Truck Ran Fine, Now Won't Start

[studda]

I recently got my '53 running and took it for a drive a few times even. It has a 216 in it with 46k miles. I put a new coil, condenser, and points in it. Brand new fuel pump. It started and ran fine. It would fire up right away. I went to start it today and, I got nothing. I checked for spark, which it's getting. I checked the points gap; still fine. I am tearing down the carb again and cleaning it thoroughly to see if maybe that's it. I'm basically out of ideas if this don't work. It ran fine and then, BAM, won't even start now, nothing has been touched even. Any suggestions?

[Root2812]

Mine did the same thing even after I rebuilt the carb. Even if you flushed the whole fuel system there is still trash in it. That trash gets in the carb and settles in the bowl. If this is your problem like it was on mine you can get it going by having someone start it while you tap firmly on the body of the carb with a screwdriver handle. That will mix up the trash and get the thing unclogged. Otherwise you can tear the carb down again. I had to do that a few times before my system was clean enough that it always starts.

[Root2812]

Oh and also look at the sediment bowl on the fuel pump. that gets plugged up too and may not be letting fuel get to the carb.

[studda]

Thanks. That sounds like that's probably what is happening. I know it's getting gas up to the carb because, when I take the fuel line off, gas is spraying. It does this even it's not being cranked so I guess there's pressure building up and it's getting clogged somewhere in the carb. I have the carb completely torn down right now dipping the parts in the carb cleaner that comes in a one gallon can. I've already cleaned it once, but this time, I'm doing a thorough cleaning. I'll probably pick up a rebuild kit as well. I thought about taking the tank out and flushing it as it's been sitting 30+ years probably. I want to keep it as stock as possible so a new style tank is out of the question and I'm super cheap so I'll work with what I got.

[Root2812]

Definitely flush out your tank if you haven't yet. Pulling the tank is easy if you have the seat out. Its a couple of straps up top and there is a valve coming out of the bottom of the cab you turn off and then unhook the line from. You probably knew that already but I figured I'd share. I didn't know much about my truck when I first tore into it.

For the carb I used this kit from classicparts.com. It worked well.


Your carb may still get plugged up some for a while even after the rebuild and fuel system flush. I know mine did. The screwdriver trick worked for me until the truck started every time. Now it runs great. I last drove it in September but last week I went out in 20 degree weather (stored outside) and it fired up really easy.

[studda]

Originally Posted by Root2812

You probably knew that already but I figured I'd share. I didn't know much about my truck when I first tore into it.

I actually didn't know that. Thanks. I haven't really tore into mine yet. I wanted to get it mechanically sound before I do anything to it. I'm planning on doing a low budget body on restoration so I can still drive it. It's a 1 1/2 ton and it's going to be a workhorse so mechanical operation is the main focus for now. I have the carb mostly cleaned. Just the top half left. It was pretty bad with some of the valves stuck. Where did you pick the rebuild kit up from? I'll definitely need one as the gaskets were very dried and broke when I removed them.

[studda]

Well, I got it all tore down and cleaned up. I just need to pick up the rebuild kit now. Here is a before and after of the carb.

[whammer33024]

if i'm reading that carb kit # correctly that root posted, it says 123a. that kit should be pretty easy to get ahold of at any auto parts store. i stock one, my warehouse has 3, the rest of the warehouses in my system have at least 5. i'm a carquest by the way

[studda]

Ok, thanks. I'll pick one up Friday.