Thread: '63 Nova rev problem

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I got this car in pieces and spent a year restoring it. It originally was a 6 cylinder with a 3 speed on the column. I put a 350HP 350 with a TH350 in it.
I removed the 5/16" sending unit and installed a new 3/8" and ran new 3/8" hard line all of the way to the Edelbrock mechanical fuel pump. I covered all of the fuel lines where they go next to the headers, so I don't think there is any possibility of vapor lock.

When the temp. is over about 70 deg. F, it revs fine in 1st gear, but seems to run out of fuel in 2nd gears and stops pulling which continues into 3rd gear. If it is cold out, this car runs fine through all 3 gears...pulling HARD all the way to 5500 RPM.

The engine is a .030 1971 350 with 882 heads 1.94 intake, 1.50 exhaust 76cc chamber. Flat-top TRW pistons. Comp cams XE268H cam. Edelbrock Performer RPM, 750 Edelbrock carb. Shortie headers with 2 1/2" exhaust. 34 deg. of total timing...MSD 6A ignition(Tried different timing)

I have had the carb apart several times and adjusted the floats, checked filters, just about everything I can think of. I haven't tried to re-jet yet because the spark plug reading looks good.

Anybody have any ideas?

I'd drain the tank and flush it out and blow air through the line to the fuel pump.
Before i did that I'd chuck the filter in the carb if it's still there.

The tank was flushed when I restored the car and the filter is clean on the carb and the main filter is new. (600 miles on it) I also cut the filter open when I changed it a couple of weeks ago just to see if there was anything in it. It was sparkling clean. I have NEVER had even a HINT of any kind of fuel hesitation or fuel starvation on normal driving. It is only above 70 degrees doing a simulated quarter mile run on the way home from work. I have tried just about everything.

Do you have a vent on the tank, or a vented fuel cap??? Might want to check to make sure the tank can breathe.....

I'd still chuck the filter in the carb because as far as I'm concerned they are too restrictive. Other than that the only other thing I could think of would be the fuel pump.

Wow...it is a non vented cap! I will do a 1/4 run tomorrow without the cap. (I live WAY out in the country in Oklahoma). I will also try to gets some pics of my setup.

fuel pump push rod binding up when it's hot?

Originally Posted by firebird77clone

fuel pump push rod binding up when it's hot?

i think it run off the cam no push rod i would bet it is heat

edlebrock carbs are quick to empty out of gas .. my V6 pinto would do what you speak of till i replumbed from the tank to the carb .. and be sure you have at least 5 psi fuel pressure but not more than 7

Originally Posted by HOSS429

edlebrock carbs are quick to empty out of gas .. my V6 pinto would do what you speak of till i replumbed from the tank to the carb .. and be sure you have at least 5 psi fuel pressure but not more than 7

While Holleys can stand a little more, Edelbrocks should be run at 5 psi max.

Originally Posted by techinspector1

While Holleys can stand a little more, Edelbrocks should be run at 5 psi max.

i stand corrected .. even my pinto regulator is set at 4.5 lbs .

Well, as embarassing as it is, I think I found the problem. The flex line that goes between the fuel sending unit and the hardline has a kink in it. I put a picture of it in my profile. Now why it would do only when it was hot makes no sense. Since it is going to be in the 80's today, I will see if that is it and put a result in this thread.

Great advise...thanks!

Originally Posted by jbright300

Well, as embarassing as it is, I think I found the problem. The flex line that goes between the fuel sending unit and the hardline has a kink in it. I put a picture of it in my profile. Now why it would do only when it was hot makes no sense. Since it is going to be in the 80's today, I will see if that is it and put a result in this thread.

It would do that as it gets hot due to the fact that liquids generally expand as the heat rises.

Well, to my dissapointment, that didn't fix it. I replaced the hose at the tank with high pressure line and did 2 runs. One with the gas cap on and one with it off.....no change. It still acts like it is running out of fuel in 2nd gear. I am going to post some more pics of the fuel pump setup in my personal photos.