Fuel filter and carb not always getting fuel

85 Z28 camaro with a 350 small block. Two months back after you drove the car around town shut it off come back later it would start and shut back off when you put it in gear. So we did take everyones ideas from here and found the Distributor did need changed two of the spark plug wires was lose on the cap. We changed cap rotor and coil. three week later it wouldn't even try to start so we had it towed to the shop and the Ignition Module needed changed. Yesterday my son came home handed me the keys and told me to sell it. He said it stalled at a light and wouldn't start so he pushed it off the road and walked home. I went to try it and it started great but ran for a few seconds and shut off. I checked the fuel filter it was only half full and then i checked the carb it was dry no gas at all. I came home got the starting fluid went back spayed it in the carb it ran a few second and shut off so i did it again after about 10 minutes it started and shut off. I got out checked the fuel filter again and this time it didn't have any fuel in it.My husband pulled in and he got out and checked it and found no gas in carb or filter, He wanted to try the starting fluid it did the same thing with him so he wanted to call tow truck i said no way i think this car is in love with that tow truck. I got in and pumped it and he did the starting fluid and he ran as long as I keep my foot on the gas as soon as i let go it sounded like it was going to stall and did. i turned the key it started then shut off. I told him to do the starting fluid one more time and this time i pumped it and then held the gas pedal to the floor and it started running bad but running i drove it home putting it in neutral at red lights keep it running but it still sounded like it was going to stall. We got home pulled off the fuel line turned the key and no fuel at all came out and the fuel filter had no fuel at all.Not sure how this car made it home like that. We changed the fuel filter took it for a drive it run good checked fuel filter and carb they both had gas. This morning I started it and it was running great i pulled it out of the driveway so my husband to get out and then by the time i pulled it in to the garage it didn't sound right so i checked filter and carb fuel filter was dry and carb had very little. I told my son not to go far away from home with it but he did. he drove about 20 miles to a friends house and it didn't shut off about six hours later he left there to come home and about a mile from the house it shut off seconds after he left a red light. A few hours later we went to try to start it and two turns of the key and it started and we didn't use starting fluid. We welcome any ideas we have had to tow this car six times in the year we have had it because of it stalling and not wanted to start we have had it taking to three auto repair places and no can find out why. It has a new crate motor and the fuel pump it only seven months old the carb is a brand new holly just got it in Jan of this year. new wires and plugs in Jan. Fuel filter and carb not always getting fuel
If it has a carburetor then it has a mechanical fuel pump.

Disconnect the fuel line at the carburetor and crank the engine. Does fuel spit all over the place?

YES: There is adequate fuel supply. The problem is probably in the carburetor.

NO: Consider the following:

1. Bad fuel pump

2. Supply line collapse or restriction

3. Clogged vents in gas cap

By the way, there should only be one fuel filter. It is located inside the carburetor right where the fuel line connects. There is a housing that contains (usually) a paper element.

Good luck!Fuel filter and carb not always getting fuel
tl;dr



Anyways, basic skimming points to a fuel filler cap. It might be fuel locking and starving the motor of fuel, and then when it dies it comes back a few minutes later cause the air in the line moves back.




How are the fuel tank and pick-up? Lines from tank to filter? I would start there, based upon what I am reading. Filler cap on an 85? that far back ok, sounds good to me. If not move on. Thanks for the info.
only one possible / probable cause for not getting fuel, the filter in the tank or the pump its self, i would drop the tank drain and clean it, there are companies that do this-and have the tank coated on the inside, this really helps bigtime, it will also stop, repair and pinholes that may have been forming, the fuel pump has to be the mail problem, now, with a carb the pump is mechanically driven, it is on the passenger side of the block, since it will run with starting fluid the fuel pressure is the problem, holley makes a nice pump thats mechanical and you can adjust the position of the inlet and return /vent lines, good luck
THE PROBLEM SOUNDS LIKE THE FUEL PUMP, CHECK FOE VOLTAGE AT THE FUEL PUMP WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS, YOU CAN DO THIS WITH A TEST LIGHT FROM KRAGEN OR SOMETHING. IF SO, THEN CHECK AND SEE IF YOU CAN HEAR IT, DO THIS BY TURNING ON THE IGNITION AND LISTEN FOR A LOW HUMMING NOISE. ALSO LOOK AND SEE IF ANY FUEL HOSE OR LINES ARE PINCHED. TELL ME IF IT HELPS.
First does it have a electric fuel pump or a mechanical fuel pump if it has a mechanical fuel pump it could be worn out and leaking gas into the motor and not pumping it into the carb or if it has a electric fuel pump u could have a ground or power issue making the pump shut off now and then due to bumps (pot holes) in the road causing the wires to move and killing the pump so once u run out of the gas thats in the carb the car stalls out
try the crankshaft position sensor,and the throttle position sensor if you have either one of those ,,,,

also it sounds like your TIMING is off ..i don't think it is the timing chain though because you didn't mention a back fire.............i think your spark is hitting after the fuel has been released ....which leads me to think it may be your fuel pump .....i understand that it is about 7 months old but autozone has been having problems with fuel pumps the last few months..also check for a fuel relay for your vehicle......autozone.com has online repair manuals and troubleshooting guides and componet locator guides for many vehicles