Engine dies on the corner

[kilam68]

I have a 1980 2wd Jimmy. 350/350. The engine will idle all day long but when I put it in drive or neutral and step on the gas, it dies.  E can only get to the end of by street. then it dies.  I wait a little while and it starts back up.  I have changeed the fuel pump, fuel filter, distributor, and coil.  Any suggestions?

Thanks

[1984gmchighserria]

check your vacuum lines

[Lt.Del]

next time it dies, check for spark right away.  It'll limit a lot of stuff...fuel, vs. ignition.

do you smell fuel when it cuts off and you immediatley try to turn it back on?

[pontgta]

Could be dirty carb? Would need further info.. Does it do this all the time?

[kilam68]

Happens all of the time.  Somtimes I have to pump the throtle allot while turning the key to get it started. Then it dies again shortly thereafter. 

[youngblood222]

cheack your timeing sounds like to me that you jumped a tooth on your timeing chain this happend to me a few years ago it would start and idle put it in gear it will run tell u give it gas and it will die 

[kilam68]

Signs point to jumping a gear tooth.  How do I fix it?

[Lt.Del]

check your timing to be sure...do you have a timing light?

if confirmed, you'll need a new timing chain.  you can fix it w/ the engine in the truck, but, you'll have to remove the radiator, water pump and the like to get to the timing cover. Remove that and you see the two gears that the chain wraps around, one for the crank, the other for the cam. At TDC there is a dot on both gears next to a tooth on each signifying the gears are meshed correctly. If those dots aren't lined up, it jumped and a new chain is in order because the old chain has too much slack.  

[kilam68]

Yes I have a timing light.  Can I check to see if I'm a tooth off with it?

[Lt.Del]

it'll tell ya if your timing is off.  If the distributor hold down bolt is tight, the timing should be knocked off any unless the belt jumped.

[kilam68]

Well I just found time to check the timing chain last weekend to no avail.  The timing chain was not off.  I have a buddy rebuilding my carburetor and I will see what happens then.  Any other suggestions you might have would be great.

[DnStClr]

Hopefully the rebuilt carb will fix it. With a new gasket you will eliminate the possibility of a vacuum leak under the carb too. Make a good check of all your vacuum lines like 1984gmchighserria said.

[ohio hab]

Could be a weak fuel pump, or obstruction or dirty sock on the pickup in the fuel tank. Sounds to me under a load, not ideling, running out of gas. Ken

[jeff0547]

I agree with ohio hab, my van does the same thing when the fuel tank is less than 1/4 full. I think that the line into the tank may have deteriorated. My solution is to keep more fuel in the tank. Hope this helps.

[VileZambonie]

Kinked fuel line would cause your problem.