I have a 1974 Dodge Dart Sport with a slant 6 . While driving it will turn off and I will have to wait around 2-4 minutes and then it will start up again and go about 1 mile and then turn off again. I just changed out the fuel pump and the fuel filter, and also chaged out the electronic ignition module , and also chaged out the coil and I am still having the problem. I don't know what it is that is making my dart turn off, I also rebuilt the carb..... Does anyone know what might be the problem? I also put new spark plugs and wires, and a new distturbitor, and points, I am clueless.... HELP!!!!

If you mean it stalls, rather than 'turn off' could be sediment/rust clogging your fuel pickup inside the tank, low float level, maybe even sugar in the tank?

Wait... you mentioned points and an electronic ignition module. Which is it?

Ok, time to troubleshoot:

I'm assuming that the car will crank, but won't fire up.

The very next time it quits (and won't restart), hop out of the car and pull off the air cleaner. Pump the carb by pulling on the throttle linkage. Does the carb squirt fuel into its throat?

If yes, then your problem is likely electrical, not fuel.
If no, then you have a fuel problem.

If it's electrical, here are some possibilities:
- Corrosion in the bulkhead connector
- Bad ignition switch
- Intermittent Ballast Resistor (rare that it would be intermittent)
- Bad pickup in the distributor
- Any number of misc bad grounds, etc.

-Mac

Yesterday when it quit out on me, thats exactly what I did. I had my brother with me so he cranked it while I watched for squirting gas, and there was no gas squirting in the carb...... Oh yeah,,, I meant the ignition module or that little box on the side of the fender on the driver's side. The car does have points...Sorry...

Ok... if you cranked it and pumped the gas, and there was no squirt, then you have a fuel issue somewhere.

This sounds a lot like Fratzog's suggested problem: dirt or rust collecting around the sock in the fuel tank.

Try this: Next time it quits, have a coffee can ready and pull the fuel line off the carb, then disconnect the coil wire and have someone crank the engine while you see if it will pump fuel into the coffee can.
BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO SPILL GAS ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

No gas: probably pickup in tank (given that you've replaced fuel pump)
Got gas: Carb float sticking with the needle valve closed?

Someone told me that the vapor return line may be clogged... Do you think it's a possibility that it may be clogged? I'm sorry but I am clueless, where is the vapor return line anyways ?

Hmm, it sounds like you're ready to pick up a factory service manual for the car.

The vapor return line (if my memory of 74 era cars is right) comes from a black charcoal canister located in the front corner (passenger) of the engine compartment.

I think he might be trying to say that the tank is becoming vac locked in some manner. I suppose you could easily determine that by taking off your fuel filler cap. If the problem goes away, then that's the issue. If not, keep looking!

-Mac

Well, I just cleaned out the lines and it seems to be doing a little better. Before I cleaned them out the car would turn off and it would take me 3-4 minutes for it to turn back on, now the car turns off and within a few seconds it turns back on. So instead of waiting 3-4 minutes now I only have to wait a few seconds.... Hummm ???

Why don't you do the SL6 Dan's fuel line mod and eliminate the steel line from the pump to the carb. Those can get pretty rusty inside and fill the carb full of rust no mater how good the filter is. You may be dealing with some water issues too. Run some alcohol gas dryer in the tank. You may need to pop the top of the carb again and recheck the fuel bowl and see what it picked up.

Vapor locking only happens when it's super hot out. Is that the case? When you pull the gas cap off does it sound like your opening a pop can? Lot's of air rushing into the tank? You may need to blow air through the vapor return line back to the tank and replace your rubber lines or at least blow air through them. Pull the opposite ends from the charcoal cannister first so you don't damage it. My car used to do this so I pulled the cannister. Problem went away. I am hoping to find another new one somewhere or one I can modify and use on the Dart. I would like to find something off a modern engine. I have brought this up from time to time, but know one has shared any part numbers as of yet.

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Aggressive Ted

http://cid-32f1e50ddb40a03c.photos.live ... %20Swinger


74 Swinger, 9.5 comp 254/.435 lift cam, 904, ram air, electric fans, 2.5" HP2 & FM70 ex, 1920 Holley#56jet, 2.76 8 3/4 Sure-Grip, 26" tires, 25+MPG

well, there is no gas passing through to the carb, so my tank may be dirty. Any suggestions on cleaning out the tank ? Is there some kind of filter up inside the tank that I can remove without having to drop the whole tank ? Thanks in advance.

I have seen the inside of the line from the tank to the pump almost rust shut. If you can get an air hose, unhook the line from the pump and blow back to the tank. It may push a bunch of crap out of the line.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

Blowing air back through the fuel line fixed my van. It was sucking the sock on the pickup tube closed. Take the gas cap off when you do this and make sure no one has their face near the open filler! I lost about a quart of fuel when I did this said my friend Norm. Thankfully he did not get a face full of gas.

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Joshua

damn it, I have tried everything.... I blew air thre the line with the air compressor and with the gas cap off and still no luck. I am still having the problem.... Maybe it's time for a new gas tank, how hard is it to replace the sock filter ? Oh yeah one more question. What is the purpose of the sending unit ? Is it only to give a reading to show that the tank is full or empty or does it also shoot gas, because I have very little flow and maybe the sock is clogged and restricting flow, so how hard is it to replace the sock ?

If your carb is OEM then it may need a rebuild bad, the 1974 Holley 1945 was plagued with a couple of problems and the nitrophyll floats are bound to be toast by now, and possibly some gunk is now stuck in the carb bowl...


-D.Idiot

So the problem is still no fuel coming from the pump? Did you inspect the entire metal fuel line and the rubber connection to the tank? Is there vacuum in the tank when the car dies? Any debris in the fuel filter?

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Joshua