The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 235 having trouble starting

I have a 57 235 that's all stock. The truck ran before I re-wired it, but after I finished it wouldn't start. It had spark, but it wouldn't fire. It starts if I spray starting fluid into the carburetor, but it stops running once that burns off. My guess is that the fuel pump isn't getting any gas to the carburetor, or maybe the carburetor is the problem. If anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Jim?

Jim,

Take the air filter off and work the throttle lever a few times. You should see gas being pumped through. If not check the line back from there. Check if you are getting gas to the carb. If the fuel pump has a glass bowl you should be able to see if gas is getting to that, if not follow it back in the system to the filter etc. Also I don't know if your carb has a small thimble filter in the carb body should be just where the main gas pipe feeds in.

Anyway I'm sure the other guys will chime in with more words of wisdom than I'm able to provide.

If its getting spark and you can get fuel to it these old sixes should at least fire up no problem.

Good luck

Bob

My 58 Pkup did that a while back after sitting for a while. I was getting fuel to the carb, but wasn't getting inside the carb. The needle had stuck closed and would not let fuel in. I figured the fuel pump had gone out after nearly 25 years of use, put a new one on and still no start. Finally realized I had pressure at the fitting, but the carb was dry inside. Kitted the carb and runs like a sewing machine.

Thanks for the advice guys. Tomorrow I'll probably check out the carburetor. I can't be too upset because all of my electrical accessories work, and the truck starts--even though it only runs for 5 or 10 seconds. :p Once I get it running I can justify fixing things up!

For the process of elimination I keep handy a three gallon outboard motor can with 50-1 mix..I plumb the hose into the intake fitting of the fuel pump and using the primer bulb fill the system full of fuel ..prime the engine if needed..If the engine starts to die I pump the bulb to see if it will stay running...So...if it continues to stop..the problem is from the pump onwards....If it stays running the problem is between the pump and the tank..AKA..flex line pin holes..rotted out steel line..etc....I think the 50-1 mix does an engine good that has been sitting for some time...like an upper cylinder lube...I recently worked on a 1985 Chev V-8 that had a new looking fuel pump and woud only run on the primer fuel...It would not run off my boat can either....Turned out the inner rod in the cheap discount fuel pump was broken....Anyhow...I have used this idea for years especially on stern drive boat systems ..which always have fuel delivery problems...Al..

I haven't had time to mess with it yet, but I'll let you guys know what happens. I'm guessing it't the carburetor because I have a clear filter between my fuel pump and carb. It has fuel in it, but it's obviously not getting to the motor.

Today I ran a hose from the fuel pump inlet to a 2 gallon gas can. I started the truck with starting fluid, but it only stayed running for a few seconds. The pump didn't seem to be pumping any gas to the carburetor. I'll check out the pump later this week.

When I have fuel delivery problems, I just pop the fuel line off the carb and crank the engine.

If the fuel pump is working (and the fuel is making it that far) it'll start squirting gas.

Probably not the proper way to go about it, and definately something you wanna try OUTSIDE and not in the garage, but it lets you know in a hurry if the problem is the carb or something before.

I have a clear filter between the pump and carb. There isn't any gas in it. So my guess is that the pump is the problem. When I decide not to be so lazy I'll check it out.

All of this carb trouble makes me long for the days when I had programmable fuel injection on my other car.

2 things if the pump is bad you may be dumping gas into your oil pan (pull the stick and smell for gas). Second take a small gas can and hook it up t0 the carb after the fuel pump. Let the gas can gravity feed the carb. If the truck runs on this set up it is the pump. I have seen pumps that will squirt gas with an open line but not be able to deliver enough fuel under preasure to keep an enginge running.

Good luck and have your fire extinguisher ready!

Thanks Brian. I'll give the gravity feed thing a try when I get a chance.

I FINALLY got around to messing with the truck. The new pump didn't do the trick...at first. I ran a hose from the pump to a gas can and put some starter fluid in the carburetor. That did the trick. Now it starts right up.

I think I now have to adjust the valves. They sound VERY loud. Almost like a diesel truck. Would they come out of adjustment if the motor was sitiing for 8 months?

Hmm this is a good time for this topic to arise. I have a similar problem, my 216 in my 53 ran good, I started it only weekly for about 4 months. One day it started to sputter, a couple days later it wouldn't even fire. I figured it was a gas problem. So I put 2 new filters on it which did not help. I pulled the line off at the carb and it did not spit gas, so I bought a new fuel pump. It did not help start it yet. But I pulled the line off at the carb and it spit gas everywhere. But it still won't start. I have spark because I have a red sore finger...hehe. Could it be I just need a carb kit like Roy Rodgers above. Or could my timing be out. Thanks.

I got lucky with mine. It was pushing gas to the carb, but the needle was stuck to the point that it wouldn't let gas into the carb. If his will gravity feed with a line hooked to the inlet of the carb then he doesn't have the same problem I did.

Several years ago I also had to pull the sending unit out and replace the sock on it. it had also stopped up and you couldn't pull gas through it with an electric pump. Had the tank cleaned as well.

Take the line loose from the tank and blow back thru it it could have some trash in the line.

ArcticCat, it sounds like you have a carburetor problem to me. By the way, use a timing light to test for spark. They're cheaper than new fingers.

hehe I'll look into that Ace, I think you're onto something ... I'll check the lines, and then maybe do a carb kit. Thanks.

Yeah, a rebuild kit is cheap.

Update. I finally got around to priming the new pump. It took a while, but now the truck starts and runs without any help. The knocking sound even went away!

if the float is stuck giving it a good smack with a hammer should unstick it till the next time it sits for a while.

it was just the pump. I took apart the old pump, and there was a lot of junk in it. I put in a new pump and I also cleaned out the filter between the tank and pump. It had some crud in it.

13BAce glad to hear you got the problem solved!

Thanks Brian. It started this morning and ran better than yesterday. Now I can start working on converting it to fuel injection.

Great to hear that you sorted it out mate. All the best

Bob

You wouldn't have crud in your fuel pump if it wasn't also in your fuel tank, so clean it out also unless you are changing it for a fuel injection friendly tank very soon.

Baldy

Thanks. I cleaned out the fuel filter, and drained some junk from the tank. I put a plastic fuel cell under the bed, but I used some old gas from the original tank. That cheapness is probably what did me in.