Fuel dissappearing after sitting a day

[77-4speed]

Hello again all!

Well, the 77 starts up just fine, once it's been started for the day. The first start of the day, however, is always rough. I have a clear inline fuel filter and after the car sits a day or 2, all the fuel seems to have crept out of the filter somehow. I get a couple of squirts in the carb so that the car starts, but then it lugs and takes a few seconds to start getting fuel. It *seems* like the fuel line is empty and it takes a second or two for the fuel pump to fill the lines back up.

Any ideas on why the fuel might be draining out?

I have a brand new Edelbrock carb and all of the fuel line connections are tight.

Thanks guys and gals!

Russ

 

[page62]

Do you have a Q-Jet by any chance? And is it hooked up without the little cartridge filter that goes in it? That filter has a backflow check valve...and you can guess what happens in it absence!

 

[77-4speed]

Actually, I have a brand new Edelbrock. I wonder if there is something in the fuel pump that is suppossed to keep the fuel from flowing back into the tank, or at least to keep pressure in the line.

 

[page62]

Which flavor of Edelbrock? They make new Q-Jets (I've got one on order from Summit). They also make what used to be called the Carter AFB...

 

[77-4speed]

My bad, it's the Performer not the quadrajet style.

Russ

 

[page62]

No problem...let's keep this thread alive and see if anyone knows of a backflow valve or something like that :s

 

[77-4speed]

I'm really hoping someone can figure this one out. It isn't horrible to adjust to, but I have to guess on the amount of fuel to initially give the carb. Sometimes there is enough fuel left for 3-4 squirts, sometimes there is nothing but air. So I either flood the car or it turns over for 10 seconds at a time until the fuel pump decides to deliver. Either way it is a nussance and kind of embarrassing.

Russ

 

[Ls1smlblck]

I run the Performer/ AFB Carb, and the line does drain back. But that 3-4 squirts is enough to start her up with no problems. If you have to keep turning her over to start then you might what to look at your timing and ignition source ( coil, wires, plugs,etc.)

Also it may be a prob with your fuel pump. How old is it and is it aftermarket or OEM?

 

[77-4speed]

The fuel pump is original. I crawled under it today and looked at the lines running to and from. They are held on with those spring type clamps. Not the ones that screw down, but the ones that you spread apart, then slip over the hose and release, so that the tension holds them on. Needless to say they weren't all that tight.

Usually the 3-4 squirts is plenty to start the car, but sometimes the fuel doesn't get there quick enough and the car dies. That is the problem. If I press the pedal down a ways it seems to help, but since I have an electric choke, 9 times out of 10 pushing the pedal disengages the choke. So it's like a dance, she goes left I go right....cha cha cha.

Thanks,

Russ

 

[JohnZ]

"Bubba" has been at your car in a previous life - all the lines on the tank side of the pump are under vacuum, not pressure, so the spring clamps are fine, and it was built that way. From the pump to the carb, it's under pressure (only 4-6 psi), and all those connections are supposed to be threaded SAE flare nut fittings; there was NO rubber hose on the carb side of the pump.

 

[77-4speed]

Thank you Johnz!

I was just thinking about getting SS fuel lines. Now I have a reason to!

Once again, thanks.

Russ

 

[Grizzly]

Fuel leak

Just cured that problem on my 67. Always had to crank alot to get it started. Then one day I noticed a leak on the pressure side of the fuel pump ( I have rubber lines because my Road Demon hooks up on the passenger side not the drivers) had to double clamp it. That fixed the problem.