Frustrated! Any suggestions?

I guess I could. Is it just as simple as looping the line on the tank and plugging the vacuum line? If so, it can be done.

 

Alright, so it wasn't the gas tank. It wasn't the fuel filter, either. After pondering long hours over this problem I have narrowed it down to the Prestolite distributor which many of the threads already posted have kindly helped me navigate its parts.

So now, I am considering starting with a new cap and rotor. If that doesn't work I'll have it rebuilt.

For now, and before I get into that mess, I simply went through all the wiring and tightened any plugs/screws/bolts that I could find. It turns out, some of them were a bit loose....I wonder how that could have happened? :? Uhhh, maybe I should have done that first? Lesson learned.

So I took her out for a test drive and added some suspension parts and it seems to be running fine. Thank you for all your suggestions!

 

Jason, did you check to make sure the gas tank is venting correctly and not creating a vacuum inside the tank. This would cause the fuel pump to starve and for it to die. You can check if it is fuel related buy going and getting some fuel hose and clear cheap filter of your choice and replacing the line from fuel pump to carb and make it long to see it on the dash as you are driving and watch for it to give out of fuel. If you do not empty the clear filter your problem is elsewhere.

 

Jason,
I wouldn't eliminate the gas tank problem just yet...unless you've replaced it. Attach a small weight (a nut or something, so it will pull the hose to the bottom of your tank..I slipped a 3/8 hose through a 1/2 nut ) to a siphon hose, insert it in your tank and do your best to get it all the way in and to the bottom. Siphon off a couple of quarts of gas into a clear container. Let the stuff settle for a few minutes and you can definitely tell if you have water or other crud in the tank. If you do keep siphoning until you get it all out. I've done this successfully on old vehicles in the past. This won't eliminate corrosion on the interior of the tank from contaminating the fuel but it will tell you what's on the bottom of the tank.
Dave

 

Intermittent dying of the motor is a common symptom of a faulty electronic ignition module. Might be you are looking in the wrong place.

 

I was going to suggest looking to electrics, I have heard that a faulty coil will cut out when hot, let it cool a little and drive away. Worth checking, always try the easy/simple stuff first and work it down from there!

My .02 worth!

Dale

 

I haven't read all the posts here closely, so if I repeat something, sorry...

Look in the carb float bowl for crud. If you're pulling up a lot of sediment from the tank, it will sit in the bottom of the float bowl.

A broken LCV would not make your Jeep not run - it would only vent the tank to the atmosphere nad maybe spill a little liquid fuel.

If you have the Prestolite ignition, stock for 1976, I would seriously consider ditching it for a Duraspark (OEM '78 and later Jeep) or an aftermarket GM HEI distributor. The Duraspark can be swapped in using junkyard parts (look for a Wagoneer)... very cheap with some research. The HEI is a one-wire system, and people like them because the setup is very simple and they are arguably the most reliable electronic ignition available. Not foolproof, but way more reliable than the Prestolite stuff, and the parts are Chevy-cheap.

If you want to keep the Prestolite ignition, I'd advise you buy another module just to have a spare. These modules are well known for mysteriously quitting. You stop by the side of the road, walk around the Jeep, open the hood, close the hood, turn the key and drive off. Very typical failure mode.

hth!

 

I can't speak too much to your fuel troubles.
I had a similiar problem but mine turned out to be a collapsing fuel line the PO had installed, hmm vacuum hose doesn't make good fuel line.

A comment on your electrical.
I gutted my old distributor and installed the Pertronix Hall Effect ignition (Pertronix Ignitor). She runs real smooth now. I would highly recommend this upgrade.
Good Luck!