Spirit gas issues

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   Hello all. I have recently did a head job on my 79 spirit a d installed the clifford intake exhaust weber set up... Went for the first ride and it died 10 mis in. The car has been sitting for 16 years in a garage. I emptied the tank before and put new gas in it....well after the gas in the fuel filter was looking like tea i took down the tank and found what appeared to be gas that turned to tar... I cleaned the ta k at the local car wash with a pressure washer and then vinegar and baking soda the crap out if it... Heres the problem.. After putting it back together the car ran for no more the a mile and died again. It runs if i put a gas can directly to the fuel pump. I also changed the hose from.tank to pump... Still wont fire up. Could it be i put the sending unit upside down and its sucking in only air? I am.at a loss. Any help or insight would be amazing. Thanks... Did i forget something

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1979amcspirit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Sep/02/2021 Location: Montreal Status: Offline Points: 109	Post Options Post Reply Quote 1979amcspirit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Spirit gas issues Posted: Nov/10/2022 at 8:04pm
	Hello all. I have recently did a head job on my 79 spirit a d installed the clifford intake exhaust weber set up... Went for the first ride and it died 10 mis in. The car has been sitting for 16 years in a garage. I emptied the tank before and put new gas in it....well after the gas in the fuel filter was looking like tea i took down the tank and found what appeared to be gas that turned to tar... I cleaned the ta k at the local car wash with a pressure washer and then vinegar and baking soda the crap out if it... Heres the problem.. After putting it back together the car ran for no more the a mile and died again. It runs if i put a gas can directly to the fuel pump. I also changed the hose from.tank to pump... Still wont fire up. Could it be i put the sending unit upside down and its sucking in only air? I am.at a loss. Any help or insight would be amazing. Thanks... Did i forget something

troutwilly Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/14/2007 Location: Carriere, MS Status: Offline Points: 994	Post Options Post Reply Quote troutwilly Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov/10/2022 at 11:01pm
	Start with the easy to do stuff first. If it runs off the gas can but not off the tank its obviously not getting fuel from the tank. I would first connect a line/hose from the pump output to a can/bucket, crank the engine over by starter (pull the plugs so it spins faster/easier), and see how much fuel it pumps and what it looks like. If nothing, then there's problems between the pump and tank. You say you changed the hose from the tank to the pump. Isn't the fuel line steel along the frame and rubber from the tank and pump to the line? Its possible one or all of those are compromised. Also, try running it without the filler cap on the tank. Could be the venting is not working. And then you're not sure you installed the fuel sender correctly. Does the fuel gauge work? If all the above doesn't solve the problem you might have to drop the tank again and check it out. Check the metal line on the sender. I had one where the fluid in the line turned solid. Came out like a bullet when I applied air pressure.
	Bill O. 70 AMX

1979amcspirit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Sep/02/2021 Location: Montreal Status: Offline Points: 109	Post Options Post Reply Quote 1979amcspirit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov/11/2022 at 5:15am
	The car runs out of a bucket filled with gas.. Correct. So its def the problem from tank to pump. I ran a 5/16 rubber line from.sending unit straight to the pump. I thought it could be a metal line that cracked and is sucking in air... That didnt do anything. I will def try to run it without the gas cap on to see if it is a venting issue.. That seems like the easiest step before dropping the tank. If that doesnt work, i didnt install the strainer that comes at the bottom of the sending unit feed line thats in the tank. I was wondering if the strainer acts as longer line to reach down lower in the tank. I was wondering perhaps not enough gas...i put 15 gals in it only. The guage doesnt work because the float broke... Third... Is it possible to install the sendibg unit upside down so that its actually suckin from.the top of the tank instead of the bottom. I will start with cap off and work from there. Its a shame cuz when i went for the first drivenfor 10 mins it ran like a lil beast

nudhistbudhist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Sep/13/2019 Location: AB, Can Status: Offline Points: 178	Post Options Post Reply Quote nudhistbudhist Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov/11/2022 at 5:51am
	From what I remember worth my spirit, the sending unit goes in above the hallway mark. I shouldn't think you have the sending unit upside down. You might try looking through the fill to see if you can see the float, I forget if that's possible. Also on mine, the steel line was rotted. It didn't suck air, it just plugged. I found out it was plugged when I (and really looking back I wouldn't recommend) blew a little compressed air backwards through to see if I could hear anything. It blew all the crap back to tank before beginning to have nasty brown fuel come back. Mess.
	Greg 1980 AMC Spirit GT 4.0/ax15 swap Ford 8.8

mark09 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Dec/14/2012 Location: indiana Status: Offline Points: 281	Post Options Post Reply Quote mark09 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov/11/2022 at 9:15am
	If / when you pull the tank, try using cheep alchohol to clean the tank. I had 1/2in of black sludge from sitting 25-30 years with leaded, unleaded, leftover race fuel and av gas. Tried others suggestions to remove with little luck. Then tried alchohol with some I scraped out and it softened it overnight and dissolved it in a couple of days. Then I used the method of a length of chain and 10 gallons of the cheapest alchohol. I soaked the tank for a day or two on each of the 6 sides (top had stalagmites hanging) . Poured out the black mixture, fished out the chain with a coat hanger, then power washed anything leftover and was surprised by how clean only thing left was the rust. I used EVAPORUST per directions on the rusted areas and rinsed/dried in the sun . The tank was clean showing the factory's plating and only a little rust from the heaviest areas. Also cleaned the fuel line, changed the fuel pump, rebuilt the carb. Haven't had any problems since. Don't underestimate the power of alchohol as a solvent for cleaning and as such be aware of the fire hazard, But it does work!

1979amcspirit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Sep/02/2021 Location: Montreal Status: Offline Points: 109	Post Options Post Reply Quote 1979amcspirit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov/11/2022 at 6:05pm
	Well i had the same caked on black crap stuck on the bottom... I used super clean from castrol and poured it in and left it in there for a couple.of hours then went to the local car wash and pressure washed all the crap out and it came out super clean lol. I am wondering if the problem can be the 3/16 vent hose at the top of the tank. If thats clogged will the tank not have the right pressure in it? I took the tank down today and sending unit out it was in the right position... Also shot compressed air in it and it wasnt clogged. So it has something to do with the tank i have to say

1979amcspirit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Sep/02/2021 Location: Montreal Status: Offline Points: 109	Post Options Post Reply Quote 1979amcspirit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov/11/2022 at 6:08pm
	Also my float basically rotted out so there is no gauge working which doesnt bother me. Yet i noticed there is a ground on the sending unit... I put that back on the body... If its faulty would it prevent it from working? Is there anything really electric in there or its just power for the gauge reading?

nudhistbudhist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Sep/13/2019 Location: AB, Can Status: Offline Points: 178	Post Options Post Reply Quote nudhistbudhist Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov/11/2022 at 8:48pm
	The ground could help the gauge reading if the float held. Mine currently has a hole in the float so it sits on bottom too. The ground in the sending unit would complete the circuit between gauge power> gauge> sender> ground. I missed in the thread, have you tried running without gas cap, and check for low hanging bits in the line that could stop priming the pump
	Greg 1980 AMC Spirit GT 4.0/ax15 swap Ford 8.8

mark09 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Dec/14/2012 Location: indiana Status: Offline Points: 281	Post Options Post Reply Quote mark09 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov/12/2022 at 8:55am
	I reread this and wondered if you might have lost your fuel pump with all the time sitting. Have you checked if you have fuel pressure? Or is it pumping fuel into the pan. You can't tell nowadays if older pumps are dried or alcohol compatible. Some are able to rebuild. Just thinking mark09.

1979amcspirit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Sep/02/2021 Location: Montreal Status: Offline Points: 109	Post Options Post Reply Quote 1979amcspirit Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Nov/12/2022 at 9:22am
	I recently changed the fuel pump. Its works if i run it from.a red gas tank. Today i just shot compressed air in all the lines and put the tank back up sending unit isnt blocked. The only thing insee is the filler neck is loose maybe i should silicone it back in place. I just dont get it. I have to park this car for the winter about to drill a hole in the firewall and run it like that i have to go 10 miles only.. Just trying to avoid that.