VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1949-1954 AC style glass bowl fuel filter

Started out on a 100 mile plus cruise today in the '51 Deluxe.Got 35 miles into it and I could feel the engine starting to starve for fuel. Pulled into a parking lot opened the hood and the fuel level in the filter bowl is below the filter in the glass bowl, however the car is still idling fine. I nursed it back home , pulled the filter assembly off, filled it to the top with an oil can filled with fuel, and took it out for a romp. Pulled back in the garage and checked it again, and the fuel level is halfway down the filter.
Ever since I installed this setup with a new plastic tank (from NCA), new fuel pump, cleaned out the line to the tank, replaced the line from the pump to the filter, (filter is mounted in front of carb), the glass bowl is never full. It seems to me that the bowl should stay full. I'm thinking the fuel is bypassing the filter somehow, and going directly to the carb. Any thoughts? HAs anyone had trouble with these plastic tanks?
Tried to order a steel tank but they were on back order everywhere (probably on the slow boat from taiwan!)

I have a fuel filter on my '68 GMC pickup that I installed about 30 years ago. On hot days and after a run the filter is never full or when idling after being driven. I can see the gas going through the filter when the engine is running but the filter is usually almost empty. The truck runs great at all speeds and the carburetor never runs out of fuel. On cold days the fuel filter is at least half full most of the time.

About a year ago I bought the tank for my '50 here....

http://www.cylex.ca/company/antique-chevrolet-parts-12180992.html

They had it in stock, and told me they don't sell many. Might be worth a try...

Thanks Brewster I will call them Monday. Thank you also Junkyard Dog, I guess what I have a hard time understanding, is when I use an oil squirt can to fill the fuel bowl off the car, the bowl needs to be full of fuel before fuel starts coming out of the "out" port

Sounds like you have some type of restriction in your plastic gas tank or you have a weak fuel pump. The fuel bowl on the fuel filter does not have to be full for the gas to go into the carburetor because the gas is under pressure. You might want to check the output of your fuel pump to see how much gas is going to the carburetor.

I saw my glass bowl "full" the other day and it worried me...in all my years I don't ever recall seeing it more than 3/4 full...I also had that "losing" power feeling on long hill's and at higher speeds...it was a fuel pick-up tube restriction in the tank...E-bay has fuel tanks ( steel ) to your door for $200....3 to 4 lbs. pressure @ the fuel pump works for me...

The filter bowl is generally 1/2 to 3/4 full. Can be to the north or south of that and be completely normal.

Drained the fuel tank today found nothing, (other than the fact the gasket between the tank and filler neck assembly leaks like a siv). Drove the car about 15 miles, same thing. Pulled off the brand new fuel pump, VOILA! another done solved mystery, Junk fuel pump.