Edelbrock 1405 not getting fuel

[79F1504x4]

1979 F150, 400, 4x4, Edelbrock 1405

I just rebuilt the 1405, new rods and jets for Colorado Springs elevation. I bolted it on and it ran better than ever before, I had to be careful with wheel spin in 2nd. Incredibly satisfying to have that much improvement from a carb rebuild.

Parked it for a week. Now it won’t start.

I don’t think fuel is getting to the float tanks. I popped the air filter and they’re dry. I popped off the fuel line and gas pours out.

Looking at the fuel jets while opening the throttle. No fuel comes out

I did add a new inline fuel filter. A metal one. Edelbrock brand and the “in” stamped on it is facing the pump not the carb.

I adjusted the floats to Edelbrock spec. New needle valves. Full rebuild kit.

Engine cranks, and fires off of starter fluid. Then dies quickly.

Truck still has mechanical fuel pump

I’m about to tow the truck to a mechanic in town. This is a hail mary to find some advice. Thank you!

 

[phred]

If you are getting fuel to the carb and the bowls are not filling the needles are stuck. If there was fuel in the bowls when you parked it and there is none a week later you have a leak somewhere. Two problems. Fuel will evap out of the bowls but not in a week.

 

[DirtDonk]

With modern fuels, and high altitude, it actually might evaporate out that quickly.
Especially with an open element air filter.

It’s been complained about a lot in recent years. I think the higher the ethanol rating also, the more likely it is to evaporate quickly? Maybe it’s not the ethanol content, but the different mixes of fuel. Not an expert on the mix. But altitude might still be at play here.

One way to find out if it’s a stuck float needle, would be too tap the carburetor next to the fuel inlet with something like a heavy plastic handle of a big screwdriver.
Crank the starter for a few seconds to get fuel pressure at the carb, then whack the carburetor body right where the fuel goes in.
When I used to do it to mine, on a frustratingly regular basis, as a matter of fact, I could literally hear a whoosh of fuel filling the float bowls.
With my ears these days, I probably wouldn’t hear that anymore!
It may not be your problem, but it’s worth a whack.

 

[Soylent]

The truck was running regularly before the rebuild? Not an old fuel situation in a truck that sat for years? Fuel comes out of the “out” end of this new filter?

 

[73azbronco]

what is your fuel pressure?

I always ask this, it should be an easy answer, if not, it gets folks thinking about basics before new parts like filters and such.

How old was the gas?

 

[79F1504x4]

So I’m pretty dang sure it’s an issue upstream. It was easy to throw a new fuel pump on. I also put a clear in line fuel filter.

Everything is bone dry after cranking.

Must be something about the tanks or the metal lines?

 

[79F1504x4]

Gas is new from this summer in both tanks. Front tank is old, rear is new.

 

[DirtDonk]

But you said in your original post that when you detached the line from the carburetor, fuel spewed out. That’s correct?
If so, then Gas was reaching the carburetor, but not getting into it.

An empty fuel filter would seem to be an absolute indication of no fuel getting up there. But it’s only about an 80% indication.
Often if the carburetor is blocked, the pump won’t fill the filter. Then all of a sudden, when the carburetor valve opens up, fuel rushes into the filter and the carburetor.
You may still be correct, because zero fuel in the filter does lean more towards an upstream event. But it’s not a 100% certainty.

 

[BOBS 2 68S]

Not to make you mad, but there is gas in your gas tank or tanks?
Experience talking here.

 

[79F1504x4]

Alright y’all. Big moment just now. Ran a fuel hose to a gas can from the fuel pump. Truck started better than ever once it primed up. Super happy to now know it’s an upstream from the pump issue.

I’m letting it idle for some time as I nearly drained the battery over this process.

So it’s seeming like it could be a few things, metal fuel line, rubber lines, electric tank selector for the dual tanks, or perhaps something that goes into the tank itself?

Any thoughts?

Thank you thus far!

 

[79F1504x4]

Not to make you mad, but there is gas in your gas tank or tanks?
Experience talking here.

Unless someone siphoned both my tanks and put the caps back on… I should be good??

 

[Brush Hog]

Bad selector switch maybe? My selector lever came loose once and when I turned it it didn’t fully engage/select tank essentially turning my fuel off. Knew I wasn’t out of gas but took some fiddling to figure it out. I also ran both tanks dry once and insisted I couldn’t be out of gas. My old man had a good laugh at me over that.

 

[79F1504x4]

Alright. Truck is running again. Thank you everyone that’s helped.

I pulled the tank switch valve and a lot of crud came out of it. I then replaced it with an in line metal fuel filter just to stitch together the two fuel hoses… it runs.

What a rat race!

 

[Soylent]

Are you going to clean out the tank? That crud came from somewhere.