Just when you think you know a vehicle.........

[Todd Wilson]

Just when you think you know a vehicle something odd pops up. My old 1974 Dodge truck with a 440 over the course of the last 2 years has started to run kinda bad.  I chocked it up to maybe the motor was getting tired. It just wasnt running right.   If it sat a day  or more it would not start without pouring gas down the carb. I had replaced the fuel pump 2 times.  Rebuilt the carb and then opened the carb up again.  Finally it just wouldnt start 2 days ago. Didnt have any fuel to the carb.   Upon looking at fuel lines and tracing back to the tank I found a F'n mess deluxe from the previous owner.   There was a small valve under the drivers seat that I had known about but didnt think it did anything. The truck used to have a camper on it and I assumed it was part of something with the water supply of the camper.   Anyways upon inspection I discovered the fuel line left the top of the tank and ran up the drives side to this valve. Thru the valve and back down the drivers side and up and over the frame and tank and connected to the passenger side fuel line and on u to the engine, Near as I can tell the valve under the seat must of corroded shut.  After removing almost 11-12 feet of fuel line from under the truck and plumbing the fuel line direct from the tank to the passenger side line all was well. Truck fired right up. Ran better then it has in 2+ years.   I have owned this truck for about 11 years and never knew this fuel line was plumbed this way!

[tan top]

   after all  that messing about  , good you got it sorted ,    wonder what the idea was behind that ?? stop it being stolen ??

[Todd Wilson]

  after all  that messing about  , good you got it sorted ,    wonder what the idea was behind that ?? stop it being stolen ??

I have no idea. Thats the only thing I could think is it was a fuel shut off.   There was other wiring from the front to the back and with the camper in the bed I assumed he had some extra's rigged up for the camper. I had seen that stuff under there but didnt think it was hooked up.


todd