Fuel starvation

ALLAN

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Grimsby.UK
The ongoing saga of engine cutting out....1970 318 Polara auto, once again the Polara died,as usual at a busy junction.So here's what I found after a bunch of folk helped push it clear.
Spark at plugs
Plugs were dry
Had residual fuel pressure at the carb fuel inlet.
Near empty float chamber.
We had driven about 40 miles with no problems, lights ,heater on.put it back together drove home sweet as anything.
Had carb rebuild after last event with new floats,set up as per.new points, condenser.
Dropped tank out,again, and found one of the two internal vents blocked, long cross the top vent.
Could this be the cause??? The approach to the junction was down hill, straw clutching at it's best....
I
 
Hi Allan.

Sounds like fuel related.
I would like to recommend that you start with doing a fuel pump test & then check for blockages in the fuel lines.
If the tank is low in fuel, remove the sending unit checking the pick up sock filter for crud and try to see if there any crud int he bottom of the fuel tank.
The fuel lines need to be in good shape or may suck air into the system although I think you would see & smell a puddle of fuel on the ground.
Have you changed the fuel filter lately?

I have heard of fuel pump rods and or cam lobe on the timing chain being worn out as well so the pump is not able to supply the carb properly.
Keep us updated on what you find.
 
Replaced the pump earlier this year, cleaned lines,tank. replaced filter no obvious leaks. Beginning to get a little tedious. Have ordered new filter,seals etc even voltage regulator.
 
If the tank's vent lines are plugged and you have a NON-vented cap, then the fuel pump will be fighting a vacuum at the tank end, ultimately hard to diagnose.

All vent lines must be clear.

Replacing the fuel pump is one thing, but you need to check the fuel pump push rod too. If it's short the pump will fall down on the job, however good it is.

Vreg has nothing to do with it.
 
I am one of the ones which is was the shortened pushrod. I agree with all the other advice, but If you did all that work it can very possibly be the push rod. What I found out is once it is shorter it wears very quickly. Mine got to where it would start and then I would put it in gear and it would die. It started out starved under heavy acceleration and this all progressed quickly.
 
Hey Guy's, the 318(LA) engine does not use a fuel pump pushrod. It has a longer arm that rides on the eccentric bolted to the front of the camshaft.
 
that's the really annoying thing about it, starts on the button,hot or cold,drives beautifully, kick down and goes, just don't know when its not going to. I also locked the heat riser open thinking it was heat related vapor lock, but temps ambient temps are down again, going to try it with a vented cap.unless someone can supply a 1mm drill 1m long?:(
 
Funny thing I recently discovered was that my gas cap is non vented but a previous owner has drilled it out...
 
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