440 Fuel Problems

[RRGTX72]

I have a 72 Road Runner GTX with a 440 in it. I took it out a few weeks ago for its maiden voyage. It ran fine going out there, but coming home she just died. Removed the fuel hose at carb and turned engine over, and she was not pumping fuel. She had about a 1/2 tank of fuel left. So over the past few weeks, I have been running through some diagnostic steps but now I am at my wits end and my minimal mechanic expertise. Here is what I have tried:
1. Purchased a new Eldebrock fuel pump and installed it. It pumped fuel good for about 15 minutes and then went to a trickle.
2. Dropped the tank and removed the sending unit and found no sock filter on the pick up. Ordered new filter and installed it on pick up and re-installed the sending unit.
3. Blew out the line from the tank to the pump and then from the pump to the tank. Unplugged of course from each end. No debris found.
4. Ran a fuel line from inlet side of pump into a gas can, car would run but not enough volume to fill up the visible fuel filter before the carb.
5. Hooked line back up to the fuel tank and she want pump any fuel up to the carb.
6. Also purchased a new locking vented gas cap.
The tank has the four vents on the driver's side of the tank and are running to the vapor separator behind driver's rear wheel. The return line on the vapor separtor is plugged off and I am not running any type of fuel return line. The sending unit is a 5/16 and the line is 3/8. Mind you that she ran fine for approximately 40 miles before all this happened. So this is currently where she stands. Sorry for the long post, but wanted to make sure I gave you guys as much information as possible to help me out. Thanks For B Bodies members for all of your help.

 

[Gpuller]

I would check the fuel pump push rod. Seems to be a rash of them going bad lately, it should be 3.25" long.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Yeah, push rod is a good place to start. easy to take out and at least check. Allen head plug just below the fuel pump take it out and the rod is in there, you will have to take the pump off again helps in getting it out.

Check the head of the rod is it mushroomed? broken off?

 

[terzmo]

pump or rod would be My first check...good luck

 

[70rr-brian]

I will echo others statements...push rod...if you have a new solid roller cam did you get a brass tipped push rod?

 

[RRGTX72]

Thanks guys! I will try this. If it is bad, is there a specific type of push rod to use?

 

[70rr-brian]

If its a roller get a brass tip...I have heard bad things about "replacement" rods. I have heard it is best to try and find an original on sale from fleebay if you can. If not, I am sure someone has had a positive experience with a manufacturer and can recommend something.

 

[72RoadrunnerGTX]

The fuel tank vent line needs to be un ”plugged off”, vented to atmospheric pressure at the minimum. Doesn’t quite fit all the symptoms, check the push rod, but the plugging off the designed fuel tank vent certainly can’t be ruled out completely. The system was not designed to run a vented cap with the filler neck mounted low on a flat tank.

 

[RRGTX72]

Pulled the push rod and it was sheared off 1/4 inch on cam side. Does that mean I have a 1/4 of steel floating around the bottom end of my engine? If so, what do I need to do to remove it or will it be in the bottom of the oil pan? The oil pan does have a magnetic plug and when I pulled it to drain the oil there was metal shavings but no big chunks. This is the cam information for the car, so please tell me what type of push rod do I need.
Crower CAM Intake: Duration 271 Lift .486; Exhaust Duration 284 Lift .495.

 

[70rr-brian]

I sincerly doubt it was sheared off. Most likely just ground down over time. I suspect your oil filter, pickup tube mesh and magnet caught the debris as it happened. You could always pull the pan and have a look see for any additional shavings if you wanted.

Those cams specs don't really tell me what kind of cam it is. Could be flat tappet IDK. Call cower and see if they can tell you what kind it is if it doesn't say on the cam card.

 

[ArtH]

The cam sounds like this one: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CRO-32242/

 

[70rr-brian]

I suppose you could try this one:

http://www.skspeed.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=C564626

But perhaps others have recommendations as well.

 

[RRGTX72]

Brian,
It is a flat tappet cam, and you are probably correct on not being sheared off. The motor only had about 50 miles on it though. So shouldn't of had that much wear. I am installing a Holley Red electric fuel pump this weekend. I talked to my engine builder and he agreed to bypass the mechanical, because of not knowing the damage to the cam. So hopefully my fuel woes will soon be over. Thanks everyone on their assistance. I will keep you posted on the progress.