Engine stalling. Stuck float???

[Ted S.]

My '58 270hp will start fine but seems to run out of fuel.

I replaced the fuel pump since I had driven the car a little and had problems with it running right. When I got back the fuel in the fuel bowl on the filter was low.

Now the fuel bowl appears full but when I open the throttle to part (i.e running 2500 - 3000 rpm) the engine begins to stall after a couple of minutes and will ultimately die. I turn it off pump the throttle a couple of times and it starts again. After starting if I open it up again it stalls after 1-2 minutes. Any ideas? I'm thinking maybe a stuck float?

Thanks,

Ted

[Michael K.]

Re: Engine stalling. Stuck float???

Ted, do you have sight screws on the side of the carbs? My 57 270 does. If so, remove the two screws and run the engine. The fuel level should remain even with the bottom of the holes. If not, trace the fuel supply back to the tank. The filter in the tank could be plugging up due to contamination in the tank.

[Dan H.]

Re: Engine stalling. Stuck float???

Ted, had a similar problem years ago, the float needle SEAT had started to loosen causing the fuel to shut off below normal.
Dan

[Ted S.]

Re: Engine stalling. Stuck float???

Ted, do you have sight screws on the side of the carbs? My 57 270 does. If so, remove the two screws and run the engine. The fuel level should remain even with the bottom of the holes. If not, trace the fuel supply back to the tank. The filter in the tank could be plugging up due to contamination in the tank.

The entire fuel system is new. The car only has about 20 miles on it since a full frame off restoration.

I pulled the sight screw and it's pretty hard to tell since the float blocks the view. It appears that the secondary on the back carb has fuel right at the bottom of the hole but the primary doesn't. So I assume I need to pull the cover on the carb and investigate?

The car has sat for awhile. I took it to get it inspected/licensed and it had the same symptom then. So I go frustrated with it. Any chance a targeted squirt of carb cleaner through the site screw hole would loosen the float needle?

[Ted S.]

Re: Engine stalling. Stuck float???

Ted, had a similar problem years ago, the float needle SEAT had started to loosen causing the fuel to shut off below normal.
Dan

Took the carb off and pulled the top. Everything seems fine. The seat was tight and the needle seems to work fine. I'll see if I can check the float level. I

[Ted S.]

Re: Engine stalling. Stuck float???

Checked the floats and they were way off. I set the primary side to 1/8" with a 5/8" drop and the secondary to 1/4" with a 3/4" drop per the specs I found. It seems to run better (i.e. it's not stalling after 1-2 minutes of running). Since the same guy "restored" both carbs I'll bet the front carb floats are off also.

Now it seems to be missing on 1-2 cylinders. I'll check the plugs in the morning and see what I've got.