Hello.



New member here with a problem.



I have a 292 motor in a 56 Ford truck that starts right up ,idles fine ,runs around the neihborhood

with no problem....but when I get out on the highway and put it in 4th gear it "breaks up" and wants to shut down...



I have replaced...



all 8 plugs

distributor cap

rotor

points

condenser

coil



I run a mechanical fuel pump that was also recently replaced.



Im just out of ideas and looking for some input as to where to look next.



I have owned the truck for 8 years and this problem started last year on a short trip

I never addressed it because most of the time the truck is transported on a trailer...but I would like to get it fixed if I could.....Thanks in advance for any help .



Bob Taylor

Bob, Hello and welcome. You are in the right place.

When you say that the car brakes down I take that to mean the motor loses power is that correct? And then what happens? Does your engine die or just lose power and then run OK at idle and low throttle settings? If it just loses power then it could be a fuel or lack of fuel issue. There is a short length of rubber hose between the gas tank and the metal fuel line. Check this for old age and replace it in case it is cracked and letting air into the line prior to the fuel pump. You will get more free advice than you can handle. Pete

Last time that happened to me, it was crud in the gas tank, blocking at the fuel filter.

At idle or low speed the engine is placing little demand on the fuel system. With prolonged or highway driving if there is a clog it will cause fuel starvation. My 56 Vicky runs fine on a 427 high performance fuel pump but will run out of gas in a quarter mile hard run at the 2nd shift. I have to run an inline electric pump to augment the mechanical one. Of course this is while running a McCulloch supercharger that raises the fuel demand.

Definitely sounds like fuel starvation. Try using air pressure to blow back through the line that attaches from the tank to the fuel pump. You should hear bubbling in the tank. If the sock/filter in the tank is clogged it will clear it away for a while. Not a fix but will tell you if thats the problem. Also check the air vent to the gas tank. Should be around the filler neck. They are a perfect nest for mud daubers or spiders. If clogged the tank is not vented. Vacume will build up and stop the fuel flow. The original gas caps are un-vented. If you can pull over when the problem occurs and remove the gas cap you will hear a rush of air. That means the tank isn't breathing. Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

To add to Moonshadow's response, make sure the gas cap is off when you blow back through the line, or you may split the tank.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Just my 2 cents:



I once had this same problem, and it was the carburetor's float level that was starving the engine. I have a Motorcraft 2100 carburetor, with a brass float, and it was too low, resulting in a low fuel level inside the carb.

Túlio Lazzaroni "FORD", Florianópolis SC Brasil.

'74 Ford Galaxie 500 292 V8

'82 Ford Galaxie Landau 302 V8

'98 Chevrolet S10 4.3 V6

'01 Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec

Actually all good suggestion. Forgot about taking the cap off, thanks John. I would start with fuel delivery first and then go to the carb. As mentioned it could be low float level or even a little crud in the bowl or partially blocked jets. Unless your competent to dissasemble the carb I would still run the fuel line checks first. Chuck in NH (another 2cents worth)

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Without more detailed info on your symptoms, could it be that your engine is leaning out at cruise. In your around town driving it might have been masked due to effects of the accelerator pump. With todays gasoline it usually requires a richer main jetting than what was required just a few years ago.

Just a thought.

Jeff Petersen

Whew !!!.....I do not know what i did wrong but I could not log back in with my original user name ...

so I created a new one.....anyway lots of good suggestions and I want to thank everyone for the help.



I am going to try these suggestions and report back with my findings.



Thanks

Bob Taylor

Thanks for all the help guys !!!



Feeling a little foolish went to blow the fuel line back to the tank and when I removed

the inline fuel filter I blew into it with my mouth and it was restricted !!!



A new fuel filter...(and maybe the blow back ?)....got the truck running fine !



Bob Taylor