Engine cutting out diagnose?

[200ci66]

I know it can be difficult to diagnose a problem on the Internet, but my engine is acting funny and I'd like help on where to start. Haven't done anything new since it started doing this, in fact my motors ran great since I put the new head on it about a year ago.

When I start my car, it acts as if its had difficulty starting. Then if I put a load on the engine it will completely cut out.it doesn't miss, it acts as if the motor completely shuts off. If I drive it easy for a few blocks it acts as if it smooths out them runs fine. If I get on the highway and put a heavy load, it acts like it misses but them smooths out after I settle at a speed. Plugs look fine, timing hasn't changed, feels more like a fuel problem. I put a new fuel pump on when I changed the head, does this sound like a defective fuel pump or do mechanical pumps usually just stop working period?

 

[bubba22349]

Sounds like a plugged up fuel filter or trash in the fuel tank and or with a bad sock on the end of the fuel tank pickup tube. You can test your fuel pump by doing a volume and pressure test and or use a gas can with a clean fuel supply to test it by disconnecting it from fuel line to the gas tank to see if it runs better. Another possibility is that you have a problem with the pretronx like a bad ground etc. Good luck

 

[200ci66]

What are you referring to by sock at the end of pickup tube? And thanks for the reply.

 

[rbohm]

in the tank, there is a metal sock that helps filter big chunks of garbage out of the fuel. if that sock gets too plugged up, it will reduce the ability of the fuel pump to draw fuel from the tank efficiently. i would also check the rubber fuel lines at the tank, and between the steel line from the tank to the fuel pump for cracking, and drawing air instead of fuel.

 

[200ci66]

Thinking I should have popped off the cap before I even posted this. Screw that held the ground on was completely free I don't understand how I was even running. After 3 years don't understand how the screw popped out. Happened to anyone else?

 

[bubba22349]

Yes that happened on my Dads car back in the mid 1960's when we were making a triip to North Dakota 1/2 way there the ground screw backed out enough that it quit running.

 

[rbohm]

Thinking I should have popped off the cap before I even posted this. Screw that held the ground on was completely free I don't understand how I was even running. After 3 years don't understand how the screw popped out. Happened to anyone else?

this is why we do regular maintenance on these cars, well any car, screws can loosen up from vibration over time, among other things. nice catch.

 

[200ci66]

Something to keep in mind. Took 3 years. I'll check it every spring before I start driving. Like I said, I dont understand how it was even running, the screw was completely out of the hole. Thanks guys, learn from me and check under the cap every once in a while, even if you don't have points.