1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**57NAPCO** · 02-27-2021, 02:07 AM

Did a fly and buy and .....tryin’ to drive

Picked it up this afternoon and left from Alta Loma, California. Gott stuck in traffic on 210, it started to not idle, then traffic let up and a few miles later it started to die at speed (60mph) barely got off 210 in San Burnardino. I think the quadrajet is messed up maybe? Seems to be getting fuel, but acts like it’s starving. I unhooked the fuel line and put it in a bottle and it looks to be pumping OK. Took the in line fuel filter off and tapped it on the ground and nothing came out except gas, no trash. I’ll sleep in the thing tonight and try and figure it out tomorrow.

The Truck is quite original except for the 350 that was put in about 30,000 miles ago. It came with a 400. It has not been driven much prior to me buying it.

Anyone know an old school garage/shop in the area?

Thanks!

**57NAPCO** · 02-27-2021, 06:03 AM

Think this may be the problem

No tellin home much got sucked in

ACS · 02-27-2021, 08:31 AM

Did you pull the filter out of the carb where the metal fuel line goes in?

72c20customcamper · 02-27-2021, 10:53 AM

How long has it been sitting ? Filter or needle valve would be the first place I would look at .

**57NAPCO** · 02-27-2021, 12:22 PM

Just discovered the charcoal canister sent crap into the carb. Saw all these, what I thought were mouse turds, turned out to be charcoal hah! Hopefully on the road soon, we’ll see...

Thanks for the suggestions

dmack91 · 02-27-2021, 01:15 PM

I will second checking the internal filter.

Dead Parrot · 02-27-2021, 03:56 PM

There was a thread not too long ago about a charcoal canister dumping its guts into the air cleaner.

But the initial symptoms sound like a fuel filter nearing end of life.

1976gmc20 · 02-27-2021, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dead Parrot

There was a thread not too long ago about a charcoal canister dumping its guts into the air cleaner.

But the initial symptoms sound like a fuel filter nearing end of life.

Yeah, I had one of those quit me in the middle of the night at 35 below!

We were leaving early am on a trip to Texas coast and my wife and little kids were with me. I didn't have a spare so I just took out the filter and it started right up, and drove it without the filter until we got to Alamosa or Taos or someplace in the daylight.

It's almost like those little inlet filters were engineered to keep the 350 from being too reliable

**57NAPCO** · 02-27-2021, 06:11 PM

Back on the road, made it to Blythe. I found a real cool guy within walking distance of the truck, he took carb off and rebuilt it this morning. It had all kinds of charcoal inside. Runs like a top.....so far. Slept ( not much) in the cab last night, bailing early today.

72c20customcamper · 03-01-2021, 09:38 AM

Pics of the truck are a must .

**57NAPCO** · 03-01-2021, 02:33 PM

1976gmc20 · 03-01-2021, 04:56 PM

Oh, that's nice!

(but it's probably an automatic...?)

72c20customcamper · 03-01-2021, 05:52 PM

Nice truck

**dagnabbitt** · 03-01-2021, 06:13 PM

Wow, sweet truck. I'd say it is worth the journey.

**57NAPCO** · 03-01-2021, 08:31 PM

Original paint, darn near all original except for the 350. Zero rust, ever...135,000 miles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dagnabbitt

Wow, sweet truck. I'd say it is worth the journey.

**57NAPCO** · 03-01-2021, 08:29 PM

Turbo 400, I have a couple of trucks with the SM465, I don’t mind an automatic now and then

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

Oh, that's nice!

(but it's probably an automatic...?)

1976gmc20 · 03-02-2021, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 57NAPCO

Turbo 400, I have a couple of trucks with the SM465, I don’t mind an automatic now and then

Yeah, it's too nice to haul firewood in, anyway.

Greenlee · 03-03-2021, 10:11 AM

Nice truck! That photo reminds of the old movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

dieseldawg142 · 03-04-2021, 01:03 AM

that is a sweet truck!
been looking for a K square for my son, he just got his license last month. would be nice to find something like that.
being too obnoxious asking what you paid for it?

that other pic reminds me of my wife's chest....

ACS · 03-02-2021, 07:40 AM

I like it. Is the winch an 8274 or 8074?

**57NAPCO** · 03-02-2021, 09:57 AM

Thought this was an interesting landscape to look at for a few miles, does something come to mind ?

Fort Stockton, TX area...

02-27-2021, 02:07 AM	#1
57NAPCO F’B’D guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas/Maine Posts: 2,234	1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded....1400 mile trip Did a fly and buy and .....tryin’ to drive Picked it up this afternoon and left from Alta Loma, California. Gott stuck in traffic on 210, it started to not idle, then traffic let up and a few miles later it started to die at speed (60mph) barely got off 210 in San Burnardino. I think the quadrajet is messed up maybe? Seems to be getting fuel, but acts like it’s starving. I unhooked the fuel line and put it in a bottle and it looks to be pumping OK. Took the in line fuel filter off and tapped it on the ground and nothing came out except gas, no trash. I’ll sleep in the thing tonight and try and figure it out tomorrow. The Truck is quite original except for the 350 that was put in about 30,000 miles ago. It came with a 400. It has not been driven much prior to me buying it. Anyone know an old school garage/shop in the area? Thanks! Last edited by 57NAPCO; 03-02-2021 at 10:01 AM.

02-27-2021, 06:03 AM	#2
57NAPCO F’B’D guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas/Maine Posts: 2,234	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... Think this may be the problem No tellin home much got sucked in

02-27-2021, 08:31 AM	#3
ACS Registered User Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 136	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... Did you pull the filter out of the carb where the metal fuel line goes in?

02-27-2021, 10:53 AM	#4
72c20customcamper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Catskill Mountains,NY Posts: 8,722	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... How long has it been sitting ? Filter or needle valve would be the first place I would look at . __________________ Mark 72 c20 custom camper Husky edition, 66 SS396 Chevelle 1964 Hawk, 63 Avanti,62 lark 1969 AMX , 1968 c20 stepside ,85 K20 1977 Suburban sold 68 anniversary.

02-27-2021, 12:22 PM	#5
57NAPCO F’B’D guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas/Maine Posts: 2,234	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... Just discovered the charcoal canister sent crap into the carb. Saw all these, what I thought were mouse turds, turned out to be charcoal hah! Hopefully on the road soon, we’ll see... Thanks for the suggestions

02-27-2021, 01:15 PM	#6
dmack91 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Redmond, OR Posts: 763	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... I will second checking the internal filter. __________________ 68 Chev C20- son has it now 83 K20 - bought from son 70 C20 - in progress

02-27-2021, 03:56 PM	#7
Dead Parrot Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 2,611	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... There was a thread not too long ago about a charcoal canister dumping its guts into the air cleaner. But the initial symptoms sound like a fuel filter nearing end of life.

02-27-2021, 06:11 PM	#9
57NAPCO F’B’D guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas/Maine Posts: 2,234	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... Back on the road, made it to Blythe. I found a real cool guy within walking distance of the truck, he took carb off and rebuilt it this morning. It had all kinds of charcoal inside. Runs like a top.....so far. Slept ( not much) in the cab last night, bailing early today.

03-01-2021, 09:38 AM	#10
72c20customcamper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Catskill Mountains,NY Posts: 8,722	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... Pics of the truck are a must . __________________ Mark 72 c20 custom camper Husky edition, 66 SS396 Chevelle 1964 Hawk, 63 Avanti,62 lark 1969 AMX , 1968 c20 stepside ,85 K20 1977 Suburban sold 68 anniversary.

03-01-2021, 02:33 PM	#11
57NAPCO F’B’D guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas/Maine Posts: 2,234	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded....

03-01-2021, 04:56 PM	#12
1976gmc20 Registered User Join Date: May 2015 Location: Montana Posts: 3,696	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... Oh, that's nice! (but it's probably an automatic...?) __________________ Current/past Chevy/GMC trucks: 1958 Chevy C-60; 1965 GMC C-50; 1965 Chevy C-10; 1971 Chevy K-10; 1973 Chevy K-20; 1976 GMC C-20; 1977 Chevy C-10 Suburban; 1980 Chevy K-10; 1989 Chevy K1500; 1991 GMC V1500 Suburban; 2016 Chevy K2500 HD Other vehicles: 1988 Jeep XJ; 2011 Toyota 4Runner

03-01-2021, 05:52 PM	#13
72c20customcamper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Catskill Mountains,NY Posts: 8,722	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... Nice truck __________________ Mark 72 c20 custom camper Husky edition, 66 SS396 Chevelle 1964 Hawk, 63 Avanti,62 lark 1969 AMX , 1968 c20 stepside ,85 K20 1977 Suburban sold 68 anniversary.

03-01-2021, 06:13 PM	#14
dagnabbitt Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 1,457	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... Wow, sweet truck. I'd say it is worth the journey. __________________ DAVE Edmonton, Alberta 1959 Apache 1967 K20 1968 C20 1970 C10 1972 GMC 2500 1981 C10

03-03-2021, 10:11 AM	#18
Greenlee Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: El Lago, TX Posts: 1,668	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... Nice truck! That photo reminds of the old movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

03-04-2021, 01:03 AM	#19
dieseldawg142 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: back 40, bc Posts: 3,906	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... that is a sweet truck! been looking for a K square for my son, he just got his license last month. would be nice to find something like that. being too obnoxious asking what you paid for it? that other pic reminds me of my wife's chest....



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03-02-2021, 07:40 AM	#20
ACS Registered User Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 136	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... I like it. Is the winch an 8274 or 8074?

03-02-2021, 09:57 AM	#21
57NAPCO F’B’D guy Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Texas/Maine Posts: 2,234	Re: 1980 K20, 350 with a Quadrajet has left me stranded.... Thought this was an interesting landscape to look at for a few miles, does something come to mind ? Fort Stockton, TX area...

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