[lhmurphy]

Originally Posted by StudebakerTom

Guys - I am working with a Chevy 350 in my '63 Avanti and the car was a 'barn find' I've been working on for several months.

I drained the old gas, as it'd been sitting for several years and besides shellac-like consistency which I would expect in really old gas, I didn't see any crud or particles.
Still, I know old gas tanks can harbor lots of junk and I've been changing my fuel filter every few weeks since getting it back on the road.

I've only got about 120 miles on it since replacing the tired old 305 that was in it with a 350 in good shape and a rebuilt TH350 tranny. (I hate automatics) Lately the car has begun dying on me and the frequency is getting shorter and shorter. Now I can't go down my street without it acting as though it's being fuel starved and quitting. I coast the the side, count to 100 and away I go for another 1/2 mile then it dies again.

Could this be my coil? It's an HEI system and I'd be willing to stick a VOM on the right contacts to test it, but I have no clue where to poke and am fully aware I could dispatch myself to the next life with a wrong poke.

Any ideas? I hate to start replacing things i think might be wrong. BTDT.

Mechanical fuel pump failure or pump rod losing contact with camshaft...thats if all fuel lines, filters, and inlet carb filters are clean. The little tiny filters inside the end of the carb get crap in them all the time...hope you get it fixed!

[Custom10]

From a ingnition stand point, looks like a HEI distributor to me without the top cover. Where is the top cover?

Do you have at least 12-13 volts at the HEI BATT terminal at all times when the thing is running?

Test by putting positive lead of a DC volt meter on the BATT terminal of the HEI and then negative lead to ground or battery negative terminal when the engine is running, the HEI needs at least 12-13 V at all times when the engine is running.

Check for good engine to chassis to battery negative ground, the HEI needs a good ground. Battery in the trunk of the Avanti?

The module in the HEI can be POS and it dies when heated up, rotor button inside the cap, bad pickup etc here is some good info:

Testing HEI Coil/Module
HEI Modules

[StudebakerTom]

Guys, I blew compressed air back to the tank and am now getting a steady 8 lbs of fuel pressure at the inlet to the carb.
Happy to say she purrs like a kitten now!

Thanks for all your help!

[PatM]

I think there's crud in the tank that was blocking the fuel pickup filter (sock). As time goes by, this may happen again. Replace the "sock" and I think you'll be good.

PatM

[fwinter01]

find a 3 gallon outboard gas tank, new fuel line and a ($12) 7 to 12 psi auto zone fuel pump. Try it cheap troubleshooting tool,