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I'm sure you've all been there, but I thought I'd share my latest trials and tribulations and maybe you'll get a chuckle. I just rebuilt the carburetor yesterday (thanks to a rebuild kit from John at MWM). I put it all back together, primed it, painted it, and put it back on the truck. Squirted a little starter fluid down the air cleaner throat and she started right up! Cool! Let it idle for several minutes, checked idle speed, pumped the accelerator and the engine didn't falter (OK, the rebuild worked!), started and stopped the engine several times, all OK. Let's go for a drive. I get two miles from home and she quits! Can't get it started again! No fuel getting to the carb. I was looking for that dang manual that has the section about setting it on fire to keep the enemy from using it! Luckily I had no gas can or matches so I cooled off a little. A friend helped me tow it home, and after some fish tacos and a few cocktails I was calm again.

Long story short, I pulled the fuel tank cover only to find a huge glob of silicone sucked up the fuel inlet! Why isn't my fuel filter in place inside the tank you ask? Well, that's whole other story. Anyway, I pull out the glob and save it, you know, kinda like saving a bullet that you've been shot with but lived to tell about. When I pulled it out, it was the size of a small sausage, today after it dried out it was about the size of a piece of angel hair pasta! So I start to put it all back together, but the fuel line fitting at the tank is slightly stripped, so I can't get a tight seal. She's suckin' air and won't start. I go to my local NAPA, get some fittings to temporarily fix it up and get a tight seal, and she starts right up! Drove it all around the valley running really great, what a great feeling! I'm happy again!

BTW, if yer thinking about rebuilding your carb, go for it! I'm NOT a mechanic, and before I bought my M37 I hadn't worked on a vehicle for 20 years (no desire to work on modern cars). But I'm kinda smart and I'm usually pretty careful and it all went well. Make sure you get the carb manual though!

I love working on the truck rebuilding stuff or doing normal maintenance stuff, it sure is a lot of fun. But when I'm stuck by the side of the road, away from home, with limited resources, with a problem I can't figure out, it's FRUSTRATING! But every problem gets filed away in my little brain for future reference and I sure do like learning about the truck. And let me say that this forum has been a HUGE help with issues, all the experience here is invaluable! Thanks guys!

P.S., The in-tank fuel filter is back in place.

Greg,

Glad to hear you are back up and running.
I understand the frustration entirley. There were several points where I wanted to torch my project. Perserverance pays off although it may not always be an easy path with these 50 + year old rigs. That glob of silicone sounds more like a silicone fuel tank leech

Yep, I've been there...More than once, I've wanted to throw in the towel and park the bitch in the yard with a "For Sale" on it. Just gotta walk away, and maybe go to another hobby for a short while to cool off and let the interest build again. Thats how I cope with it. In fact I've been getting antsy to hit the rifle range again. Been thinking too much of the truck lately and need a break.

Yes, old cars and trucks are a test of patience. I've spent many a sleepless night troubleshooting old Fords, only to find the problem was something simple but unexpected.

I have like 30 hobbies so I bounce around a lot, depending on the season. Right now it's trucks and shooting.

OHHH man I can relate to being stuck, glad you didn't have any matches. In the end it's just part of the whole hobby of owning old iron. Next time she's runnin' great and someone gives you a thumbs up or stops you in the market parking lot to admire your iron vet it will all be worth it.

There are a number of forum posts dealing with fuel issues-mine included. Glad you didn't blow it in place!
Gary