Re: KPack's 1954 Panama

Posted by HH56 On 2020/12/15 10:13:36

Air leaks anywhere in the line could result in no fuel being pulled into the pump.

Pinholes in the steel fuel line particularly at some of the bends are well known and there are a couple of places in the tank where it can also happen. There may be just enough of a hole to allow air to enter but not be large enough to let fuel out so it is dripping and visible although usually you can see a dark or moist spot on the tube. If the car starts to seem like it is regularly running out of gas with the gauge still registering a little less than half or at approx 1/4 full suspect a pinhole in the pickup tube inside the tank.

Unless there is a leak or a porous casting in the carb the float bowl drying out is more likely due to the much more volatile modern fuel evaporating or percolating due to the residual heat left over from the last time the engine ran. The dry bowl is one of the reasons many turn on and use an electric pump for several seconds to prime the system before starting the engine after a long sit. That bit of priming time can usually eliminate many seconds or several attempts of cranking time.