Carter BBD spewing gas straight up into the hood

[hatersaurusrex]

Took the 84 out for a spin over the weekend, smelled gas really strong and noticed condensation on the hood. Stalled a couple times too.

Got home and gas was running down the left fender. Popped the hood and gas had sprayed up out of the carb area. What does this typically mean with a carter carb, other than 'time to rebuild'. Is there a temporary fix so I can drive it to the shop (have no garage)

What should I check, etc? It's a stock AMC 258 i6 / 4.2l with the Carter and half the emissions stuff hacked away.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[rr41mag]

Where is your air filter? Do you know where it's coming from? Crank it and look at it while it's running that would help. Its a real easy carb to rebuild

 

[hatersaurusrex]

The air filter is aftermarket, one of the little 5 or 6" pie plate types. I think the fuel is coming up from behind it or possibly to the driver's side a bit, maybe at an angle but couldn't really tell without doing as you suggested and cranking it over while watching it. In order to do that I'll need help. My wife's legs aren't long enough to push the clutch all the way down

 

[Torxhead]

My first guess would be a fuel line leak, good reason to carry a fire extinguiser.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

I was thinking stuck open float some how but after hearing it has a filter in in Id second the fuel line being bad... Or one of the 3 rubber hose that connect the fuel filter to the carb/main line/return line are bad. Or or maybe a pin hole in you filter.

 

[hatersaurusrex]

Yeah when I got home and heard gas sizzling as it dripped onto the manifold I realize how lucky I was. I'm thinking fuel line too... gonna check tomorrow. Thanks guys.

 

[hatersaurusrex]

Got out and looked it over today and I feel silly - wasn't the carb at all. The fuel filter has two outputs, one to the carb and the other was capped.

The rubber cap had dry rotted and finally gave way spewing the gas, which was really obvious once I looked at it good. 2 dollars at O'Reilly and I was able to drive it up and down the beach today with no further issues. The carter still needs a replace/rebuild but I can eek it out for a while longer until my garage is ready.

Thanks guys.

 

[Torxhead]

That other outlet on the fuel filter was the return line. It is an excess pressure outlet and there should be a hose from there to the fuel tank. It was designed to help prevent vapor lock. Sometimes guys get rid of that setup and go to a conventional fuel filter, and probably have no effects from it.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

I would hook it back up. I would also look to see where the return line has gone. Hopefully the po didn't just leave it in capped. I thought it was to keep the pump from over pressurizing the lines and pushing more fuel I to the carb causing it to surge and run bad. It can be replaced for about $15. I used a peice of 1/4" by 6' long brake line to make a hard line from the tank cross member to the engine compartment then two 2' sections of hose to get it to the tank nipple and filter outlet. From what I hear it used to regulate the pressure by check ball on the inside of the filter.. Once the pressure gets high enough it opens allowing the excess fuel to be returned.. If you do replace it make sure the return nipple is the highest part of the filter.

 

[hatersaurusrex]

I would hook it back up. I would also look to see where the return line has gone. Hopefully the po didn't just leave it in capped. I thought it was to keep the pump from over pressurizing the lines and pushing more fuel I to the carb causing it to surge and run bad. It can be replaced for about $15. I used a peice of 1/4" by 6' long brake line to make a hard line from the tank cross member to the engine compartment then two 2' sections of hose to get it to the tank nipple and filter outlet. From what I hear it used to regulate the pressure by check ball on the inside of the filter.. Once the pressure gets high enough it opens allowing the excess fuel to be returned.. If you do replace it make sure the return nipple is the highest part of the filter.

Hooked up the return line this weekend (was still there, ziptied to the power steering line) as well as replace some dry rotted lines/caps. Much smoother accel now and less shaking at the low end under load. I didn't think to flip the filter over but it seems to run fine just like it is and isn't leaking gas that I can tell. The line from the return down to the steel fuel line going back to the tank was in good shape so it was plug and play.