Stalling issue

[85NESplayer]

Hey guys, what’s up! I’m 85NESplayer, and I have been a lurker here on these forums for a few months, and have been learning a few things around here, but I haven’t posted anything yet until now.

So here is my problem: I have a 1960 VW Beetle with a 1970 1600cc (?) engine in it, and it has been running quite well until I decided to mess around with it. I decided to change the fuel hoses and took off the fuel pump and carburetor in the process. I noticed that the choke butterfly valve was bent, so I removed the top half of the carb, straightened the valve up, and put the carb back together. I re-install the carb and fuel pump (with new gaskets), hooked up the fuel lines with a new filter, and drove it around the block.

The bug made it halfway around the block when it decided to die out. The car refused to start up, and I end up pushing it back to my driveway. I had a similar issue not too long ago, and replacing the fuel pump cured the problem then. So, I exchanged the fuel pump (despite the fact that the old one was just purchased four months ago!), and installed the new one.

No luck! The issue still persists, and I am not sure what to do now. The car started up fine today, and I was able to drive it up and down the street before it started to die out again. The engine then seemed to be running rough at idle (as if it was not getting enough power, and it had a tendency to stall) and died right before I reached the driveway. Any suggestions?

Thank you.

[VW_Jimbo]

You need to verify the choke is opening up. It sounds like it may be staying shut.

Did you reconnect the wire from it to the "15" side of the coil. That would be the hot side, where power comes in from the ignition switch.

Thats my first thought. Good luck!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[85NESplayer]

Yes, the choke does open up and all the cables are where they should be.

[VW_Jimbo]

Disclaimer: This assumes you have compression, since the engine does run.

You need to figure out what path to chase fuel or spark. So, go for a drive. When it dies, get out, take a can of starting fluid and spray some down the throat of the carb. Now go try and start it up. If it starts up, you have a lack of fuel. If it does not start up, you have fuel but no spark.

So, pull a plug wire and insert a new spark plug. Secure the body of the spark plug to the case and have a helper (your passenger) try and crank the car. You should be watching for a spark to jump across the spark plug gap. If it does, you have spark. If not, you do not have spark. You need to find out why.
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Igpoe]

Did you buy or order a fuel pump to work on a '60 model or a 70 model? The one is driven by a 108mm steel rod and the other from a 100mm rod. Hence, if your rod is too short it wont be pumping nearly enough fuel. About a half a normal city block is what the capacity of the float bowl would take you without fuel pump help!
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'73 super.

[85NESplayer]

[AirHead1966]

I would start by cleaning and then re cleaning the carb. Seems to me, since you were able to start it with starting fluid, and that your troubles started with messing with the carb, that you have some gunk in the carb that is blocking the fuel.

Clean the carb, clean it again, change all the gaskets and try again. May need to adjust the carb as well once you get it running.

[VW_Jimbo]

You should go for another drive and check the fuel pump output after it stalls. Let’s see if it is the carb or the pump!
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[goober]

Don't forget, the gas tank has to vent.

[Michael Ambrozik]

is the fuel filter installed correctly.

[Igpoe]

Since we imagine some things incorrectly, could we get a photograph of your engine compartment?
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'73 super.

[Starbucket]

What size hoses did you buy? If they just slip on you are probably sucking air and not gas from the tank, you can remove the hose to the carb and put it in a bottle and have someone crank the motor and watch for a good stream of gas.

[VW_Jimbo]

[85NESplayer]

[Starbucket]

Did you replace the hose under the gas tank? The tank pick-up or that small piece of hose might be clogged with sediment preventing the flow or restricting it to a dribble, remove the hose to the fuel pump from the tank and blow in it and with gas cap removed have a helper listen for bubbles. Your problem sounds like gas starvation probably why you changed the fuel pump in the first place.

[85NESplayer]

Here are two pictures from the engine bay of my Bug...

[Igpoe]

Looking closely I can see the intake heat risers aren't connected to the exhaust. I dont know what part of CA this bug is operated in, but the atomised fuel charge is likely falling out of suspension soon after passing the butterfly. It's not gonna run well as far north as San Francisco for sure as that air filter isn't getting heated air from the original collector either. Whatever happened to stock parts? Are they illegal in CA?
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'73 super.

[VW_Jimbo]

From experience, anytime I see a loose metal fuel line resting on the cylinder tin, I think, “Vapor lock!”.

Try attaching the fuel line as designed. It was secured to the fan shroud retaining bolt on the left hand side of the shroud. This maintains a nice air space around the metallic supply tubing, which keeps the fuel from turning to vapor when the engine reaches normal operating temperature.
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[goober]

There it is right there. It's your grungy air filter.

[Igpoe]

On a more positive note, I'm thinking this motor at this point is a perfect candidate for a conversion to dual one barrels! Plenty of room and they wouldn't need the chokes or pre-heat
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'73 super.