need help

Hey ya'll I have a 81 elco 305. I am stationed in hawaii, my car has been sitting for a while. I put my car in storage my sister was supposed to start it for me every once and a while. Needless to say she didn't. The car ran fine when I parked it. when she finnaly went to start it, it wouldnt kick over. I need to know why woulndt it start, could it be that my plugs are fouled because it sat so long? Dose anyone live in the Riverside CA area that could give me a hand trying to get it running. If I cant get it running I have to scrap it, which I really dont want to do

Man, there are alot of things you need to check, but if it was working when you put it up then it will not be too bad. But you did not give too much info but here we go Here are a few things to check:
1. Check and clean plugs, cap and rotor, wires, check firing order (should be on the intake manifold). Check the connection to the coil. Pop one of the plugs out and crank motor while grounding plug to intake to check for spark. Do the same thing with the coil.
2. If it has been sitting, change fuel filter.
3. Is the motor turning over or just nothing when you hit the key? I should have asked this before but oh well.
Check these and hit me back so I can walk you through some other stuff to check.

Is it carb or throttle body, if carb change the fuel filter on the carb.

If it doesn't turn over, it is probably just a dead battery. Have it charged & try it. Let us know how it worked out. Jon

It has a carb, I hope that all it is, is the filter. Makes sence the filter dried and roughted and is not allowing fuel to pass. That along with cleaning the plugs and changing the wires are my first attempt. My dad already changed the cap rotor. Any other suggestions????

PaulS, This is very basic but you need three things to make your engine run. Air, Fuel, Fire (spark). I would first try to pour a little gas into the carb & try to start it. If it starts & runs for a couple of seconds, I would say that you have a fuel delivery problem. (fuel pump, filter, line, Carb.) If not, I would pull a plug wire & put a piece of wire in it & put it close to some metal object in your engine bay. (Not fuel oriented) Turn the engine over & see if it sparks, or arcs to the metal object. If it does, you have fire. Try these first & get back. Jon

My Dad tried pouring gas into the carb, I know they tried pulling one of the wires off to try and see the arch. I dont know the out comings of that. My cousins friend thought the whole distibuater (cant spell) might be bad, didnt make sence to me it was fine when I parked it. I am thinking that the wires roughted from sitting. wishfull thinking.

You have to determine whether you're getting spark to the plugs. If you are & it is not firing, I would recheck the order that your dad put the wires into the new cap. If it isn't firing check all wiring connections to the distributor. Check or replace the coil (Under the distributor cap.) I would go to your local auto parts store & purchase a Haynes or Chiltons manual for your Elky. They are not very detailed but have a lot of basic info. They also have some trouble shooting tips. Jon

OK I am in Cali now i went to take a look at my elco, I charged the battery and changed the plug wires and coil. The plugs where changed before the car went into storage. Cap and rotor and module where changed last year. I went to start the car, the engine cranked a few times then gas started coming out of the top of the carb. I have never seen this before. Any ideas on what this could be???? also can anyone tell me the correct installation procedure for hooking up the module, My dad replaced it but wasent sure if he hooked it up right(placement of the colored wires). Any one live in the Riverside area mind giving me a hand trouble shoot. Also I will more than likley be selling the car for parts if I cant get it started. If anyone can help me please give me a call. (808)561-3772 Thanks Paul

PaulS, It appears to be a fuel delivery prob, for now. Without knowing what carb you have, (I assume it is a Quadrajet) I would say that you have a float sticking or out of adjustment. I know nothing of the Quadrajet but if you post your questions in the "nonspecific" portion of the Chevy forums more people will see it & may be able to guide you through your problem. Be advised that there are some people on here that don't have a clue & will post some really off the wall solutions. So you'll have to sift through some of the posts & use your common sense to guide you. You might want to invest in a carb book that is specific to whichever make of carb you have. Jon

You've entered the realm of 'replace it and try it', sometimes you may be better of spending $20-30 bucks for a professional opinion than to throw money at a problem you can't figure out.

Find a competent mechanic and have him take a look at your problem, it may save you money (and alot of hair pulling) in the long run.

Only my:2cents:

-slacker

a few days late i will put my 2 cents worth in. jump it let it run charge the battery over nite put a fuel stabilizer or heet in it and give it a shot i didnt see if it had a carb sittin on top of it but if it does pour a little clean fuel in there and see if it tries to start. i just bought a 79 elky that had sat for 10 yrs i charged the battery over nite put some clean fuel in the carb and it started right up. then i drove it 600 miles to get it home no problem. just my thot on it