No run situation with '70 318

[PM27G0D]

My '70 Fury has been sitting in the garage for about a year since last starting it, due to bad tires and not being able to find 3 correct wheels to mount the new tires on....
anyway, tried this weekend to start it, and it would not. Figured it might need some help pulling fuel from tank. Primed it repeatedly with gas down the carb, and it starts and runs until that prime is gone.
Then thinking perhaps the fuel pump I put on a few years ago had failed, this morning, I was going to try and confirm that before pulling it.
I was going to attach a manual vacuum pump to the fuel line from the tank to the pump inlet to be sure there was no issue in the sending unit or body line. As soon as I pulled the rubber line off the pump, fuel came out, so fuel getting to pump didn't seem to be the problem.
i removed the alternator in preparation for pump removal, then started loosening the flare fitting on the outlet side of the pump...again fuel came out with some gusto. Next, to eliminate the inline fuel filter, I started loosening the fuel line at the carb inlet....again, fuel under pressure.
this is my first car with one of these 2bbls. On all other cars I've worked on that have stuck floats, they always stick where the fuel flows freely and floods everything.
is it possible that the float in this carb is stuck in the closed position?
I tapped it a few times with a rubber hammer,and when I get back home, will reinstall the alternator and try it again.
just wondering if anyone has had this turn out to be the problem.

 

[70bigblockdodge]

Sounds like a clogged filter.

 

[68plymouth383]

What is your history with this carb? Has it been rebuilt recently? Or did you buy the car with it, and it ran ok last year, and now it won't run? If it was me I'd get a quality carb rebuilt kit, and completely go through it. It's possible your floats have leaking seams, or pinholes and there full of gas. You won't know until you take it off, and open it up. By pouring fuel directly through it your bypassing the carb.

 

[azblackhemi]

Check all the rubber fuel lines. If one has a crack it will suck air and not fuel.

 

[Samplingman]

Had the exact same problem with my 300. I blew compressed air through the lines from the fuel pump back to the tank, tightened up one of the hose connections, problem solved.

 

[Wollfen]

PM27GOD has already shown that there is full gas line pressure at the carb so its not a fuel delivery problem, he has narrowed it down to the carb.
I suggest pulling the top of the carb off, you wont hurt anything doing so and have a look see. If the bowls are dry its the needle and seat. Also check the floats as previously described. let us know what you see and we can go from there.

 

[PM27G0D]

Applied a few love taps on the side of the carb with a rubber mallet, and then put the alternator back in, and tried it again. Same no start situation.
Got a short 2x4 and a small mechanic's hammer...two love taps again. Started instantly and runs like the sewing machine it is supposed to!
Lesson learned: Yes, these Carter 2bbls. can have their floats/needle/seat stick in the closed position.

 

[patrick66]

Sometimes, it just takes the loving tap of a BFH and a board.

 

[saforwardlook]

With ethanol in fuel these days, expect stuck open or stuck closed floats to be a common occurrence when letting cars sit for extended periods of time due to gum formation. When this happens, I remove the inlet fuel line to the carb and shoot some carb cleaner into the inlet port of the carburetor and let it sit for awhile, then give it a tap and then try to start it up. It usually works. If that doesn't work, I manually pour fresh fuel with carb cleaner in it into the carburetors bowl(s) through any bowl vents until the bowls are pretty full and let the brew sit for awhile. Then I start the car and let it run for a couple minutes on the brew in the bowl(s) and it almost always clears things up. Rarely do I have to take the top of the carb off. Life with ethanol so the corn growers association can remain wealthy and the politicians who they fund can also share in the bounty.

 

[PM27G0D]

Just got back from the first test drive in at least a couple of years....runs perfectly. The new tires do make it feel a little better handling wise, but still not yet confidence inspiring for a cross country trip. Next job on the list...shocks.

 

[PM27G0D]

Sometimes, it just takes the loving tap of a BFH and a board.

I didn't even get to the BFH stage....only required a SFH.

 

[53ryder]

Glad to hear this problem solved. Now you await the next one.

Glenn