Starting problem after highway driving

[terryggoround]

I'm having a problem with my 1970 gmc jimmy. A little back ground info- Jimmy have a brand new 350 crate motor from GMC it's a 5.7Lt with a mannuel 4sp tranny and is a 4 wheel drive. The motor has less than 500 miles on it and the issue is after driving on the freeway for about 30 minutes when I turn off the the engine it won't start. this has happened 2 times the first time I thought I might be out of gas (fuel gauge not working-yet) and I was at a gas station. It sounded like it wasn't getting fuel(also has brand new fuel pump and the fuel hoses had all been replaced). it was dark outside and I took off the air filter hoping I could see if the carb was getting fuel. I could not see all the way in carb but could smell the gas very strongly. Then when I was putting gas in truck I could smell the gas fumes and when I tried to pump the gas in it spit it back out at me. I thought ok maybe this is some kind of vapor issue. So I very slowly pumped in about 8 gallons all this took about an hour and when I tried to start the engine it still sounded like it was not getting fuel but it did start and ran fine. I did notice when I got home the smell of gas fumes from both exaust pipes at the rear of truck. Also the PO removed the charcole canister. I have check the gas tank and hoses for leaks but can't find any.
Thanks for any help for a rookie.

[mtully79]

Make sure your tank is vented. If it is spitting gas back out at you that is likely the case.

[terryggoround]

The vent is on the filler neck? The PO replaced the gas tank and there are 4 or 5 metal fuel lines that mount in the very back of jimmy behind the fuel tank and follow the frame to the front on the passenger side. not sure which is the vent line. Also I had read in one of the repair manuals the the gas cap is supposed to be pressurized but my locking cap has a loose fit and no rubber on it.
Thank you for taking the time to help me out cause I came this close to just selling it when the engine threw a rod 4 months ago But you guys on the forum always seem to inspire me to keep going with all the body engine paint cab and custom stuff done to these blazer and jimmies I'm always amazed and glad to be part of this great forum.

[87Skier]

I'm currently going through my fuel system and I have a slightly different setup.

First, my tank has two lines that go the front along the frame, one is for the fuel, the other is for the charcoal canister.

Second, I have several lines that all meet at a point near the fuel filler and look like they bolt into the bottom of a vent. I am going to take all the older rubber parts off and replace and can post pictures if you like.

Also, what type of carb/fuel injection system are you using?

[terryggoround]

Thank you 87 Skier pictures would be a great help!! Any idea where I could buy the charcoal canister besides the junk yard? Just wondering but why would anyone remove the canister in the first place? I can't see that changing how the truck would run better only worse. Thoughts?
Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

[K5Ken]

What does the charcoal cannistet actaully do? Mine rotted off years ago and I have never replaced it or worried about it till now.

[mtully79]

Originally Posted by terryggoround

Thank you 87 Skier pictures would be a great help!! Any idea where I could buy the charcoal canister besides the junk yard? Just wondering but why would anyone remove the canister in the first place? I can't see that changing how the truck would run better only worse. Thoughts?
Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

Charcoal canister was an emissions requirement that didn't allow the gas vapor to be released into the atmosphere. Check out the thread below, it has some good info for you.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=187860

[jaros44sr]

I m thinking heat soak on the starter or vapor lock, but need a little more info.

Headers? What carb? Does it crank and crank and crank, but will not fire? Where is your fuel filter mounted, and did you replace rubber hoses all the way to the tank, there is a small section halfway down the frame rail.
Are you getting fuel before the fuel pump? After the fuel pump?

BTW! make sure you clamp off the fuel line, or you will wear the contents of your gas tank.....
And for heavens sake, don t smoke, or use an incandescent drop light

[terryggoround]

THANK YOU everyone for your time and help! My truck has carb and headers and today while changing the oil I noticed that a hose that comes from the tank and to the bottom of the fuel pump is almost pinched in the middle. That hose is about 6 to 8 inches long and connects the metal line (from fuel tank) to the fuel pump. I just had those hoses replaced 2 days before my engine threw a rod. I have a brand new GM crate motor and I'm sure the shop that put in the motor used the same fuel pump and hoses cause I told him they were brand new. I thought fuel hoses were made of a special material that kept them from doing that? As for the charcoal canister not having it wouldn't make the truck run any different would it. The PO did some screwy stuff and I'm still trying to get things right. Thoughts...

[terryggoround]

Yes when this happens and the truck won't start it just cranks and cranks but won't start. Like I said it sounds like not getting fuel. And if I let the truck sit for 30 or 40 minutes then it will start fine.

[terryggoround]

I forgot to say that the fuel filter was one of those glass ones but when the engine was changed I removed the glass filter and replaced it with one that is all metal(still by the air filter in the engine compartment). The fuel filter has only been on there for just 500 miles should I change that when I change the oil? The fuel filter is small and not expensive.

[87Skier]

You don't need a charcoal canister, but you do need a system of venting the fuel tank. Not sure how this was done on yours. I'm really leaning towards heat soak as well, just a little unsure of where it is happening.

Not sure if you still want a few pictures of what is going on at the back of the Blazer but here are a few:

The first is the tank. If it is a factory tank (or repro) it should have a vent tube on each side. Along with the fuel pickup, fill tube, and fill tube vent.

The picture of the back of the blazer is the vent tube. Note that my filler neck has been removed, and there is no cover in place.

Under the truck you should find 2 hard lines that run to the engine compartment. It runs along with the brake line. On the fuel line itself there is no rubber connections (unless yours has been modified), and has one hard connection near the front axle.

The other fuel line is for the vent/vapor canister system. It has three sections of rubber (not sure if that is common). The vapor system is not necessary but may reduce the gas smell at times, and could marginally improve fuel economy.

The last two pictures are the tank vent lines. These run to the tank vents and then back to the canister.

[geezer#99]

It's not heat soak! It's cranking over but not firing.
It's vapor lock!
Even though you say your locking cap is loose, you're still building up a lot of suction while running. The suction will seal your cap to the pipe and stay there until you open it.
Get rid of the locking cap and put a vented one on it.

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by geezer#99

It's not heat soak! It's cranking over but not firing.
It's vapor lock!
Even though you say your locking cap is loose, you're still building up a lot of suction while running. The suction will seal your cap to the pipe and stay there until you open it.
Get rid of the locking cap and put a vented one on it.

Geezer, yeah, i agree after their was more info. provided. Not heat soak at the starter...but, there is a pinched line as well

All they did was throw a rod, and put a new motor in it, all of a sudden there is starting problem

Good point on the gas cap, didnt think of that

[terryggoround]

OK I'll get rid of the locking cap and get a pressurized cap this weekend. Also I was still wondering about the fuel line hose that is pinching , the hose is made of what and should it have some kind of metal in it to keep it from collapsing?
This weekend I will go through all the lines from the tank to find out if anything else is a miss.
Thank you again and I'll keep you posted on what I find.

[geezer#99]

Get a vented cap, not a pressurized one.
If you have a filter before the pump that's somewhere between the tank and the pump, sometimes the hose will collapse. Fuel pumps have a hard time drawing suction thru a filter.

[87Skier]

If it is indeed the cap couldn't you test by removing the cap before starting?

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by 87Skier

If it is indeed the cap couldn't you test by removing the cap before starting?

You could!
And leave it off. It takes awhile to create a suction.
Find a plastic bottle that fits tightly in the spout. Drill a few holes in the bottom for a vent.
That way you have no fear of splashing gas out the tube while test driving.

[mkelly]

I had this same problem. I had to put a carb insulator under the carburetor to keep it from getting hot and it fixed it. I got one from summit. Might be something to try if you are still having issues.

[trentor]

I know I'm reviving a very old thread here, but it drives me crazy when conversations have tons of good info/advice but no one ever follows up with what was found in the end.

terryggoround still around to let us know what was found? I'm having a similar issue and just starting to learn about these trucks.