CITABRIA PLT HAS FUEL STARVATION AND LANDS SHORT OF THE RWY AT STJ.

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FLEW TO MKT WITH MECH TO PICK UP MY AIRPLANE; WHICH HAD JUST HAD THE ENG OVERHAULED. THIS WAS A BREAK-IN/FERRY FLT TO BRING THE ACFT BACK TO THE HOME FIELD; NOAH'S ARK; 06MO NEAR KANSAS CITY; MO; A DISTANCE OF 302 NM. THE FUEL TANKS HAD BEEN FILLED WITH 33 GALS OF FUEL THE PREVIOUS THURSDAY; AND ON THIS DAY I HAD THEM TOP THE TANKS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE FULL. AN ADDITIONAL 2.6 GALS WERE PUT IN THE TANKS. DURING PREFLT; THE TANKS WERE VISUALLY CHKED AND THE FUEL WAS SLIGHTLY UP THE FILLERS. THE ACFT HAS TWO TANKS OF 18 GALS EACH FOR A TOTAL OF 36 GALS; 35 WERE USABLE. AFTER 1 HR OF FLT; THE PWR WAS REDUCED FROM 75% TO 65% PER THE BREAK-IN INSTRUCTIONS AND THE FUEL QUANTITIES CHKED. THE R TANK INDICATED EMPTY. AT APPROX 2 HRS AND 15 MINS THE L FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING 1/4 FULL AND THE DECISION WAS MADE TO DIVERT TO ST. JOSEPH; MO; A DISTANCE OF 30 NM. AT 10 MI STJ TWR WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED TO RPT ON 3 MI FINAL FOR RWY 17. DSNDED FROM CRUISE ALT OF 4500 FT TO PATTERN ALT AND ENTERED A L BASE. JUST BEFORE TURNING FINAL; THE ENG STARTED TO SPUTTER AND ON FINAL DIED. LANDED THE ACFT 2 MI SHORT OF RWY 17 IN A PLOWED FIELD. THE ACFT WAS MOVED TO A FARMERS ACCESS ROAD; CHKED BY A LCL MECH; 5.6 GALS OF FUEL PUT IN THE L TANK AND AFTER RUN UP; THE MECH APPROVED TAKING OFF DOWN THE DIRT ROAD. THE ACFT WAS FLOWN TO THE ARPT; STJ. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT OTHER THAN A 1 INCH CRACK IN THE L FIBERGLASS WHEEL PANT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FUEL LEAKAGE ANYWHERE ON THE ACFT. THE NORMAL FUEL BURN PRIOR TO THE OVERHAUL WAS 7.5-8.5 GPH; POSSIBLY 9 IF NOT LEANED FOR CRUISE; PROVIDING A DURATION OF APPROX 4 HRS. AT APPROX 2 HRS 30 MINS ON THIS FLT THE FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED.