Runs for about a mile and acts like it runs out of gas

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danmyr

New member
I have 1970 Scout 800a, 4 cyl 196, 4wd, 3spd, holly dist, mechanical fuel pump. The Scout was parked for about a year beforfe I bought it, I primed it a few times and it appeared to run fine. Suddenly it started dying out after it warmed up and at higher rpm or under load. I changed the fuel filter, and dumped the bowl on the bottom of the fuel pump. I had to prime it again 3 or 4 times to get it to run, but the problem persists. If I pour some gas in the carb, it starts and runs again for a little bit. It idles fine. Could it be the fuel pump? What else could it be? Any suggestions?

One other item, I did replace plugs, wires and distributor cap just prior to this starting to happen, but I don't see how this could relate.
 
I would start at the tank, clean it out, check the fuel sock if it has one. Look for cracked rubber lines, rebuild the carb, the pump May be weak.

Theres lots of things it could be.
 
I agree. I had a 65 mustang that would do something similar. Ended up that the gas tank was rusted on the inside and the "sock" inside the tank would clog up with the rust bits and the engine would die. Replaced the tank and all was well.
 
Any vehicle, and 30 to 50 year old scouts in particular, that have been parked for an extended period of time will have fuel system issues.
Fuel goes bad in a few months and certainly over a period of one year it has turned to varnish, sludge or whatever and is not fuel anymore.
Also, "parked one year" from the po is probably an understatement.

You will need to pull the fuel tank(s) and clean them internally, remove the fuel pickup, sender, etc. Flush the fuel lines out, replace all rubber fuel lines with new rubber fuel hose, replace the fuel filter, rebuild the carburator, and possibly replace the fuel pump.

It is best to just bite the bullet and do it all at once, instead of doing it piece by piece and contaminating the clean parts with the dirty parts by cleaning the carb, for example, then running it on the contaminated system.

After you get all this done, and the Scout is running and driving, there is a good chance you will need to repeat this process, only on the brake system As it tends to have similar issues after being in a state of non-use.
 
Thanks for the excellent advice. I'll pull the works and start cleaning - any recommendation on what to use to clean the inside of the tanks?
 
Muratiac acid, properly diluted and a 12" length of 3/8" chain. Mix acid, add acid and chain, close all openings, agitate until clean, drain acid, remove chain, flush interior, clean exterior, paint exterior to your liking, refurbish float & sending unit, refurbish pick-up tube, reinstall pick-up tube and sending unit, test sending unit, reinstall tank, fill with fuel, check for leaks, enjoy.
 
Droppped the tank, pulled the fuel line and the sock was completely gunked up. Cleaned the tank as recommended, cleaned out the line, replced the sock and the inline filter and runs like a top. Thanks for the excellent advice.
 
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