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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Fuel not Getting to Carb

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Fuel not Getting to Carb -- page: 1 2 3     Dream38v8 09-05-2025 @ 6:06 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 211 Joined: May 2016 After the starter was replaced I discovered to fuel was not getting to the carb. I replaced all rubber fuel lines and the filter. After trying to start my '38 again I noticed no gas had enter the filter. The filter is between the fuel pump and carb. Is the problem the fuel pump or the fuel line / tank? How do I determine if the lack of fuel is the pump or line / tank? Thank you! Ray RAK402A 09-05-2025 @ 10:00 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 13 Joined: Apr 2025 If you disconnect the line between the fuel pump and the carb and crank the engine (with the ignition OFF) and don't see fuel coming out of the pump-it is the pump or a plugged line or tank. In my case, I had congealed fuel in the metal line and tank. I let my '40 sit too long about 10 years ago (it probably sat for 3-4 years). When I tried starting it and, like you, I could not get fuel to the carb. It would fire on starting fluid. I changed the fuel pump, the line from the firewall to the pump, and re-built the carb-still no joy. I tried blowing compressed air down the fuel line from the firewall and found the line plugged. Eventually the air pressure cleared the line, but I still had jellied gasoline in the tank (the fuel in California is awful). I ended up changing the metal fuel line and the tank to make sure that there was no contamination (I could have just dropped the tank and cleaned it, and cleared the line by flushing it, but I wanted everything new/clean at that point. After replacing those items and cleaning new fuel pump and the carb again to make sure the car ran fine again. Others have probably come up with better solutions, but that is what I did. This message was edited by RAK402A on 9-5-25 @ 10:02 AM Dream38v8 09-07-2025 @ 4:56 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 211 Joined: May 2016 I believe the issue is either the fuel line or tank. Hence I want to blow air back thru the fuel line. How much air pressure can I use? Can I use my air compressor? The reason I believe the issue is the line / tank is the car sat from early May until now with an empty tank. I've added 2 gallons of gas and nothing. I opened the fuel line where it "Ts" off to the electric fuel pump and no gas leaked out of the line. I have taken the electric pump out of the fuel system as I seldom used it if ever. Trying to determine if the issue is the fuel pump or tank. It is beautiful weather and I want to get out driving the '38. Ray carcrazy 09-07-2025 @ 8:19 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1976 Joined: Oct 2009 You can use your air compressor to push air through the fuel line but limit the amount of pressure to 30 psi or less. Once you have cleared the fuel line and have fuel at the front end of the line, verify that your fuel pump is working. Big Red 51 09-07-2025 @ 7:09 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 194 Joined: Oct 2009 Ray, Your no flow Gas to glass bowl is most likely over tightening of the glass bowl finger round screw. even with an electric gas pump runnng. I just had that common problem last week and backed finger screw about one turn. Works fine after . Don TomO 09-08-2025 @ 8:52 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7385 Joined: Oct 2009 The most common cause of your situation is a vacuum leak in the supply line connections. Next is a plugged supply line. I have found that my fuel pump primes the carburetor best when I have a solid copper coated steel line from the tank to the firewall connection for the flex line. I have also found that the rubber fuel lines sold in the auto parts stores are for fuel injected fuel systems and do not work very well on the vacuum side of the fuel pump. If you prime your float bowl with fresh fuel and the engine runs until the fuel runs out, you probably have a plugged supply line. I the fuel pump can supply fuel after the engine is running, you probably have vacuum leak. Disconnect the fuel line at the tank before blowing out the fuel line. You don't want to blow any debris back into the tank to come back to haunt you. You normally don't need much pressure to clear the line. I have used caned air for cleaning keyboards to clear lines. Tom Dream38v8 09-10-2025 @ 5:14 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 211 Joined: May 2016 Tom, Don and all other V8ers that are helping. Thank you. I was finally able to get back to working on the '38. I disconnected the fuel line under the car. We were able to blow compressed air thru the line where it was disconnected. Clear line down to where it was disconnected. Next I blow air into the line where it was disconnected into the gas tank. I could here the gas bubble in the tank. So at this time I believe the fuel line is clear. Earlier I replaced the rubber fuel lines into and out of the fuel pump with new lines from O'Reilly's. Is the issue the fuel pump? If yes, can I rebuild it or by another one? Where on purchasing the kit and pump? Again, thank you for all your guidance. Ray carcrazy 09-10-2025 @ 8:23 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1976 Joined: Oct 2009 Yes, If you need to purchase a fuel pump repair kit, they are available from several of the vendors. C&G offers the repair kit and the additional cover gasket (P.N. 68-9364) required if your pump does not have the glass bowl. You can also purchase a 6V or a 12V electric fuel pump from them if you want. https://cgfordparts.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=fuel%20pump%20repair%20kit&finder%5B1%5D=4767&finder%5B2%5D=787614&finder%5B3%5D=788111&find=find Dream38v8 09-12-2025 @ 9:00 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 211 Joined: May 2016 Carcrazy and all, I've attached pics of my carb. There is no manufacture or other info on the pump. Also there has been mention of a glass bowl on the carb. As you can see my carb does not have a glass bowl. Is there a kit for my carb or a diaphram. If the rubber fuel lines sold in parts stores are an issue what do I use? I believe we are getting closer to solving my fuel supply issue. Thanks Ray TomO 09-12-2025 @ 10:15 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 7385 Joined: Oct 2009 You should use a fuel line made for your car. The line that you have used is for fuel injection and the clamp is not close to the fuel pump, so I believe that it may be part of your problem. Here is a link to the correct flexible line for your car. https://www.dennis-carpenter.com/trucks/fuel-system/fuel-lines/18-9288-a-fuel-line--flexible Make sure that you tighten the connection to the fuel pump securely and then tighten the connection to the tank line. Any air leaks on the fuel supply side make it very hard for the fuel pump to lift the fuel the 10: into the fuel pump. Tom

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