Technical 1954 Buick Century sputtering

I was out for a nice cruise in My '54 Century today. I had to stop for air in one tire, and as I took off to drive home, when I pressed down on the gas it would sputter. If I held at part throttle it would run perfect. I let it set a couple hours and took it out again, ran perfect with no sputtering.

All ignition components are new(except for ballast resistor) Ignition timing is 7 degrees BTDC. Carb was cleaned and reconditioned. Fuel pump pressure is within spec. fuel filter and glass bowl is clean, gas is clear. Engine compression is perfectly fine. What am I looking at here?

 

It was pretty hot today. It might have just been a little warm.

 

That could be, as it did it when I drove it this past Tuesday, and it was very hot then too. Drove it last Sat about 9 am, and it never missed a beat.

 

I'd start with a dose of premium carb cleaner that makes water absorbing claims. If that didn't work after 20 miles or so, I'd be peeking into the carb bowl, and catching a 2 inch sample of the gasoline that is being delivered to the carb in a clean pyrex cup

 

Accelerator pump? New gas kills stuff like that.

 

I agree with Belair. My 56 buick wagons 322 motor could be fickeled at times. Recheck your fuel filter. I went thru a ton of the see thrus ones before I finally broke down and cleaned the gas tank. Good luck with her. Bruce.

 

Gas tank was flushed by previous owner, gas in the clear bowl behind carb looks clear. I took it out on another drive this morning, and about 2 miles from home it started sputtering as I was driving. I immediately flipped a U turn and hightailed home. Could not go any faster than 30 mph, when I tried pressing down on the gas it would sputter bad. Got in My garage with it, it idled smooth, and revved up smoothly when I pressed on the gas, with no sputter

 

Could also be a fuel pump going bad. Pumps enough for low speed, not enough for high speed, runs out of gas.

 

Kinda had this thought in the back of My mind, Just started this 2 days ago. I can unhook the line to the carb and see how much it pumps into a jar while cranking

 

Replace the condenser in the distributor.

 

I can do that, although it looked fairly new. I found a new one in a box, in the glove compartment, still in the Standard Blue Streak box

 

Please report back when you find out what fixed it.

 

I will swap it out in the morning, when it's cooler. Sure could be the issue as it doesn't do it until it's warmed up to operating temp

 

Replaced ignition condenser and took for a test drive. Went barely a mile before it had the sputtering fit. Got it back home, and took fuel line loose at carb, then cranked it 15 seconds. It pumped out barely over an ounce of fuel. The gas looked clear

Is a rebuild kit available for these dual action fuel pumps?

 

I think so. When I had my 55, I put a single action on it, I think.

 

Do you have a vented gas cap on it? When you go for a drive and it starts to act up, loosen the gas cap and listen to see if it sucks air into the tank as you loosen it. If it does you need a new vented gas cap.

 

Just went out and looked at the cap, it's an aftermarket one, and after wiping off some road grime, I saw the words "Not Vented" stamped on it. Sure strange why it took so long before this issue started occuring

 

Fuel pump repair kits, if one is needed, may be obtained from Then & Now Automotive. They have a website.

Jon.

 

So does running the car with the gas cap loose fix the problem?

 

Been having off and on rain showers today, and since My wipers are stuck down I can't take it out. I found a correct vented cap at Napa for $6 so will go ahead and buy one tomorrow

 

Picked up the vented gas cap this morning, put it on and then took it for a drive. Did not sputter at all, had it's pep back, I tromped on it and it took right off. Got back home, shut it off, and restarted it immediately, took for another drive . No sputtering whatsoever. Glad it was just a $ 6 part, as opposed to over $50 for a fuel pump kit

 

I have seen gas tanks caved in from putting a non vented cap on when it should have a vented cap. The suction from a fuel pump can be very powerful over a large surface like the bottom of a gas tank.

 

I think I need to get a vented gas cap for my Olds station wagon, ever since I connect the 2 nd line from the fuel tank to the fuel pump {some one didn't replace} there is a big whoosh when I take the gas cap off to get gas. Bruce.

 

I am surprised that this didn't happen to the tank in Mine. Sure a world of difference now with the new cap

 

Well, it started acting up really bad today, went to a friends house, and after about a mile it really sputtered bad, died a couple times while driving. Managed to limp home at about 15 mph, as I couldn't press down on the gas

 

Did you try running without cap after sputtering?

 

Yes, made no change in how it ran. Cap is brand new

 

Is there another tank vent, besides the one in the gas cap? Funny thing is, I drove it late last week, and it never missed a beat, it ran flawlessly