BWA1955SP Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Bought the car in February of 2021. Pretty much an original car might have been painted once. Runs well except for a weird fuel issue which is why I joined this group. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Define "weird fuel issue". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 Welcome to the Forum. Looks like a nice Special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWA1955SP Posted May 16, 2022 Author Share Posted May 16, 2022 Weird fuel issue is this, First drive on the car since acquiring it. Driving the car with no issues, power was good, no sputtering, missing etc. Running premium fuel. I wasn't tracking how far I had driven when it began acting like it was running out of fuel and then it died. The fuel gauge was still reading fuel so thought maybe it was possible that the tank was empty. Got my wife to bring me a 10 gallons of fuel. Put the fuel in the tank and it only took 8 gallons to be full. Its a 17 gallon tank. The car started right up afterwards and I drove home about 20 km with no issues. Did a rough calculation on how far I had driven before the issue a it turned out to be about 100 km. I continued to take shortish drives with no problems. I still wanted to test if this was a one off event or is it re-occuring. Took the car out for a long drive, I packed fuel this time just in case. At about the 125 km mark it began acting like it ran out of fuel. Pulled over and put about 8 gallons in it. Which filled the tank. The car started right up and we drove the 10 km home with no problem. The car is equipped with an electric and mechanical fuel pump. This spring I dropped the tank an pulled out the sending unit pickup tube thinking maybe the pickup tube was cracked or broken but to my dismay it was in perfect condition except for the float not moving smoothly through the range of motion. I have subsequently changed the sending unit and installed a new tank. I have yet to run the car as I decided to change the fuel line but that is creating a whole new headache Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 39 minutes ago, BWA1955SP said: The car is equipped with an electric and mechanical fuel pump. Where is the electric pump located?...at the tank or under the hood? Is it used full time or just to fill the carb after sitting for a few days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWA1955SP Posted May 16, 2022 Author Share Posted May 16, 2022 The electric pump is on the inside of the frame rail just infront of the rear tire on the drivers side. As for if the electric pump stays on when the car is running I'm not totally sure. If I turn the key to the on position I can hear the pump so my assumption is it stays on the entire time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 19 hours ago, BWA1955SP said: If I turn the key to the on position I can hear the pump so my assumption is it stays on the entire time. You should check to confirm that the pump runs continuously. While you're there, you should also verify that it actually pumps fuel (both volume & pressure). If the electric pump is functioning as intended that would seem to eliminate vapor-lock as the culprit. Have you checked the ignition system - specifically condition of breaker points (including dwell angle) and coil? My '64 GP quit running last summer as I was driving along and turned out to be the points. They were worn, but didn't look terrible. Installed a new set and it fired-up immediately... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 1 hour ago, EmTee said: If the electric pump is functioning as intended that would seem to eliminate vapor-lock as the culprit. The electric pump needs to as close to the tank as possible, since vapor lock occurs on the suction side of any pump. Also if the pump is a cheap Airtex "clickity-clack" unit, expect it to give up pumping after about an hour of run time. Also if the wire to the pump is not 10 or 12 gauge, any pump will fail if only 14-16 gauge.. As soon as it quits, verify fuel at the carb and spark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 5 hours ago, old-tank said: The electric pump needs to as close to the tank as possible, since vapor lock occurs on the suction side of any pump. Also if the pump is a cheap Airtex "clickity-clack" unit, expect it to give up pumping after about an hour of run time. Also if the wire to the pump is not 10 or 12 gauge, any pump will fail if only 14-16 gauge.. As soon as it quits, verify fuel at the carb and spark. Must be different Airtex pumps. The Airtex E 8094 that came with my EFI is still going. About 18,000 miles since early 2013. Runs constantly as mechanical pump is gone. 12ga hot and ground direct to battery, through a fuse at battery. Ben 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usnavystgc Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 Does this not sound like a clogged fuel filter? Here's my theory. There is debris in the fuel filter that with pressure clogs up the filter over time. Once the pressure is relieved, the debris releases and fuel flows again. I have experienced this before. Was the fuel filter looked at? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usnavystgc Posted May 17, 2022 Share Posted May 17, 2022 Very nice Special BTW and welcome to the forum. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted May 18, 2022 Share Posted May 18, 2022 2 hours ago, usnavystgc said: There is debris in the fuel filter that with pressure clogs up the filter over time. Yes, however, it sounds like the tank and pickup have been checked or replaced... Maybe a disintegrating section of rubber hose? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWA1955SP Posted May 18, 2022 Author Share Posted May 18, 2022 Thanks for the responses. Sounds like I need to do a few more changes. Power supply to the electric fuel pump is only 16 gauge so upsizing to 12 gauge is a good idea and ensure the pump runs all the time the engine is operating. Change the fuel filter just because and they are cheap insurance. I'm currently putting in new fuel line from the tank to the mechanical fuel pump cause the old line was looking rusty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fr. Buick Posted June 3, 2022 Share Posted June 3, 2022 There may be an original fuel filter at the back of the carb where the fuel line attaches. Take that out and clean it as well. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MStuartk Posted December 31, 2022 Share Posted December 31, 2022 (edited) Thanks in advance for any assistance. I read all of the comments as I am primarily looking for a suitable electric pump for my 55 Special. I had the exact same issues as the OP. When I first purchased the car, it appeared to not be getting fuel at times. I placed an electric pump placed near the tank, but the issue prevailed until I realized the filter behind the carburetor was also getting clogged. After cleaning, it ran fine for about 15-20 miles, and then it started to sputter out and shut off. So, yesterday, after blowing all the lines out and placing a new style filter behind the carb, I installed a new fuel tank and sending unit on the car (from Tanks). After placing about 8 gals of gas, when I tried to start the car, although it made the normal pumping sounds, the electric pump failed to prime. So there was no fuel coming to the carb. Now the pump does not even make a noise. It was very cheap (about 25 bucks)so no big deal. I logged in to ask if someone could recommend a decent self priming replacement pump for this car, hopefully less than 100 bucks Edited December 31, 2022 by MStuartk (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted December 31, 2022 Share Posted December 31, 2022 I use Airtex E 8094. Over 22,000 miles and no problems. For best luck the fuel line probably should be replaced. Run 12g wire , both, to the battery Did you run a ground from the fuel gauge sender to the frame? Ben 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 Carter P4070 is an excellent rotary vane type electric fuel pump, available from many sources, some less expensive than the $53.88 one noted below https://www.amazon.com/Carter-P4070-Line-Electric-Fuel/dp/B000CIQ5DG/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?gclid=CjwKCAiAwc-dBhA7EiwAxPRylBiHYV6i_iE7K5zEHQBgjQ216ddiJanP3Rm2mlWL-5AW7AYR5YfKyxoCDdoQAvD_BwE&hvadid=352723194124&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9025099&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=b&hvrand=3054872161086589750&hvtargid=kwd-299452683489&hydadcr=5741_9590435&keywords=12+volt+electric+fuel+pumps&qid=1672793424&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExNUlFMVhCWEZQQTEyJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUExMDEyODQ0Mks2RFlQRE43TzdJMiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDMwMzY3MkFNVjZMTFhGQjNXNCZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU= Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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