get a shot of gas. This started after my 1st tank of gas this season. Before I parked the car in the garage for the winter, I added fuel stabilizer. When I took the car out, I filled it up with Sunoco 94 and added a can of "Fuel System Cleaner". By the way, it does it whether the tank is full or near empty...no change.

Things I have done so far;

-replaced fuel pump with a high volume (120 GPH)...this helped a little.
-checked the fuel line from front to back.
-new gas cap

For anyone that's taken out the unit out of the fuel tank of a carbed car, what exactly is in there? Is there any rubber lines or are they all steel?

I'm trying to keep from dropping the gas tank because it's a PITA to do and I don't believe I'll find anything in there. Things I'm pretty sure it's not; vapor lock. If that was the case it would have done it last year also since I didn't change anything in the fuel system since I got the car.

Things I will be doing in the next couple days;

-backflow the fuel pump/lines (reverse the lines on the pump to clear any potential debris in the line to the tank)
-replace all the sections of rubber fuel hose with new pieces.

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

P.S.: This is on an 86 Z28 with a mechanical fuel pump, carb, and 310 RWHP 355CID.

Here's a short video of the fuel filter/gas shot in action;
http://www.rbvracing.com/videos/May2007/gas.wmv

 

Replacing all rubber would be a good start, especially those before the pump.

Wouldn't be surprised that your tank pick-up strainer is plugged, though.

How do you know the pump is okay?

 

So there is a sock type strainer in the tank intake on a carbed pickup? for sure?

I know it's not the pump because that's the 2nd one I've tried. the original OEM was really bad so I replaced it with a new Carter OEM..was a little better but still there, then I installed this Carter high volume...again, got a little better but still there.

 

For sure.

One way to make sure the pump is okay is to put a hose from the pump inlet to a can of fuel, verify flow. Could be a cam or pump rod problem. Also wouldn't be the first time two pumps were bad in a row.