My first question to the group so be kind

I have an 85 GS (12A obviously) that I've owned for about 6 years. The car didn't work for about the last year. It needed quite a few things done to it. It now has a new Holley RB intake and the usual mods that most people on this group have. After putting on the new intake a few days ago, it fired right up. But within 30 miles after having my pride and joy running again, the fuel pressure began dropping. I checked the NEW fuel filter and it was already clogged.

Because I didn't really want to drive it under these circumstances (don't like being stranded or tearing anything up), I thought I might need to clean out the gas tank before driving the car any further... That just isn't an attractive thought at this point.

My alternative solution is to

1) put in a hose from the fuel line straight to the return
2) install a new fuel filter
3) jump the fuel pump relay connector under the dash
4) put a battery charger on and turn the key on

This should do nothing more than pull gas through the filter and back to the tank and I can do it without the car running and not have to worry about the issues listed above. And in about an hour, I should be able to filter through the gas tank 5 or 6 times.

I know this is probably a temporary solution, as the tank is probably going to bite me in the *** later, but I'm not in the mood to do a full cleaning/repairing of it right now. What do y'all think? Will it help me out for a little while?

I also don't think the fuel pump would overheat doing this as long as the fuel is flowing though it, right?

Any other issues that anybody out there can think of with doing this? Am I a moron? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

Starting in 83 there is a drain plug for the tank, i would recommend draining it first, removing the lines from the back and front and blowing compressed air thru them. This will
avoid running excessive crap thru the carb and fuel pump which will not only cause havoc with your needle and seat in the carb but within the pump it'self and is much quicker and
kinder to the fuel pump. rx7doctor

 

Thanks. I didn't know there was a drain plug on the tank. DUH! I did siphon out the tank and put new gas in. I also blew through the lines before I started the car up for the first time. My lungs are still tired from that. But I should probably do it again just to be safe.

I plan on doing this tomorrow sometime. I'll reply with results.

 

No problem. Some other tips if you hav enot allready done. Because the vehcile has not been run in an year. Change coolant and flush system, replacement of t-stat is highly recommended. Inspce all drive belts for cracking, sitting there for that amount of time is
not good for them. Oil and filter need servicing even if you just did them after about 500-1000
miles. the brake fluid needs to be changed, recommend that you purchase sppedy bleeders that go right on the calipers and or wheel cylinders if you have rear drums. They only allow the fluid to pass one one avoiding air entering the system. This allow you to do it yourself
by just pumping the pedal after opening the valves one at a time, no pumping and then closing involved. Change the trans and diff oils also. Inspect all of your hoses and vacuum lines for signs of deterioration. Alittle mmo in the cylinders wont hurt a bit either. Last tip
after straighting out your fuel system, get some redline fuel system cleaner and run it thru
with about a half tank of fuel , this will allow it to clean the rest of the fuel system. You
probably have thought of all this, but since it's the middle of the night and seem to be
suffering from lackasleepness (yeh, check in the dictionary, if not there lets get it added)
LOL, rx7doctor prescribes sleep

 

No problem. Some other tips if you hav enot allready done. Because the vehcile has not been run in an year. Change coolant and flush system, replacement of t-stat is highly recommended. Inspce all drive belts for cracking, sitting there for that amount of time is
not good for them. Oil and filter need servicing even if you just did them after about 500-1000
miles. the brake fluid needs to be changed, recommend that you purchase sppedy bleeders that go right on the calipers and or wheel cylinders if you have rear drums. They only allow the fluid to pass one one avoiding air entering the system. This allow you to do it yourself
by just pumping the pedal after opening the valves one at a time, no pumping and then closing involved. Change the trans and diff oils also. Inspect all of your hoses and vacuum lines for signs of deterioration. Alittle mmo in the cylinders wont hurt a bit either. Last tip
after straighting out your fuel system, get some redline fuel system cleaner and run it thru
with about a half tank of fuel , this will allow it to clean the rest of the fuel system. You
probably have thought of all this, but since it's the middle of the night and seem to be
suffering from lackasleepness (yeh, check in the dictionary, if not there lets get it added)
LOL, rx7doctor prescribes sleep

 

No problem. Some other tips if you hav enot allready done. Because the vehcile has not been run in an year. Change coolant and flush system, replacement of t-stat is highly recommended. Inspce all drive belts for cracking, sitting there for that amount of time is
not good for them. Oil and filter need servicing even if you just did them after about 500-1000
miles. the brake fluid needs to be changed, recommend that you purchase sppedy bleeders that go right on the calipers and or wheel cylinders if you have rear drums. They only allow the fluid to pass one one avoiding air entering the system. This allow you to do it yourself
by just pumping the pedal after opening the valves one at a time, no pumping and then closing involved. Change the trans and diff oils also. Inspect all of your hoses and vacuum lines for signs of deterioration. Alittle mmo in the cylinders wont hurt a bit either. Last tip
after straighting out your fuel system, get some redline fuel system cleaner and run it thru
with about a half tank of fuel , this will allow it to clean the rest of the fuel system. You
probably have thought of all this, but since it's the middle of the night and seem to be
suffering from lackasleepness (yeh, check in the dictionary, if not there lets get it added)
LOL, rx7doctor prescribes sleep

 

No problem. Some other tips if you hav enot allready done. Because the vehcile has not been run in an year. Change coolant and flush system, replacement of t-stat is highly recommended. Inspce all drive belts for cracking, sitting there for that amount of time is
not good for them. Oil and filter need servicing even if you just did them after about 500-1000
miles. the brake fluid needs to be changed, recommend that you purchase sppedy bleeders that go right on the calipers and or wheel cylinders if you have rear drums. They only allow the fluid to pass one one avoiding air entering the system. This allow you to do it yourself
by just pumping the pedal after opening the valves one at a time, no pumping and then closing involved. Change the trans and diff oils also. Inspect all of your hoses and vacuum lines for signs of deterioration. Alittle mmo in the cylinders wont hurt a bit either. Last tip
after straighting out your fuel system, get some redline fuel system cleaner and run it thru
with about a half tank of fuel , this will allow it to clean the rest of the fuel system. You
probably have thought of all this, but since it's the middle of the night and seem to be
suffering from lackasleepness (yeh, check in the dictionary, if not there lets get it added)
LOL, rx7doctor prescribes sleep

 

No problem. Some other tips if you hav enot allready done. Because the vehcile has not been run in an year. Change coolant and flush system, replacement of t-stat is highly recommended. Inspce all drive belts for cracking, sitting there for that amount of time is
not good for them. Oil and filter need servicing even if you just did them after about 500-1000
miles. the brake fluid needs to be changed, recommend that you purchase sppedy bleeders that go right on the calipers and or wheel cylinders if you have rear drums. They only allow the fluid to pass one one avoiding air entering the system. This allow you to do it yourself
by just pumping the pedal after opening the valves one at a time, no pumping and then closing involved. Change the trans and diff oils also. Inspect all of your hoses and vacuum lines for signs of deterioration. Alittle mmo in the cylinders wont hurt a bit either. Last tip
after straighting out your fuel system, get some redline fuel system cleaner and run it thru
with about a half tank of fuel , this will allow it to clean the rest of the fuel system. You
probably have thought of all this, but since it's the middle of the night and seem to be
suffering from lackasleepness (yeh, check in the dictionary, if not there lets get it added)
LOL, rx7doctor prescribes sleep

 

Wow. That's alot from a sleepy guy.

Things I did:
New belts, changed oil, changed coolant, vacuum lines all replaced, coolant hoses seem fine

Things I didn't do:
t-stat, trans oil, diff oil, brake fluid.

I think I'll check the clutch related systems as well

The tips are greatly appreciated. You rock.

 

Sorry about the multiple posts my computer did not indicate processing at the time and i kept hitting enter, oops, maybe i was asllep when i posted this. LOL. Maybe the big guys can
remove all but one of my posts. rx7doctor

 

Update:

Drained the tank - fuel had some debris in it
Blew through the lines again
Put a new filter on
Refilled the tank with new fuel
Cycled the fuel through the filter for about 30 minutes

Results:

Fuel Pressure has returned - FOR NOW
I think it's much cleaner now, mostly due to draining the tank.

We shall see how long it lasts...

And much more to do now...

Thanks for all your help Rx7Doctor

 

doc, whats t-stat?

 

thermostat

 

oh lol i should've known that hows it running now rj?

 

Fuel filter is clean for now I'm happy to say. I'm not sure how long that will last. We will see what happens when I get a little lower on the gas gauge. I'm sure I'll pick up some junk from the bottom of the tank.

I'm such a pessimist.