1970 Cadillac Fuel Pump?

[Houston747]

I have a '70 Deville which I was driving yesterday. The car drove great in the morning, but later that day when I drove it again, I had an issue with it. It hadn't been more than 3 minutes since I started the car, and it stopped running in the middle of the road. Tried to start it a couple times, it would not start at all. The engine was cranking, but I couldn't get it to run, it seemed like it was not getting fuel at all. After I got it towed, it suddenly started to run again. I am not really sure what's wrong with it, but I am assuming it's the fuel pump. Any ideas or similar experiences?

[klinebau]

To check for fuel, you can add a bit of gas to the fuel bowl in the carb without taking the carb off.  If it fires up right away, then your issue is likely fuel related.  Oftentimes, ignition problems feel like fuel problems.

Is it running on points or electronic ignition?  If points, it could be a bad condenser as any new ones I've used only seem to last a few hundred miles if I am lucky.  In this case, it will usually start to misfire and within a few miles it might die completely.

[35-709]

Check your fuel filter.  If it is not a fuel problem then check the condenser as Kurt suggested, the coil also can exhibit those symptoms if failing.  Heat makes them break down and when they cool off they work again until they heat up, etc., etc., etc.

[Michael Petti]

Was this on a hot day? were you in stop and go traffic? the fact that it started up later suggests the possibility of vapor lock. Is the fuel pump original or a Chinese replacement. Those pumps have issues.

[TJ Hopland]

For troubleshooting you could buy and bring a can of starting fluid with you.  Thats an easy and less messy way than carrying an extra container of gas to figure out if the stall is fuel or spark related.   When it dies shoot some fluid down the carb.   If it pops and runs for a few seconds its fuel related. If not then it more likely spark.

[Houston747]

Was this on a hot day? were you in stop and go traffic? the fact that it started up later suggests the possibility of vapor lock. Is the fuel pump original or a Chinese replacement. Those pumps have issues.

I actually drove it that morning for about 25 minutes. It was pretty cold outside and it was all highway driving, and I have a temperature gauge in my car and it was no where running close to hot. I left it at the detailing shop for 5 hours and when I came to pick it up the engine was cold. Didn't take more than the 2 minutes after starting it until it stopped running. It runs and idles now, but I have not had the time to take it out and drive it to see if it does it again