Need help diagnosing

[zac0002]

I have a 1967 that is just Frankensteined. This project began about thirty years ago. It was supposed to be a gift for my mother when she graduated highschool. However my grandfather was screwed out of a deal and the truck was never put back together. I have put it back together by myself with little to no knowledge of engines. It is almost complete and have the engine firing but not running. I have checked the fuel line and nothing is clogged. What is happening?? Timing is good as well as distributor in correct position. Transmission neutral. Correct spark plugs. Wiring good as well. I'm at a loss here...

[Ironangel]

Welcome to the forum Zac...How do you know the timing is good with a non running engine? Double check the firing order? Is it a V8? What carb? Points ignition or HEI? And Welcome the Forum...

[zac0002]

Thank you for responding Ghostrider. It will run for a solid 30 seconds. that's how I know the timing is good. It's a v8 automatic. An Hei distributor. A Original rochestor four barrel carb

[sick472]

WELL, you beat me with your recent response Zac, You may be flooding your sparkies. Pull a few plugs after a 30 second run/die and check it for wet gas on the tips.

You can ignore the following then...

Just for starters (get it?) (Ha)...

You need Fuel, Spark and Air.

Getting air is pretty easy unless your air filter is plugged dirty or the air cleaner is blocked off somehow.

Fuel...Make sure you are getting a fuel squirt when you pump the throttle by looking down the carb when you pump the throttle. You should see some fuel squirting down in there. Too much fuel can be a problem and is usually validated by a gassy wet spark plug tip after a prolonged attempt and failed start.

Spark...Pull a plug wire at the spark plug and put in a good plug in the wire that is not screwed into the head, hold it with a good pair of insulated channel locks (or the like, you'll find out why if you don't use insulated handle pliers - let's just say it will be SHOCKING) and ground the bent end of the plug against the block somewhere (or bracket or whatever), have a helper turn the ignition key and spin the motor over like you are trying to start it. You should see a good spark jump at the sparkplug. If not, you could suspect your ignition system, wires, or maybe the block ground (surely it's grounded somewhere).

If your carb can get air, sparkplugs are sparking, and your getting gas to the intake, but not too much... it should at least sputter and want to be alive UNLESS your timing is a tooth or two off.

Just for starters...

[zac0002]

Could it be also that there is not enough gas being sent through? Say for instance the pressure builds up but then dies down and cannot pull more fuel in?

[Coley]

Sounding a bit like a carb problem to me right now so, some Carb questions:
-What type of carb is on the engine? (Quadrajet? Holley? Edelbrock?)
-Approximate carb condition by appearance or your knowledge?
ie: 'new out of the box'?.....no idea? ....or?


All good
Coley

[zac0002]

The carb is a quadrajet rochestor. I had tried UPS for a new carb. Luckily it broke it=n the mail. Still have not recieved compensation for it and sure that I never will. So im more of a rebuild kinda guy now lol

[Coley]

Ok, so you might have an issue with your carb.
Here is something to try...once it starts, get a small squirt bottle and carefully feed fuel into the carb manually (carefully! and slowly!!) to see if you can extend the 30 second-ish time.
Using this type of fuel feed method....you might find you can keep the vehicle running for a few minutes and this will help with your diagnosis.

If this extends the run time it might be time to open up to remove the carb and open up the top 'air horn' (top piece) and check on the float bowl area.
If the very, very small connector link has detached from the float pivot....the vehicle won't run for long and you will be constantly having to push the accelerator down every few seconds to get the vehice to run.

....first tho', see if manually feeding the carb fuel extends the run time. This will tell you its a fuel problem and not an electrical problem.

Coley

[geezer#99]

Does it run at a high idle for 30 seconds or just a normal slow idle?
Do you have a working choke?

[demian5]

Sitting that long, what about the fuel pump being bad?
Fills the bowl, starts, then can't keep up.

[sick472]

Call me "MR Obvious" if you'd like...What about the fuel filter, inline or the little sintered brass-like one at the carb where the fuel line attaches? Try what Coley says, it's and easy test!