HELP! First truck, need to be back on the road

[Yellow72C10]

Hey, my name is spencer and I've got a 72 chevy half ton, that's a short bed, stepside. It was my grandfathers and he bought it new in 72, so it's a family truck. He passed away the year I was born, and I'm gunna fix it up so I can drive it when I get my license. But I don't know where to start! It has the factory original 350 with a automatic in it. We had it runnin last summer but these winters are hard on it lol. Please, tell me where you started and any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!! I'll try and put up pictures soon
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[daves72C10D]

Welcome. You need air, fuel and spark. Check for those. If you do not have either then you know where to start. Got any picts? Good luck.

[TBONE1964]

You may also want to put some fresh gas in the tank. If the gas in the tank is over a year old, it may become tarnished and not burn well. May save you some grief.

[Yellow72C10]

Yessir, I know it'll crank. A little ether in the carb and it does but she runs rich.
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[Yellow72C10]

What about seafoam, does that help any?
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[Aaron Burkemper]

x2 on making sure you have fresh gas. Running rich may mean dried gaskets, sunken float, or bad needle and seat.

[sameyrasmea72]

Originally Posted by Yellow72C10

What about seafoam, does that help any?
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It works great!!!!!!!!! pour some in the tank and fill up the carb with it. let it set in carb over night.

[Yellow72C10]

I appreciate the quick responses, so is the carb the first place to start? I know that the gas is only a few months old, so I think it's alright for now
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[Yellow72C10]

Oh and I know it has a quadrajet 4 barrel on it
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[Sklptrljay]

Heres's an inexpensive but common problem when a motor sits for a while. Try removing the fuel filter and turn the engine over for a few seconds to clear any junk, replace with a new filter and give it a shot. Also, the q-jets have an internal filter in the carb that can get gummed up.

[Scott>72-GMC]

Giving the system a good clean wood be a good start filters and such new spark plugs oil change never hurt if u plan on rebuilding the engine the oil change might wait
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[Yellow72C10]

How do I tell what size plugs it needs? Also what is a qjet? Sorry for all the questions, a I'd appreciate the help!
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[Sklptrljay]

Q-jet is a quadrajet. If you look where the fuel line goes into the carb, there should be an internal filter inside the carb.

[Sklptrljay]

Or try and spray some starter fluid in the carb and crank it over, sometimes if you just get things moving and running it clears out all the junk.

[71K20chevy]

Qjet=Quadrajet

[Scott>72-GMC]

Easiest I've done is either take one out with me to the parts store or know what engine u have and tell them there are numbers on the plugs typically
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[Yellow72C10]

Originally Posted by Scott>72-GMC

Easiest I've done is either take one out with me to the parts store or know what engine u have and tell them there are numbers on the plugs typically
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Can i just tell them I've got a 350 for the plugs? Or do I need to take one them up there?
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[Yellow72C10]

The fella at my parts place recommended seafoam. I appreciate the help a,d tips, and I'll try it all tomorrow. Thanks!
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[Scott>72-GMC]

If its the original engine u can just tell them year size motor and everything. I'm no expert I'm sure others will chime in might even know the size plug on top of there head but I would just take one in only takes a min to take out
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[Yellow72C10]

How are plug sizes measured?
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[Yellow72C10]

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[Yellow72C10]

This is it lol. I'll take some better pictures soon
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[Scott>72-GMC]

Looks sweet nice front bumper
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[Yellow72C10]

Thanks. My grandpa welded that bumper together and put a 8k pound warn winch on it.
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[BlackedOut67shorty]

Diggin the bumper. Also maybe if the gas is possibly bad you could check by having a can of good gas and bypass the fuel line from the tank putting it just before the fuel pump. If it still doesnt run then use a spark tester to see if you are producing spark. Hopefully this helps out.