1932 Chrysler puzzle

[Guest Lee Askew]

I have a 1932 Chrysler CI, which I bought in 1971. Its been a great car but lately I have a problem that's baffling me. Starts fine, runs till it gets hot and quits. Won't restart until it cools way down. I replaced the coil, looked at the fuel pump which seems to be working fine, and took the carb off and cleaned/ looked it over. Seems OK. Someone suggested that the fuel tank cap needed to be loose but its not that. What else is there? Once it quits, the engine will turn over, and if you spray some starter fluid into the air intake it will run for 2 seconds on the ether but won't continue. Engine is at 180 degrees, plenty of oil, etc. What could it be. Sometimes without a load it will ildle for 10 minutes before it cuts out. Puzzled.

[ply33]

Sounds like fuel starvation. How did you look "at the fuel pump which seems to be working fine" and when you "took the carb off and cleaned/looked it over" was the bowl full?

I had a problem many years ago where the fuel line from the tank to the rubber flex hose got clogged with similar sounding symptoms. But mentioning the flex hose... How old is it? Ethanol might cause the rubber on the inside of it to swell and create a blockage. That would be an easy fix.

So, when it happens disconnect the outlet from the fuel pump and attach a hose to a jar. Measure the number of ounces of gas pumped in 12 or so strokes on the pump lever (same as revolutions of the cam). See if it is in spec. I don't recall the exact number but it should be several ounces.

Edited September 6, 2011 by ply33 (see edit history)

[Guest Lee Askew]

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I think its fuel starvation also. the rubber hose has a filter put in it about 8 years ago but its clear and seems to be unclogged. Its possible the hose could be restricted on the inside but its about the same age, I think. I took the fuel pump completely off and looked at the rubber diaphram and its fine. When I work the lever (that goes into the motor block) by hand it pumps air out of the pump outlet. the two springs inside the fuel pump that act as a kind of check valve seem to be OK. Old but still working. Perhaps that rubber hose from the fuel line to the pump is constricted. I could check that. When I pulled the carb off, the bowl was full. Why does it stop when it gets hot? That's the odd part. Wouldn't a contricted line be constricted all the time?

[John baker]

Hi, another thought is the vented Gas cap. if it is not letting air in it will pull a vacuum and halt the flow. something to check.

[keiser31]

Hi, another thought is the vented Gas cap. if it is not letting air in it will pull a vacuum and halt the flow. something to check.

I second that vote.

[Guest Lee Askew]

Thanks for all the thoughts. Found it. Here is what it was, for future reference. The original brass (copper?) gas line was clogged. I took off the fuel pump and it was pumping just fine, took off the the gas filter and it was clean, and then checked the fuel line from the tank to the filter. It was a clogged. Tried to clean it out but could not. Replaced it. I guess 80 years of gas evaporating in that line had clogged it almost solid. All good. Gas starvation was the right call. Thanks.