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By texas55 - 5 Years Ago
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Folks,
Having an issue with my old bird. Fuel is not getting into my carb when I drive It very short distances. Replaced the fuel pump today same issue. Purchased pump on line Airtex model I believe. Here are the symptoms.
1. While idling all is well, fuel filter full. Running around block starts to stall. When I open the hood fuel filter is dry, then car will stall. Have trouble restarting car.
2. Removed fuel lines tested for clogs, all clear
3. Getting close to going with an electric fuel pump, which I really don't want to do.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Lee
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By Cliff - 5 Years Ago
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2 things, look at the fuel tank vent (plugged causing a vacuum in the tank) 2nd fuel boiling in the carb, this is caused when you are missing the insulator under the carb and or the fuel line to close to heat sources (block, manifold)
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By texas55 - 5 Years Ago
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Hey Cliff,
Thanks for the quick reply, is the fuel tank vent easily accessible? Never thought about looking around the gas tank.
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By seishank65 - 5 Years Ago
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I had a similar problem on my 56 F100. It turned out to be the small length of flexible fuel line that comes out directly from the tank to the hard line. It had dry rotted and was sucking a slight amount of air causing fuel starvation. It was hard to detect since the fuel line has a sheath of woven metal around it. I'm not sure if your T-bird has this small length of hose.
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 5 Years Ago
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No soft line between the tank and the steel line on a Bird. If your carb has a Viton float needle, it may be sticking in the seat and not allowing fuel to enter the fuel bowl.
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By miker - 5 Years Ago
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There should be an access plate in the trunk that lets you remove the fuel level sender and look in the tank. Carefully, of course. I had a similar problem with my 55 bird and turned out to be a handful of loose raffle tickets someone had dropped in the tank. When the fuel level got below 1/2 tank, they'd get sucked up and block the inlet (IIRC there a filter sock or something on it). When the engine died and the suction went away, they'd fall off and the car would restart after cranking for a while. Might also check the rubber hose from the frame to the pump. As well as the needle/set John mentioned. Ethanol seems to increase the rubber deterioration so even replacements should be modern hoses made to resistant the ethanol.
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By oldcarmark - 5 Years Ago
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texas55 (3/3/2020)
Hey Cliff, Thanks for the quick reply, is the fuel tank vent easily accessible? Never thought about looking around the gas tank.
The easy way to tell if the Vent is the Problem is leave Gas Cap off and see if it makes a Difference. The Vent Line runs from the Tank up the Filler Neck
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By texas55 - 5 Years Ago
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appreciate the feedback, carb is brand new so that can be ruled out. How can I test the new fuel pump to ensure it is working correctly? Fuel pump does feel hot to the touch after it stalls.
Thanks again
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By paul2748 - 5 Years Ago
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If it's a 55 or 56 Bird, venting is through the cap. Do as suggested above about removing the cap and driving around. Another way to check the vent is running the car until it stops. Then remove the cap on the tank. If you get a whooosh, then it's a vent problem. If that's the problem, then get a new cap or just drill a 1/16 hole in the cap.
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By DryLakesRacer - 5 Years Ago
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I've got one of those old pressure/vacuum gauges with a single 1/8" straight fitting for checking the vacuum and a slide on rubber taper to check fuel pressure. I held it on the fuel line coming from the pump to the carb and had my wife crank over the starter with the coil wire pulled to check pressure and it was a little over 4 psi. I did change the flex fuel line to the pump with one for a 57 "C" word. fit perfect. It was rated for ethanol fuel.
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By famdoc3 - 5 Years Ago
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When it happened to me in my tbird it was the soft line from the hardline from the tank to the fuel pump collapsing from the ethanol softening the new old stock soft line under suction. Replaced it with a short piece of fuel injection line haven’t had a problem in the years since. MIKE
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By texas55 - 5 Years Ago
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Got the swoosh at the gas tank cap replaced with new. Still troubles, when looking in the filler tank pipe no vent pipe. Am I looking in the wrong spot
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By oldcarmark - 5 Years Ago
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If You look at the Gas Tank there should be a small Pipe running off the Side.On My Car it runs into the Trunk and then up the Tank Filler Pipe. Might be different on Bird.
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By Florida_Phil - 5 Years Ago
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I think you may have junk in the gas tank or a clogged fuel line. How old is your gas tank? My car left me on the side of the road two times before I broke down and bought a new tank. I'm only running a mechanical fuel pump and have had no problems since.
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By texas55 - 5 Years Ago
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Hey Folks
Frustrating day with the old bird, replaced the gas cap, could not find a vent pipe. Opened up the gas tank through the access panel in the trunk, found clean gas no debris.
After all that I installed an electric fuel pump to see if that would make it better, no luck. Removed mechanical and placed block off plate. One block I all I can get before I lose the gas in the filter. Carb is sitting on a gasket only, could the be the issue? I'm running out of options. Thanks guys for all the help.
Lee
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By PF Arcand - 5 Years Ago
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If the venting is thru the cap on a 55-56 Bird, is your replacement a vented cap? The Fuel filter goes dry when you drive it? Something is plugged up somewhere. How old is the filter?..
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By KULTULZ - 5 Years Ago
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Exactly what year BIRD and ENGINE do you have?
New means nothing, it (they) can be defective. You need to first perform a fuel pump pressurize and volume test. That will give you an idea of where to start.
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By paul2748 - 5 Years Ago
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No vent pipe in a 55/56 Bird. Don't know about the sedans. Run the car without a cap or drill a 1/16 hole in the cap to see if it's better.
Might try this - disconnect the pump from the tank. Run a flexible hose from a clean can of gas to the pump ( do not connect it to the flex hose off the pump). Run car - of course you cannot drive the car but if it runs ok for a relatively long time then the problem is most likely in the tank or lines.
If your only going a short distance and fuel delivery stops, vapor lock most likely is not the problem.
Possible problem
Air leak in the fuel supply system somewhere that causes loss of suction of fuel. Check all fittings and soft hoses
Crap in the gas tank closing off the outlet (just looking through the sender hole may not pick this up)
Flex hoses collapsing on the inside
Tank not vented properly
Bad pump
Don't forget to let us know what the problem was when you have it sorted out.
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By texas55 - 5 Years Ago
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Finally got it folks, thanks for all the help. Found main problem was a collapsed fuel line next to the tank. Bird is purring now, thanks to all of you
Lee
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By oldcarmark - 5 Years Ago
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texas55 (3/6/2020)
Finally got it folks, thanks for all the help. Found main problem was a collapsed fuel line next to the tank. Bird is purring now, thanks to all of you Lee
Thanks for Posting Fix. Nice to know the outcome and it may help Someone else down the Road.
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