Posted on 05/15/2020 3:11:12 PM PDT by nickcarraway
“The ball would cut off the fuel line,”
I am not sure how this works ...
In the summer of 1966 I fell in love with the whole Ferrari, Lamborghini, Jaguar XKE fastback look but couldn’t afford anything like that. So I polished up my ‘59 Impala and traded for a 1965 Mustang 2+2 with a 289/225 V-8 with a 4 speed and the crappiest shifter I’ve ever encountered. Drove it to college for 2 years before entering the USAF. While in Korea for a year Dad drove it occasionally to keep the battery up. Upon my return I got married and we drove it down Hwy 1 from San Francisco before heading to my next duty station Las Vegas. Blew the heater core and the water pump bypass hose on the way but arrived safe. Got the drag racing bug in Vegas and modified my car to run low 14’s before the heads and limited displacement became prohibitive. Loved that car but moved on to a 1969 SS396 Camaro.
I think if you wanted the small block 4V you got a 302.
But pretty sure the 289 was still available in ‘68 with the 2 barrel carb.
That’s what I was thinking. Even a poor mechanic should see what’s going on.
Yeah, anyone working on these cars would use your checklist.
As you said, fishy story.
“Yeah, anyone working on these cars would use your checklist.”
I got. it from my father. Not sure where he got it.
I and my friends always used those two things first.
Just pump the carburetor to check for gas, Move the rod from the foot feed and some gas should spray out into the carb from the acceleration pump. That was the easy one that only took a minute or so, and makes the story very suspicious.
Spark was a little more complicated, and sometimes involved a good shock for the guys most closely involved!
“Spark was a little more complicated, and sometimes involved a good shock for the guys most closely involved!”
Pull the plug wire and position Screwdriver.
Yes, if things go right it’s a piece of cake.
Otherwise............ Hehe.
The 302 came out mid year 1968.
The fuel pump draws a suction from the gas tank. As the level of fuel in the tank is decreased the suction becomes strong enough to draw the ping pong ball to the fuel line. When that occurs the flow of fuel is interrupted and the engine dies. As soon as the fuel pump stops, the suction is also stopped and the ball is released. Fuel then can be again drawn into the fuel line. It only works when you are very low on fuel, which happens a lot when you’re 17, or so.
A good story, but not possible in a stock configuration ‘55 Chevy. The fuel pickup has a sock screen on the end. It would be impossible for a ping pong ball to obstruct the line.
(disclaimer: I own several 55-57 Chevys)
When I enlisted in 71, volunteered for Vietnam but got sent to Kunsan Korea (!), I returned in 73 and my father had sold my 65 Barracuda to the local Jesuit “worker” priest for $500. I just laughed (loved my Dad) and went out and bought me a 67 Chevelle SS 396. Wish I had both right now. :)
Wow. Thanks for that info. I got the story from the guy that bought the car. I just always believed him and have told that story more than once over the years. The car was hardly stock but I seriously doubt that the fuel line would have been changed. Now I will have to stop telling the story.
Incorrect. The 289 and the 302 are physically the same on the outside. The bolt pattern for the exhaust is the same. Both are interchangeable as well as the 351W. I've even swapped a 351C into a 289/302 engine bay without problem.
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