I normally need a little starting fluid when starting cold but after letting it warm up it runs fine. I can rev it up time after time and it does great. If I try to take it for a spin, it might go 500 feet it might go a mile but then shuts down like it ran of gas. Does anyone have any advice?
From what you are describing it sounds like a fuel delivery issue. Start by performing a fuel pressure and volume test. According to the
service manual, the fuel pump pressure specification is 4.0 to 5.0 psi at 900 rpm and the volume specification is 1 pint in less than 45 seconds at 900 rpm.
Your car has two "filters" which attempt to remove debris from your fuel before it enters your
carburetor. The first filter is the one in the glass bowl located in the fuel line as it makes its way from the fuel pump to the
carburetor. The second "filter" is the one that is most often overlooked and forgotten. If you have changed your fuel filter recently, yet your car still suffers from poor acceleration, your problem may be a clogged fuel screen. This screen is located behind the brass fitting which connects your fuel line to the
carburetor.
To clean your fuel screen, you first must remove the fuel line from the brass fitting. On 1955 and 1956 Thunderbird's the fuel line should go to the back of the
carburetor. Once the fuel line has been removed, unscrew the brass fitting from the body of the
carburetor. There will be a gasket attached to the brass fitting. This gasket must be reinstalled behind the brass fitting, or your car will be leaking fuel. Inside the brass fitting will be a wire screen. This is your fuel screen. You can tap it out of the brass housing. Inspect the screen for sediment buildup. Your screen can be cleaned with
carburetor cleaner. If your screen is bent or missing, you will need to order a replacement screen. Once your screen has been cleaned or replaced, reinstall the fuel screen back inside the brass housing. Reattach the brass housing to the
carburetor. Do not forget to reinstall the gasket. Once you have installed the brass housing reconnect the fuel line. If your screen was clogged, you should notice a definite improvement in your car's performance.
As far as the
fuel tank venting, the gas cap on your T-Bird must be vented to allow air to enter the tank. If air cannot get into the tank a vacuum will be created which can stop the flow of fuel to your engine. To vent the
fuel tank, the 1955 and 1956 gas caps have a rib stamped into the surface which allows air to enter from the outside edge of the cap to the center.
The problem with the gas cap is that sometimes the inside diameter of the gasket was so small that it prevents the venting process. The problem can be easily repaired by removing the gasket from the gas cap and increasing the inside diameter of the gasket by cutting it with a razor blade.
doug7740
1955 Thunderbird Blue
