I had a new problem develop recently. Over the past few weeks my 72 camaro has stalled out randomly, two of those times were while coming off the highway (still on the exit ramp). The other day, she stalled out three times in one day and by the time I finally got home she could not maintain any power. I had to pump the accelerator just to keep the engine around a target RPM (i.e. I could not just keep the pedal depressed like normal). Since then despite fuel/carburetor cleaner, I have not been able to get her to even idle properly.

The engine is a pro built forged internals 355 cid V-8 with about 2300 miles on it. The carburetor is a holley 650 CFM four barrel street avenger (i think).

More history for you, shortly after I got her and literally right after the first tank of gas I put in her she started hesitating. This did not clear up until at least one tank of gas later with fuel system/carburetor cleaner. Since then I have needed to put fuel cleaner in with every tank, and that (until recently) has keep her running smooth. Although I have been wondering if I am running rich, because I seem to burn through gas pretty quick. She does have a fuel filter inline before the carburetor...maybe this needs to be cleaned or replaced?

Going over this with friends, their thoughts are this could be a carburetor or fuel pump issue.

Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

Myself, I would get a replacement filter ready and replace the one that is in there. Carefully cut the old one open and see what it looks like. Is there any fuel dripping around or out of your fuel pump?

 

sounds like a fuel problem to me. i agree with edward, replace the filter and check to see if theres any debris in the old one.

 

here's a pic of the fuel filter (in place since it has clear side walls). And no, there is no fuel dripping around or out of my fuel pump.

thanks for the quick responses.

http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/...t/a226070d.jpg

 

here's the image instead of just the link (sorry, still getting use to this)

 

What kind of fuel pump, and are you sure you don't have too much fuel pressure? Did you check/set the float levels on the carb?

 

Swapping a fuel filter seems so easy, and cheap that it would be the first thing I'd try, but I doubt it will fix it. That's not a great flowing filter either, and if there are other fuel delivery issues it wont help.
I'd be pulling the inlet line to the carb and put it in a bucket, and run the fuel pump to see what kind of flow you get just before the carb. If it's good, then start looking into the carb itself for issues.

 

off the top of my head, no idea what kind of fuel pump. Fuel line gauge usually reads around 5 or 6. No I haven't checked/set the float levels on the carb, was thinking about attempting to do that tomorrow

 

Any recommendations on a replacement fuel filter?

 

I use a 10 micron canister filter, and then a aluminum body filter inline between the pump and the carbs.
Sounds like you may have crud in the tank, but you may also be suffering from a weak accelerator pump, or restrictions in the carb passages, or the nozzles. Some hesitation can even be simply timing, but if carb cleaner makes it better I'd guess it's either dirt in the carb, or the accelerator pump.
Have you looked down the carb and worked the throttle to see if the nozzles are giving a decent shot of fuel?