Posted by Peter Galmish on May 26, 1998 at 11:36:49:
Getting Frustrated!
Dear Dodgers,
I attempted to take my truck to my parents cabin and only made it about a mile (59 more to go). It seems that a fuel problem that I thought that I had fixed, isn't. Not to mention that the after-market ignition seems to have buckled under the load of my new alternator. My turn signals, lights, electric fan, etc. were all out of commission. As the truck began to sputter, I also realized that the clutch was going out. I had to pump it a bit to keep it under enough pressure to disengage the clutch. If I held the clutch down for long it would engage on its own. I have a new slave cylinder so I think that it is the master cylinder. Does anyone know where I could locate a rebuild? Now the fuel problem. It acts like a kind of vapor lock, as it seems to occur more when the truck is warm. The number one cause seems to be high rpms (greater than 3000) in fourth gear. I'll be moving along fine, (3000 = 50-55mph) and it will just loose power and begin to wind down. It seems to get real "windy" sounding when this happens. Eventually the truck will die if I keep the gas on it, but if I ease way off it sometimes recovers. It recovers in spurts, as if it suddenly gets some gas. When I get out and look at the fuel filter (glass) it is dry. The fuel filter is the fancy kind that comes apart to replace elements, and I can unscrew it a bit to relieve built up pressure, and fuel will quickly rush out. The truck starts after I do this. I have an electric fuel pump that seems to deliver plenty of volume. I was wondering if it might not have the right pressure (I doubt it, I think that it is good). Could it be that the carb requires more pressure when it is hot? The carb is a brand new edelbrock 600. The engine is a '66 poly 318 with a '62 four barrel manifold. I think that edelbrock specifies 5lbs. fuel pressure. I have had numerous gas problems that stemmed from a bad tank. I have always run a filter, but I have seen a lot of crud build up in the filter, and I imagine that some must have gotten by. Could it be that the carb can't vent properly because it is gummed up? I have replaced the gas line, so I am not worried about this. The tank that i have now is clean (I love polyurethane tanks but hate to try to spell it). Anyhoo, I am getting sick of fixing and refixing every thing on this truck. I want to drive it! I apologize for being so long winded, thanks for any help. Pete