1977 Chevy C10 known as SharkBite

[SkinnyG]

Originally Posted by knomadd

Sorry if you took my comments to be insulting. No insult or offense meant.

Did not take it as insulting at all. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once...

Back on topic - If there is no squirt of fuel in the carburetor when you blip the throttle by hand, you have no fuel.

You could prime the carburetor with (best) fuel down the float bowl vent (largish metal tube sticking up in front of the choke on the air horn), or (not as best, but it works) a wee slosh of fuel down the carb. The "priming" will help get the engine running, which may get it to run fast enough that the pump will do its dastardly deed.

Assuming you have spark.

Pull a spark plug, hook the wire up to the plug, and lay the plug on the intake manifold such that the metal is touching. Crank - you should see spark.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

Back on topic - If there is no squirt of fuel in the carburetor when you blip the throttle by hand, you have no fuel.

You could prime the carburetor with (best) fuel down the float bowl vent (largish metal tube sticking up in front of the choke on the air horn), or (not as best, but it works) a wee slosh of fuel down the carb. The "priming" will help get the engine running, which may get it to run fast enough that the pump will do its dastardly deed.

Assuming you have spark.

Pull a spark plug, hook the wire up to the plug, and lay the plug on the intake manifold such that the metal is touching. Crank - you should see spark.

Thanks Skinny G! Looks like a have a project for tomorrow to try and do some problem solving.

If I squirt fuel down the carb is there a certain way I need to do it put fuel in a water bottle etc etc?

[SkinnyG]

I put a crease in a small tin can to help funnel the fuel into the float bowl vent.

You could just dump it down the barrels, but filling the float is the best.

If you use a water bottle or pop bottle, be sure you don't leave it around where little kids could drink it.

[Sodell]

Korwin, You can hold your finger over the spout and just pour a little in the carb. It will fire right away if fuel is the only problem. Sorry I did not explain myself about the spark plug ground....

[77ChevySharkBite]

Hey guys thank y'all for all the tips and advice on starting issue. I haven't been able to get messing with my truck. My dad is in the hospital so just like everyone knows family is first but I will be getting to work back on it as soon as I can but I want/need to make sure my dad is okay first.

I do hope everyone had a great and wonderful Christmas!

[knomadd]

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I hope your dad gets better soon.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Thanks Duane!

Good news is my dad is going to be coming home tomorrow.

Also found out my issue, my fuel gauge reads wrong its reading 1/4 tank and well my fuel tank is pretty well empty can't even hear a slosh of fuel in it. So when my dad finally gets home going to run up to the gas station up the corner and put some gas and give it a go

[77ChevySharkBite]

So put 2 gallons of gas in the truck and well as we all know it cranked up good after about 10 seconds.

So I got a few cheap side projects to do now. Fuel hose so old it leaks just a little which is a simple fix, but I do have a question since my fuel gauge is reading incorrectly is that a sending unit issue, or actually guage issue?

[knomadd]

It's likely the sending unit. I can't rule out the gauge or wiring 100%, but I'd bet it's the sending unit. The float is probably hanging too low. Hopefully its an easy fix by bending the arm a little to pull the float up some.

The gauge is usually good up until it just stops working. The wiring could cause some wrong readings if it's old and brittle, not allowing the full signal to get to the gauge, but probably wouldn't be so bad that it would be off by a 1/4 tank.

[SkinnyG]

Originally Posted by 77ChevySharkBite

So put 2 gallons of gas in the truck and well as we all know it cranked up good after about 10 seconds.

Does this mean it now runs? Your terminology still confuses me. To be clear:

"Cranking" = The internal engine assembly is rotating via the starter, not via the combustion process

"Starting" = The process of rotating the internal engine assembly via the starter to begin the combustion process, resulting in the engine running on its own.

"Running" = The internal engine assembly is rotating via the combustion process, not via the starter.

The terminology becomes important when troubleshooting, ie: "Cranks but does not start" or "Starts but does not stay running."

I'm hoping I can congratulate you on a running engine?

[77ChevySharkBite]

Originally Posted by knomadd

It's likely the sending unit. I can't rule out the gauge or wiring 100%, but I'd bet it's the sending unit. The float is probably hanging too low. Hopefully its an easy fix by bending the arm a little to pull the float up some.

The gauge is usually good up until it just stops working. The wiring could cause some wrong readings if it's old and brittle, not allowing the full signal to get to the gauge, but probably wouldn't be so bad that it would be off by a 1/4 tank.

Thanks for the advice Duane I appreciate it!

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

Does this mean it now runs? Your terminology still confuses me. To be clear:

"Cranking" = The internal engine assembly is rotating via the starter, not via the combustion process

"Starting" = The process of rotating the internal engine assembly via the starter to begin the combustion process, resulting in the engine running on its own.

"Running" = The internal engine assembly is rotating via the combustion process, not via the starter.

The terminology becomes important when troubleshooting, ie: "Cranks but does not start" or "Starts but does not stay running."

I'm hoping I can congratulate you on a running engine?

My motor is starting and running. What happened is that the truck was just cranking that's all, but once I put the fuel it just cranked for about 10secs and then it started, and is now running. Does that make enough sense using your terminology?

Yes you can congratulate me on a running engine. Thank you for clearing up the terminology because now I can use it accordingly and help explain issues more. Thank you so much!

[SkinnyG]

Congratulations on a running engine!

Skinny "helpful-but-anal-retentive-vocabulary-guy" G

[77ChevySharkBite]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

Congratulations on a running engine!

Skinny "helpful-but-anal-retentive-vocabulary-guy" G

Thanks man!

Hey I rather know the right terminology and be able to have better help than everyone in a loop and have plenty of different answers, so thank you for the knowledge you've given me!

[Sodell]

Korwin, did you ever figure out how to test the spark at the plug? It's good to know for the future. They do have some spark light tester's but I always brake mine, as they sit in the tool box for years before I try them again. LOL.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Originally Posted by Sodell

Korwin, did you ever figure out how to test the spark at the plug? It's good to know for the future. They do have some spark light tester's but I always brake mine, as they sit in the tool box for years before I try them again. LOL.

No I never tested it, but I know at least I have knowledge of how to do so.

[77ChevySharkBite]

Small question let the truck run for a couple minutes today and one time when I revved it actual fuel was spit out does that mean its running rich?

[knomadd]

Where did the fuel come from (assuming carb, but what part) and where did it squirt (inside the carb, out to the fire wall???)

[77ChevySharkBite]

Well I was inside the cab of the truck, but it shot out of the cab I'm pretty positive and it went towards the firewall.

[Sodell]

Originally Posted by 77ChevySharkBite

Well I was inside the cab of the truck, but it shot out of the cab I'm pretty positive and it went towards the firewall.

might have a leak?

[77ChevySharkBite]

Originally Posted by Sodell

might have a leak?

I don't think so because all the fuel lines and everything are nice and tight. Cause what happened is I revved it about 2 times and when I went for it the 2nd time it's like it bogged, pop, fuel squirt. I think that's why I'm lead to believe it might be running too rich.

[Sodell]

Hmm, and it got on the fire wall, I am guessing the air filter was off?

[Sodell]

Usually if it is running rich it will be misfiring and stalling at idle. Black smoke from the exhaust pipe is another sign-I don't think it would cause the fuel to shoot out onto the firewall, unless maybe it was misfiring.....

[77ChevySharkBite]

I don't know if it physically went on the firewall, but I know I saw fuel squirt up and out of the carb and then I guess from the fan a couple drops of fuel hit me in the face. Yes the air filter was off the carb too.

[Sodell]

So it was a cold start? Just thinking out loud here...

[77ChevySharkBite]

Maybe it was misfiring then, I'm not sure I just wanted to see what possible causes might be I still haven't fully driven the truck, I mean is it possible it wasn't full warmed up and that would of caused it maybe?