Hi Folks,

Trying to get an 1986 that has been sitting for about 6 months back to life. Only had a true 105k on it and in great shape. Replaced all spark plugs, cap, rotor, wires. I'm able to get it started with starting fluid sprayed down the primaries in the carb but that only lasts about 5 seconds and then cuts out. I first thought I wasn't getting any fuel to the carb, so I pulled the fuel line at the carb. filter was damp, and I replaced it anyway, so I know now that gas is getting to the carb. When I move the throttle linkage, I don't hear fuel entering the carb. Dont know much here about that carb stuff, but my friend said maybe the bowl is empty or the jets are clogged (?). Can I just dump some gas down the front barrels, put the air cleaner back on, and let her rip? I think once I get it going, its going to be fine.

Any help is appreciated. Thx!

You should have a lot more gas than what you say you have. My best guess is either a dried out fuel hose that is sucking air somewhere or a bad fuel pump. Changing the pump is cheap insurance anyway since it was sitting for a long time. Look at the hose by the fuel pump and track it back to the tank first.

Bob

Bob, thx for the reply. Replaced fuel pump anyway and fuel shoots up to the carb, pretty much the way it did before. Now I know I've got fuel. The car just cranks and cranks. Can I pour something in the carb to get it going? is there something stuck in there that is preventing the fuel from spraying? Thx for your help. I can only get it to fire for about five seconds with some starting fluid.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thx!

That rules out the fuel pump and gas supply. Is the gas bad in the tank? Take off the cap and take a whiff, if it smells like varnish, its bad. But it still should at least kick over. Starter fluid will start with an extremely weak spark and is actually bad for the engine if over used. It washes the oil off the cylinder walls and can drive the engine backwards and blow the starter housing off the block.

You replaced a lot of tune up parts, so the spark should be good, but you should still check it at a plug wire. Pull off any wire at the plug, stick a screw driver in the boot end and ground it to the exhaust manifold. Hold the screw driver by the handle and have someone crank it over. You should see a strong spark jump from the wire to the engine.

Double check all your connections at the distributor cap, make sure all the wiring plugs are fully engaged. Did you move the distributor or take it out?

You still might have a carburetor problem, which is hard to disgnosis online. You may have a dried out accelerator pump or something clogging the carb internally. Is the inline fuel filter installed correctly? You could take it out and try it without the filter as a quick check.

Bob

does any one know the size in cubic feet for a min 90's cap- looking to put two L7 squares in the trunk?