please need of help fast

ok guys and gals, i just got a 81 silverado 350 4x4 for $650. it was sitting for 6 years so thats why its so cheap. the prob i have is when i start it theres a load squeel and it dies on me. my dad said it dies cause not enough gas is getting to the carburater. he doesnt know why it squeels. also my gas gauge isnt working. i dont have much gas in it and its way past the full mark. i hope some can help me to fix these probs. thanks alot all.

The only way to know its full is to...fill it up! As for the squealing..it could be a number of things. The alternator, water pump, power steering pump, fan belt, or worst case, an engine bearing. Be sure to check all the fluids and belts before you start it.

The only way to know its full is to...fill it up! As for the squealing..it could be a number of things. The alternator, water pump, power steering pump, fan belt, or worst case, an engine bearing. Be sure to check all the fluids and belts before you start it.


I agree with this 100% and the most likely culprit is the alternator. I have seen many seize up after sitting and if the belt is tight they will stall the motor or squeal. It also could be more than one problem such as a dried up carb and a bad alt.

Sounds like there is a bad connection at the fuel sender, maybe it has lost its ground that would cause the fuel gage to go past full normally. If the connections are ok then the sender itself may need to be replaced.. six years of setting in bad gas would certainly not be good for it. The fuel gage itself in the instrument panel rarely gave any problems. Fuel starvation could be varnish built up in the fuel supply system, change the little barrell filter in the carb, if that doesen't help have someone rebuild the carb. Rochester carbs are notorious for giving problems after setting unused for a long period of time. Other than that give it a tune up and have the timing adjusted, and check the compression on all the cylinders. A 350 should run forever with minimal problems unless it was really abused.

my pop said i should do an engine treatment on it. would that help any? ill check out what you all told me and update what happens.many thanx for all your help all.

After you have checked all the fluids you can remove the belts and see if it starts and runs or makes noise. Doing this one belt at a time will lead you to the problem if it is the alt., power steering or water pump.

hi all, i just checked the fluids and hoses and found out a few hoses are clogged. i cleaned them out and my truck seems to work way better. still havent dont anything about the gas gauge yet and i found that 1 of my belts was to tight. so no noise sept for grrrrrrr.lol i got a nother question though. my hazards work but not my l/r blinker. what can i do about it. thanks again all.

Check the flasher that operates the blinkers. It should plug into the fuse box.