1980 C30 running rough solved!

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Ewhitaker0020

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I posted a while back about my father I laws 1980 C30 truck and how it died on him and we couldn't get it to run. It turns out that the carb was full of rust powder. I'm not really sure how because he just replaced the in line fuel filter that is just before the fuel pump and I just rebuilt the Edelbrock carb so I know it was completely clean.

The new fuel filter had some rust in it, but not as much as the carb. Could all this rust have came from the fuel pump or the short metal line from the fuel pump to the carb?

To fix the problem I took the carb back apart and cleaned it completely out again. Then I added a second fuel filter (temporarily) just before the carb to catch anything that either gets past the first fuel filter or that comes from the pump or metal line itself.

Can rust make it past these fuel filters? It's just the cheapo 3/8" barbed plastic fuel filter with the orange paper medium. It cost like $4 from the parts house.

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AuroraGirl

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I posted a while back about my father I laws 1980 C30 truck and how it died on him and we couldn't get it to run. It turns out that the carb was full of rust powder. I'm not really sure how because he just replaced the in line fuel filter that is just before the fuel pump and I just rebuilt the Edelbrock carb so I know it was completely clean.

The new fuel filter had some rust in it, but not as much as the carb. Could all this rust have came from the fuel pump or the short metal line from the fuel pump to the carb?

To fix the problem I took the carb back apart and cleaned it completely out again. Then I added a second fuel filter (temporarily) just before the carb to catch anything that either gets past the first fuel filter or that comes from the pump or metal line itself.

Can rust make it past these fuel filters? It's just the cheapo 3/8" barbed plastic fuel filter with the orange paper medium. It cost like $4 from the parts house.

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I could vert well see the interior medium ripping and letting powder and debris past it.
They are very cheap.
for good reason
 

wanderinthru

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Not sure of the quantity of "full" If it were more rust than could have been inside the pump and metal line then It would lead one to believe the filter is busted as @AuroraGirl said. Person may want to get a better quality, metal housed fine filter, as a permanent fixture before the carb. Get 2 or 3 so there is an extra in the glove box/ behind the seat for when it clogs on the road....
 

1987 GMC Jimmy

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E10 will very much rust the inside of the fuel tank and the sender. I think the metal lines are a tad more resilient, but I don’t see it being impossible for rust powder to make it all the way up there.
 

Ewhitaker0020

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E10 will very much rust the inside of the fuel tank and the sender. I think the metal lines are a tad more resilient, but I don’t see it being impossible for rust powder to make it all the way up there.
So you think a look inside the gas tank would be a good thing to do?

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1987 GMC Jimmy

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So you think a look inside the gas tank would be a good thing to do?

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It wouldn’t hurt. It’s an unbaffled tank so if you have to clean it out, all you have to do is fill it with CLR and swish it out. I don’t know if people on here have used rocks, but old timers do that on tractors.
 

Ricko1966

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Put a filter between the fuel pump and carb.If you had a qjet on there that filter would be there already.But put a filter there and change it regularly for a few weeks see if it doesn't clear up.Ethanol in the fuel will not cause rust issues ethanol mixes with water, water and and ethanol mix with gasoline so you don't have a layer of water sitting in the bottom of the tank rusting it out.Thats what heet fuel treatment is, alcohol to keep the water from separating and freezing in winter.You'll get more rust and moisture problems from running a vented cap than you will from ethanol.
 
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