Inliners International Forums General Discussion Engines NEED TO REPAIR CARB. & FUEL TANK ON A STOCK 1955 CHEVY CAR!!!!!!

O.K. guys, "replacement" of the parts is out due to a new cash flow problem!!!

So here's the problem:

First off is the Carburetor!!
It's the original stock 1 barrel Rochester BC model w/no manual choke. I rebuilt this Carb. less than a year ago and even though there were some minor problems (like stripped threads/lack of seal material,etc.), it has worked flawlessly until now!!

By the way, i fixed the minor problems w/teflon tape and it seems to be holding up quite well!!

Now, the problem started when the car was out running around and it slowly sputtered then died! I was at home and it was my wife who was driving. She opened the hood and noticed that the in-line glass fuel filter was completly black!!! She didn't know what to do, so of course (on a cold & damp day), she took a screwdriver from the trunk's toolbox and tried tapping the fuel filter's "glass" sides to loosen the clogged screen. Well, i guess you can imagine what happened next?!! That's right, the glass shattered and now the car was not going anywhere!!! So anyways, the car was brought home and i checked it over. We desperately needed to get groceries across town and this is our only vechile. So i removed the broken in-line fuel filter and put in a temporary (fuel resistant) hose. The hose is a clear plastic type used to syphon fuel. The 55 started right up, but i happened to notice while looking for leaks that more black contaminents passed through the clear hose,& without a filter to stop it, they went straight into the fuel pump and then into the carb. There was a momentary "chug" and then the engine ran fine. The 55 ran good for about 2 weeks then the current problem happened. (i was in the hospital during this time so i couldn't replace the fuel filter!!).

So, now i get back home and check on the 55, it is still running and i'm about to replace that fuel filter when i noticed after the first 2-3 minutes of starting the car that a drop of fuel is coming from the top of the carb. Another minute later 2 drops, then 3 and so on.. until a spritsy-like spray of fuel is dropping directly onto the hot exhaust manifold!!!! Well!!--that's not good!!! I have my wife start the car up again but this time with a blue shop towel slightly over the manifold to catch any gas!! I first saw the gas coming out from the throttle-linkage facing the driver, but upon closer inspection i saw fuel seemingly coming out from above the idle-arm & flowing down onto the linkage!! It looks like the fuel is coming out from the "Choke-shaft" end, where the idle-arm is connected to!!! (at the top of the carb.) I tried to tighten the connecting screw and all other possible loose parts but this did nothing!!! The 55 has sat still ever since! I was planning on replacing and upgrading the carb.but now that's not possible.


I'm no mechanic, but i have rebuilt this carb. before so my best guess is "contamination" causing some disturbance!! This seems odd to me since when i rebuilt the carburteor last year, i found at least a full 1/4 cup of "rust powder/contaminants" inside the carburetor's fuel bowl and surrounding area's!!!! And still the 55 inline 235.5 "blueflame" six motor ran o.k. (they built them good back then!!!) That's why i think it would be weird if contamination is the problem.

In any case i guess my only way to go is to remove the carb. and clean out all passages and area's within, replace and see if that does the trick!! Unless any of you guy's and girl's have a better solution or idea???????


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Lastly, the "Fuel Tank"!!

The cause of all my woes, because of all the info. above, it seems obvious that there's rust and who know's what else in there!!! The fuel gauge has not worked in years and the screen filter is missing off the fuel pick-up/sender!!!


So, how do i solve this problem?? I've tried taking the tank off but got stopped by the seized fill tube attached to the tank!! Again, replacment is out so how do i clean out the tank without removing it???

My thought is to:
Empty the tank, through a syphon hose. Remove the fuel pick-up/sending unit from the tank. Wash out interior (from filler tube?), with diesel fuel or other type of cleaner. Bad stuff comes out of pick-up/sender's mounting hole. Blast disconnected fuel lines with air compresser and re-assemble!!!

What do you think??? Is there a better way?? Could a shop clean out the tank with a pressure washer or some other method i'm not aware of??? This is probably a stupid question but would it be possible to use a wet/dry shop vac to suck up the contaminats? (the shop vac i have is a special one that can also be used as a water pump 8-10 gallons a min., it sucks up fluid and sends it out through a garden hose.) Stupid, huh?? Would i blow myself to kingdom come?? Could i use water to wash out then cleaner then fuel?? I don't know?? Just trying to think outside the box!!!

Any and all comments are gratefully accepted!!! If you can offer any idea's or suggestions PLEASE-PLEASE respond!!!!!!

With the highest of hopes....

Islandman

You certainly have your problems. The tank seems to be the root of them all. I don't know of any thorough method to clean the inside of it without removing it from the car. But I will tell you this.... DO NOT USE ANY VACUUM CLEANER, WET OR DRY TYPE, TO SUCK OUT WHATEVER IS IN THERE.!!!!!!!
Odds of the gasoline vapors igniting and exploding as they pass through the vac are better than excellent.

FIRST: You need to find out what's in the tank.

See if you can drain fuel by disconnecting the line that feeds the pump (at pump) into a clean container and inspect. If not, siphon it out the tanks fill tube.

You may be the victim of vandalism, as your car was fine before. Tanks don't "rust up" during 'normal' operation(s).

The pumps at Stations/Markets have filters so debris can't come through, just water which will kill the engine right away. This rarely happens with the modern (EPA approved) dispensing equipment.

It's a "process of elimination" is all.

Good luck.

HEY THANKS GUY'S FOR HELPING!!!

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As far as i can see there is no "rubber hose" section of any kind on my filler tube!! It's all steel from the top by the gas cap to the bottom where it connects to the tank with i guess a oiled old rope sealing gasket!!(as per my owner's Manual!) I've had the tank & tube completly free of all connections and mounting hardware, but could not snake the filler tube out and away. I tried to separate the filler tube from the tank, but it was immpossible as it seems seized/bonded to the tank and any more forceful attempts to do so i fear would permenently damage both tank and filler tube!!! I don't have the tools, a hoist or the skills to do this without damage!!

** Separate question: Can i use a homemade cork gasket to replace the rubber one that disintergrated when i removed the pick-up/sending unit????

I live right beside "KAL-TIRE", a tire, steering, brake and exhaust auto shop!!! Is there anything they might be able to do to remove the tank+filler tube and poss. clean the fuel tank???


O.K., since i last posted i installed a brand new performance clear glass in-line fuel filter w/micro mesh steel screen so i can see any "Contaminants" that may try to pass through the fuel lines!!! So far, all fuel appears clean and clear!!

So then, i removed the Carbuetor from the intake manifold! Took apart every piece (like a rebuild, but without new parts!), used a whole can of carb. cleaner & pulled out about a 1/3 of a cup of dark red "rust"? powder!!! - washed out and blasted with an air compresser all passages, ball bearing, springs, ports, inlets, outlets and of course the fuel bowl and every other part in the carb.!!!! Reassembled and reinstalled back onto the intake manifold. Re-attached all lines and linkage, poured 1/2 cup of gas into the carb. and started her up!!!


The fuel going to the carb. stay'ed clear with no leaks around the fuel filter!! The engine started staight up and maintained a steady rate with excellent timing!!(no misses!). The 55 chevy ran for about 35 seconds with no problems when suddenly, gas started to shoot out with ever increasing pressure on the linkage side of the carb.!!! Like last time it seemed to be coming straight from the throttle linkage. But, i think it's more probable that it's coming from the choke shaft and it's end that links the idle linkage to it and then splashs down onto the throttle linkage and then onto the hot exhaust manifold!!!! I noticed a bit of play on the end connection of the choke shaft where the idle arm attaches....it wiggles maybe a millimetre? or so!!! Could the gas leak be coming from there??? Once i saw all that dark red rust powder (1/3 cup+) in the fuel bowl and all other interior parts of the carb., i thought this must be the problem!! Clogging some passage or part, causing the fuel to continue to fill the carb. until it reachs the height of the choke shaft and ejects out through the choke shaft's end!!! But obviously i was wrong, because after that extremly through cleaning - the leak is now happening even quicker with even more fuel spilling out now than before!!!!


HELP!!! I spent over 4 hours making sure the Carburetor was perfect!! And it is running the engine perfectly, the only problem is this **** mystery leak!!!!!!!

As long as i keep a close eye on the fuel filter and my wife away from it with her screwdriver..... the fuel tank can wait for the moment!!(as this is our only car & we need her back! NOW!!!!)

Any idea's on what's happening and on how i can fix my "1 barrel - ROCHESTER BC , 52 year old CARBURETOR???????????? HELP!!!!


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With Massive Hope...........

Islandman


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Islandman, Perhaps youneed a rebuild kit and replace your needle valve and seat. I have a rochester monjet carb from mt 68 Camaro that works, but maybe it's time for an upgrade! I really hated this carb for stalling at stop lights etc. $25 plus postage will a whole new carb to play with. Herb good luck

Please; get someone fron the Tire Shop to help you before you burn/blow the thing up.

If your working on an Asphale driveway STOP till then! Someone can look at it after hours, for a "six pack".

Happy trails.