5.3 swap finally finished... not so fast.

[70c10guy]

So I finished my swap and drove it for about 10 miles. Started actin up like it wasn't getting fuel. I cracked my holley 650 dp open and lots of rust in there so I rebuilt it. Slapped it back on and it started happening again. This time I'm not getting any fuel pressure. My setup is stock tank, 5/16" hard line to a carter p4600 hp pump, to a filter, to a regulator to my holley. There's 0 fuel pressure. I 100 percent wired the fuel pump right with a painless relay kit. Should I check the pump, the fuel sending unit, or the filter. And how should I go abouts doing this?? It was a blast driving it butthen left me stranded as thebowls were notgetting filled.

[chev3600]

Personally, I don't like being stranded. I'd check everything. See if you have power at the fuel pump so you have a direction to go. If you have power and can hear the pump running see if there is fuel getting to th Pump. If so, does the fuel make it to the filter? Is the filter clogged with the same rust as the carb?
Of course, if there is no power at the pump check the fuses and painless relay.
One more- is the fuel tank vented? I've seen a couple pull a vacuum on a drive and can't get fuel.

[jjzepplin]

You need to find out where this rust is coming from or you will always have problems...

[70c10guy]

I definitely have power at the pump as its turning on, and I can hear it and feel it. I've pulled the braided lines going into the regulator and turned the pump on and it trickles out.. my fuel tank is stock with the vented cap. The tank is original to the truck so I'm suspecting the rust from there.. what I wanted to try was to take the line from the tank to the pump and stick it in a gas can, and see if it creates fuel pressure.

[70c10guy]

If it does, I'd replace sending unit and tank. Also the fuel filter, I just hope the pump isn't trashed. Could it be cleaned out?

[chev3600]

Try to clean out the pump the best you can. Probably going to have to remove it. They don't like eating rust flakes.

[70c10guy]

Do I back feed the pump?

[Andy4639]

Pull the pump and pull the sendor in the tank. Clean them out good. The sock on the inside of the tank pickup tube has clogged up more than likely! Buy a new one and clean the tank out good.

[70c10guy]

If I pull the tank do I even bother cleaning it or should I just replace it... it's 46 years old!! And could I just get a sock for my sender instead of a new sender?

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by 70c10guy

If I pull the tank do I even bother cleaning it or should I just replace it... it's 46 years old!! And could I just get a sock for my sender instead of a new sender?

Yes you can by the new sock for the unit. You have to pull the seat out to get the tank out. I would pull the unit out first and look at it. Blow it out good and take the lines loose from the motor and blow them out good.
If you are going to pull the tank and buy new buy a under bed tank and get one for fuel injection and in the long run your better off.

[71swb4x4]

On my Blazer I bought the fuel tank cleaner/sealer kit for Por 15, it got the rust taken care of just fine.
What you can do for the immediate future is get your lines, pump, filter and carb cleaned out. I would put a clear fuel filter in line before your carb so you can keep an eye on it for the next couple hundred miles. Then run a fuel hose to a gas can and make sure it runs. Once you have it running again, then you can tear into the fuel tank.

[70c10guy]

I will try and do that! Thanks for the suggestions!

[kashola]

You may want to add a pre-filter for the pump, also. Cheap (comparatively) insurance.

[70c10guy]

Yes, absolutely going to now when I get to everything! Haven't been able to work on it but I did do some prep by removing the seat and peeling the carpet back so I don't get gas on it! Lucky me, I filled the tank up just before this happened so I have to empty the tank first then pull everything off to clean, inspect, and replace as needed!

[Andy4639]

Leave everything hooked up and take the fuel line loose at the motor. Run it to a 5 gallon gas can to empty it out.

[70c10guy]

It's not getting fuel pressure so that wouldn't work.. I siphoned It out the filler neck today. Couldn't believe how bad it was in there... the fuel filter had clogged up so bad was the reason for no fuel pressure. Crazy... it ran for about 30 mins. I'm going to order a new tank, sending unit, and filters. Then need to do the heater core because I kinked one of the tubes when putting the motor in.. and also, my water pump is leaking. I think it's from the weep hole. It has brand new gaskets and torqued.