Show stopper

Dorf55

Member
I have a 55 Fairlane with a warmed over 272 ( bored .60 over, small cam, four barrel carb). I show the car locally, will drive four or five miles to a show with no issues, when I arrive and its time to park (no power steering, three on the tree) and I have to back up and go forward a couple times and take my foot off the gas the car will dye, and I have to pump it for a minute or so and it will finely start. It will sometimes die at stoplights if I don't keep the RPM up.
I'm running stock fuel pump with the wiper inlet pugged off, (no wipers).
I think I need a different fuel pump.. if so what will fit my 272 ? want to stay with a mechanical pump.

Thanks
 
Is carb balance and curb idle set correctly?

I would perform a pressure and volume test on the pump before buying a new one, especially the junk they sell now.
 
It sounds like you just need to adjust the idle speed and mixture screws when it's warmed up.
If that doesn't cure it, maybe a vacuum leak ?

Sal
 
So, you have a dual action pump with the vacuum ports not being used, right?
Then I hope you have metal tubing from the brass intake manifold fitting (located in front of the carb) to the rubber hose poked through the firewall to the vacuum windshield wipers. If the tubing has been removed from that brass fitting, it is a major vacuum leak.

If, the original vacuum tubing for the dual action pump is still there, but disconnected, it does NOT need to be plugged (assuming the vacuum diaphragm is useless). However, any vacuum tubing connected to the intake manifold that has openings plugged with a rubber vacuum cap should be checked at least once a year for cracks in the rubber especially at the end of the cap. If you squeeze the end of the rubber cap and see a crack, replace the cap with a new one and clamp it to the tubing with a small nylon cable tie pulled tight.
Not sure what it takes to pull the top off a 4-bbl carb like yours, but on the little 2-bbl carbs they had that year, it takes less than 5 minutes to pull the top off the carb so you can clean the fuel inlet needle with gumout spray. Look down at the bottom of the bowl. If there is sediment visible down there, wipe it out clean and install a new gas filter.
 
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