74' Help
 

Truck: 74' Cheyenne Super SBC 350

So this morning I tried to fire my truck up to head out and she would turn over but wouldn't start. She will typically do this on cold morning atleast once. I gave the pedal a couple pumps, no luck, couple more turns of the key and finally she fired up.

I backed out of the driveway after giving her a bit of time to warm up and she died in the street. I still had power (lights, etc) but she wouldnt fire back up for nothing. I tried for a good 10 minutes.

Eventually I gave up, pushed it back in the driveway and headed to work on my bike.

Over the weekend I pulled the radio out to install a new CD Player and speakers. I havent installed that yet. I don't think that has anything to do with it but wanted to report any changes I have made to the truck.

My initial thoughts are either fuel pump or spark plugs. She has about a quarter tank of gas so don't think it has anything to do with that.

Thoughts?

Re: 74' Help
 

First question: still points or has it been converted to Hei? Next step IMO always start by checking for spark if you have spark check for fuel. If not then verify power to your coil and take cap off to look for corrosion burning or other wear on dizzy and rotor contacts. If you can verify fuel delivery and spark check cap and rotor for wear causing unreliable spark.( If its Hei look into ignition module.) Also I would then check or as cheap as they are just replace fuel filter(s) great thing about these trucks.... if you replace all of that stuff and a fuel pump you're still only in it 125-150$!
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Re: 74' Help
 

It's been converted to HEI.

Thanks for info, gives me some direction on things to check.

Re: 74' Help
 

I would say check that stuff then... and look into an ignition module as they are cheap and known to fail
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Re: 74' Help
 

Ignition module. They fail instantly without warning. Happened to me. I carry a spare one in the glovebox now.

Re: 74' Help
 

So I got home and she fired right up, no hesitation. Grrrr.
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Re: 74' Help
 

Maybe it loaded up cause of the choke and cold and flooded. In any even if the parts are old enough you question if they'd fail they are certainly cheap enough just replace its all as preventative maintenance.
Fuel pump 35$ an hour to change.
Dizzy cap and rotor and coil $30 for all three half hour of time
While they are off do an ignition module for an extra 10 minutes and 35$
Fuel filter 15 minutes 3-8$
And of you wanna get crazy do plugs and wires for another $50 and an hour
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Re: 74' Help
 

A bit of info/warning when doing the cap and wires make sure you take special note of location of each wire. Since its been converted to Hei the firing order or rather no 1 cylinder location is different on your distributor than a normal Hei setup. We learned this after much grief with a 71 converted to Hei from points. I think if memory serves me all the wires are moved over one in the clockwise position from a normal Hei diagram.if memory serves me which it sometimes doesn't.
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Re: 74' Help
 

Yeah I was thinking it possibly flooded. Time for a tuneup anyways so will spend some $ and a day and take your advice. Thanks again!
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Re: 74' Help
 

check the choke butterfly on the carb .. they can stick open or shut.. if its shut she'll smell flooded and crank but not start. if open and its cold, the mix wont be right.