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I would start by making sure the fuel cap is vented. Try leaving it a little loose and go for a drive, maybe it's vacuum locking.

Could also be a bad fuel filter that is plugging after driving for a bit.

Maybe something in the fuel tank blocking the suction?

Seems to me that "something" is restricting fuel flow.

BTW, there are no questions that everyone knows the answers to. We all had to learn! Ask away!

That's what my son and I were thinking. It almost seems like there is a crack or pinhole in the pickup tube in the gas tank that, when the gas gets down a little bit, it starts sucking air and dies. I don't know where the fuel filter is yet, and won't be able to find out until I can get it up on the jacks at home, but that's also on my list.

Thanks for your prompt and kind reply.

Pinhole leak in carburetor float?

I'm not sure how the pick up tube is on your car, but on my 53 Cavalier is it right on the bottom of the tank, even if there was a pin hole the fuel would have to be very very very low.

Maybe there is an inline filter back by the tank underneath the car? (Not factory.) Or a filter at the carb, if your car has a filter there.

I don't think it's a serious issue, probably something caused by the car sitting for too long. Gotta drive our cars!

Let us know what you find!

BTW, most of us are kind, you'll quickly figure out who the unkind ones are, so I won't list their names!

Could be. I was planning on having a professional carburetor Rebuilder that I know real well go through it after I got home, but...sure worth a try.

All the above, particularly the tank cap and a possibility something is floating around in the bottom of the tank periodically blocking the line inlet. If the issue turns out to be at a consistent place and you can pin it down to a specific level where it seems to happen it could be the pickup tube in the tank has developed the pinhole. On later tanks like the one 53 Cavalier mentions there are two known points where pinholes develop. Your tank is a bit different and I don't know if enough failures have happened or been observed to know approximate gauge levels on that style.

The factory filter was optional and of the ceramic type. If installed it would be in a glass bowl next to the carb but a previous owner could have installed something more modern in the line between the tank and engine. The ceramic types have a tendency to clog with microscopic particles of rust and if car had a long sit with no fuel in the bowl varnish and other byproducts of fuel deterioration clogging the pores could be the issue. Even after cleaning it can look fine and pass air if you blow thru it but still not be capable of allowing enough fuel to pass to keep the engine running. If the engine still has a mechanical pump and fuel is running thru it, the bottom of the pump covered by a metal dome shaped sediment bowl contains a screen. That screen could be clogged with rust particles. If you remove the bowl best to have a new gasket or some cork material handy to make a new gasket as the originals frequently do not seal again after being disturbed.

Here is what the pickup tube inside of the tank looks like. Fuel is picked up at the open end of the tube which points down and rests roughly 1/8 inch above a sort of depression on the tank bottom. There is no screen or protection around the tube.

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G'day Todd W. White,
to PackardInfo.

As mentioned by others it could be a non venting fuel cap. See this THREAD which details a similar experience.

Meanwhile, as you're sorting out the problem, I invite you to include your '49 Deluxe Eight Touring Sedan in PackardInfo's Packard Vehicle Registry.

Quote: I hope I'm one of the "kind" ones and not on the naughty list.

Quote: I hope I'm one of the "kind" ones and not on the naughty list. [/quote]

Of course there are no unkind members here, only nice people own Packards, or maybe owning a Packard makes you a nice person?

Todd,
for including your '49 Deluxe Eight Touring Sedan in the Registry.