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Classic/Antique Car Repair/1940 Ford fuel pump system

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Expert: Paul Wilczynski - 2/23/2010


Question
My V-8 flathead underwent installation of a new gas tank cuz the old one was full of rust and filling up the glass settling bowl with crud.  As part of the job, I installed a fuel filter between the lines and the settling bowl-blew out all the lines and had the carburetor rebuilt.  I drove the car for about 50 miles when it sputtered to a stop.  I restarted the engine and continued on for about 1/4 mile when it stopped again.  I put a thimble full of gas directly in the carburetor and the car started, but stopped after a few seconds.  It is clear I'm not getting fuel to the carburetor and want to know what kind of fuel pump does the car have and how can it be repaired.

Answer
Stuart, you're apparently still getting crud in the fuel system. Blowing out the lines was probably not enough to eliminate the junk clinging to the inside walls of the old lines, and gathering at every bend and junction. Road vibration shakes this stuff loose and it ends up in your filter bowl or float bowl, with the results you've experienced.

I'd say replace ALL the lines, clean the carb and fuel pump thoroughly (it's engine-driven) and even put an electric pump on there near the tank, with a safety switch to prevent engine fires and a fuel regulator.

--Paul

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Paul Wilczynski

Expertise

Most questions involving vintage car restoration, mechanical and body, paint and upholstery. Parts sourcing. Extensive experience in wood-bodied station wagons, British and French cars of the '40s through '70s. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, Sunbeam Alpine and Tiger, Citroen Maserati, VW Beetle, 1955-65 Chevrolet (especially Nomad station wagons), Corvair.

Experience

Wide-ranging and long-term. I owned a restoration shop in the 1970s, continue to dabble in vintage exotics. At one time, had a seven-car collection of contemporary exotics which I had restored and maintained myself. When I was 18 years old, I designed a woodie kit for the VW Beetle, which I developed into a product which was featured on television and in over 100 magazines and 25 books at last count. I still own and drive one of my creations. I owned a design and fabrication consultancy from 1982-2002, specializing in show car fabrication for manufacturers including Ford, Mazda, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, etc. Since 2003, I have been a department manager in Industrial Design, and a full-time instructor in automotive design and fabrication at the university level. My students go on to design automobiles as staff designers for major auto manufacturers worldwide.

Organizations
Western Automotive Journalists, Industrial Design Society of America.

Publications
Long list of magazines and books, including Playboy, VW Trends, VW Greats, Hot VWs, and European automotive magazines.

Education/Credentials
I teach design and fabrication at university level. My education is in Industrial Design, University of Illinois (1966-1970).

Awards and Honors
Many awards for restorations in local concours and shows.

Past/Present Clients
Mazda, Ford, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler, Mercedes, Porsche.

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