Probably fuel starvation

2584 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by tekenaar, Aug 31, 2005

Bosco2

Discussion Starter · Aug 22, 2005

On the way back from the OMC picnic I noticed that on the freeway at 5500 rpm

I would lose power...as if i had a rev limiter. The engine runs and idles fine at all other times. Before I left for Los Angeles I put in some carb cleaner and all worked fine....even past 5500 rpm....but now something's changed.

Apparently I'm suffering from fuel starvation but I wanted to be sure of all the things to check....I'll probably start with the filter and then maybe get something that allows me to check fuel pressures. I have heard about that gas tank sock thing too. Plus maybe this is a good time to put in an electric fuel pump.

Any other things that might be causing this? Thanks,
Mike

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kwilford

· #2 · Aug 22, 2005

bosco said:
Any other things that might be causing this? Thanks,
Mike

Fuel seems like a good place to start. Is it only in third gear (I presume you weren't doing 5500 rpm in 4th, as that would be SPEEDING at 110 mph!)? Will it rev to 6000 rpm in first and second? Fuel starvation usually is most noticeable at full power, at higher rpm. Might be a blocked filter, or plugged filter sock, or weak fuel pump.

If it revs fine in the lower gears, then it is probably not an ignition problem, although a weak coil or a carbon arc in the distributor cap or rotor or even a bad plug can sometimes only show up at the highest load...

Or (gasp!) it might also be engine related. My first thought would be a worn cam lobe. Or a sticking valve (but you should hear that). Or..?

Start with the fuel filter, then the pump and sock (if you are going to install an electric pump, remove the sock, install a metal filter right at the tank outlet, and then put the pump at the back of the car).

HTH

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kwilford

· #4 · Aug 22, 2005

bosco said:
A question about the electric fuel pump....can it be used with the fuel return line found in the 1973s?
PS ...good to talk to you at OMC.

I would think so, although I have never had a '73 GT. Isn't the return line on the fuel filter, downstream of the mechanical pump? If so, you should be able to just remove the mechanical pump, block the opening with a plate (OGTS has them), bypass the mech pump, and install the electric pump and inlet filter at the rear of the car. You might need a pressure regulator, which probably could go where the old pump was.

Good to talk to you as well, Mike. It sure makes it more enjoyable to have actually met the folks that are on this site, not to mention having seen their cars first hand.

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