Newbie with '73 Monte Carlo SS Question

[ChrisH]

Hi Guys! I'm a newbie here and I've come for some help diagnosing a problem for a friend of mine.

My friend is a 75 year old, wonderful volunteer at the hospital I work for. She is the original owner of a 1973 Chevy Monte Carlo SS with 80K miles on it. Power train includes a 350 with automatic. She lives on a hill and is having problems with the car stalling when it is at an angle. It runs fine on the flat, but as soon as she tries to climb a hill it stalls. Doesn't matter if the car is pointing uphill or downhill, forward or reverse. I suspect it is some kind of fuel delivery problem. I'm going to be taking a look at it this weekend. Any ideas on what to look for?

She has had the car to 2 mechanics who have not been able to diagnose the problem. One stuck either a used or rebuilt carb on it, but that didn't change anything. Fuel filter has also been replaced a couple of times. I really want to help her get this car fixed. It's her "Sunday go to meetin'" car and she likes to park right in front of the church so she doesn't have to walk to far, but lately has been driving her deceased husbands old pickup. She won't park it in front of the church because it embarasses her. Thanks for your help!

Chris

[MikeKy55]

I would consider pulling the fuel tank and cleaning it out. Sounds like some debris has collected and it covering the pickup tube.

[ChrisH]

Yes, I thought of that too. I'll take a look at it. I was told that these may have had a foam float in the carb that goes bad over time. Any experience with that or suggestions on what I might replace that with?

[Oldcar_Mechanic]

I have thought about this for a while today and have to agree with Mike.

Chris, you say in your original post that another mechanic has replaced the carb so I don't think you have to worry anything about that. Is it possible to make the problem occur ? That is what I would start with. Once you get the car to stall, you will be able to see if it's a fuel problem or something electrical (never discount anything until you are sure). Is it just one particular hill? Is it particularly steep? If you suspect the pick-up tube in the tank, you can always disconect the fuel line from the tank to the pump and blow through it back towards the tank, with the gas cap off, with compressed air and blow the sock off the pick-up. Also be sure you have plenty of fuel in the tank.

The number one thing of course is to verify the complaint.

Let us know what you find please.
Ron

[RonfromCanada]

I would suspect the fuel pump is on its way out. THe little diaphram valves are not sealing and are not able to supply the needed fuel fast enoupgh to satisfy the engines need in a high demand situation as climbing a hill. In any direction. But it does provide enoupgh fuel in a low demand level road application.

[not me]

I had this problem on two different vehicles. One had the pick up in the tank restricted the other had the radiator half blocked or was not letting the coolant flow as it needed to so the thing was getting hot and vapor locking. Only did it on a hill. The thing drove me nuts, I could pick the spot it would stop at after awhile.I had replaced just about everything that I could think of and then some. Never thought the radiator would cause this.The temp gage showed a little above normal nothing to worry about. So engine temp never came to mind. This thing would do this at 40 belowf. One day the freaking fan went into the radiator. New radiator, no problem after that. Who would have thought? This was an older chev pick up with the 4 core radiator so this maybe something to think about. Hope that you locate the problem.