Bronco Repair and Service in San Francisco? Possible fuel pump issue

[mangelope]

Hello Bronc-sters,

I recently moved my Bronco back to Nor Cal from So Cal and back in Venice Beach I had a fantastic Bronco service repair place ASC Bronco, Jimmy, they are honest, fair priced and do fantastic work. Does such a thing exist in San Francisco? Don't even need a full on Bronco specialist, simply someone with the right knowledge to keep my '68 Bronco 289 purring like a tiger while I work like crazy to keep life and finances afloat in this mad world we live in.

Recently been having some starting issues that I'm guessing relates to the fuel pump as the starter works and cranks when I turn the key but can't get the engine to fully start, there is gas in both tanks. Car is on a steep hill and thought perhaps gravity is making it hard for the fuel pump to do it's job, tricky to get the car on level ground with out the engine running so may enlist AAA. Probably not the best idea but in desperation I took off the air filter and poured a little gas directly into the carburetor which usually make the engine fire right up when in dire straights, this time it didn't work.

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions and service shop recommendations, this forum rocks!

Michael

[70 Steed]

Re: Bronco Repair and Service in San Francisco? Possible fuel pump issue

Welcome to NorCal Broncos. I can't help you with a mechanic in SF but I'm sure some of our South Bay or East Bay members will chime in. If pouring a little gas in the carb didn't help with your starting issue I don't think it's a fuel pump issue.

[welndmn]

Re: Bronco Repair and Service in San Francisco? Possible fuel pump issue

C&H auto in the Mission is a great place, many of my friends with old cars who dwell in the city go there.
If you’re ever out in the East Bay, I’m happy to look at it.

[mangelope]

Re: Bronco Repair and Service in San Francisco? Possible fuel pump issue

Wow so grateful for the quick responses...

So I learned a lot today and even though I have a very new fuel pump and fuel filter I'm guessing these factors made it tough for the fuel pump to do it's job:

- Have not been driving the Bronco a lot filter may be a little gummy inside
- Gas tank was a bit low so harder to create a vacuum
- I was parked on a steep hill all night and it was relatively cold

The brain twister was why pouring gas in didn't do the trick per usual? I did finally get it running and gas flowing by pouring gas in carb, some creative throttle manipulation and flipping to reserve tank but once I drove for a while she died again! I finally discovered the pin that attaches the choke cable to the carburetor leaf lever had fallen out and gravity was flipping the leaf into choke position, ugh makes sense.

Clearly your kind offers are going to come in handy and I'm going to start by reaching out to C&H. Many thanks again everyone, this forum is fantastic.

Michael

[DirtDonk]

Re: Bronco Repair and Service in San Francisco? Possible fuel pump issue

New fuel pumps can also be the bane of our existence. As can other parts, but fuel pumps are particularly finicky these days.
AS we've found out in recent years new parts are not always as good as the older ones were. A fuel pump that does not work that often but then sits for extended periods can do two things. It can become "un-primed" if that's a term. Takes a lot longer to get it to start sucking again. And at cranking speeds, it's not always easy.
The other thing is they deteriorate with modern fuels very quickly. Not always of course, so they keep us guessing.

In your case it sounds like yours is still in good shape and doing what it's supposed to. But keep these thoughts in the back of your mind in case you start running into trouble again in the future.
Good luck!

Paul

[DirtDonk]

Re: Bronco Repair and Service in San Francisco? Possible fuel pump issue

Oh, and if you have to pour gas into the carb again sometime, try filling the float bowls (through the open vents) instead of throwing it down the throat of the carb.
This lets the carb meter the fuel properly and it will run for a longer time than if you just drip or pour it into the throat.

You can still dump it right in of course, and it might fire right up usually. But sometimes it's easy to get too much gas in the carb and flood it instead. Letting it meter it's own fuel from the bowl(s) is a better way to avoid that.
Maybe it's harder depending on what type of container you're using, but if you can, try it.

Paul

[mangelope]

Re: Bronco Repair and Service in San Francisco? Possible fuel pump issue

Wow these tips are so helpful, I'm so grateful.

I don't have access to the Bronco right now but will try and figure out the carburetor vent access as to not flood these engine, here's some pics I have of the carburetor. As you can see I need a new choke cable mount, likely the whole assembly plus a new pin to keep the choke lever connected, right now it's a paperclip after discovering the missing pin. Hopefully the group is not too horrified by this short term solution, I just needed to get it back to the garage.

You are all amazing thank you!

Michael

[DirtDonk]

Re: Bronco Repair and Service in San Francisco? Possible fuel pump issue

Horrified? Not on your life!
We're all about clever short term solutions. But around here, they're only short-term, or as we say "temporary" unless they work!

Whether original or not, looks like a stock-ish carburetor at least. The matching round towers just in front of the choke plate/primary venturii are the bowl vents. Single bowl, two vents. You can put gas down either of them to get the job done.

I notice too that your center stud for the air cleaner is not original. On the factory style carburetors that stud is also one of the carb top retaining bolts. Might want to get a replacement for best results.
In other words, what you have will probably work fine, but it's not optimal. The type you need actually has a hex flange in the center so you can put a wrench or socket on it. Holds the air cleaner, but also clamps down on the top of the carb.

Thinking about it more though, you may have an issue. The threads inside the carb body are different (coarser maybe?) than the threads that hold the air cleaner down. So it only goes one way.
If the previous owner installed this stud the way it looks, they may have buggered the threads, if they weren't already. Maybe that's why it was changed in the first place, but more likely they just didn't realize and threaded it in anyway.

Paul

[DirtDonk]

Re: Bronco Repair and Service in San Francisco? Possible fuel pump issue

The choke mechanism is a little new to me too. Ford stopped using them in about '69-ish I want to say(?) and I have not see too many factory manual chokes. All the ones I messed with looked a little bit different than yours.
Could be all correct and I just can't tell.

Paul

[grock72]

Re: Bronco Repair and Service in San Francisco? Possible fuel pump issue

Try "R Mustang's" on Bryant st.Its near the corner of 10th & Bryant.The owner has a couple of nice Broncos of his own.
I often see him in his yellow stocker.Good Luck!

[mangelope]

Re: Bronco Repair and Service in San Francisco? Possible fuel pump issue

Thank you everyone.

Damn your good DIRTDONK! Yeah the stud that holds the air filter in place sucks as it spins and spins does not really lock into the carburetor, nice catch. I put a washer on it now so it doesn't vibrate off and yeah the choke is old school for sure. Thanks for explaining that those towers are the bowl vents I'll grab a funnel and try your method should I need to again. Really appreciate the guidance!

GROCK appreciate the "R Mustangs reference on Bryant, so great to have options and I'm already feeling some stress go away now that there are pros in SF to turn to and of course this amazing forum thank you

Ciao

Michael