The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Won,t start

I picked up my 54 3100 about a month ago. I don,t have much time to work on it due to traveling for work. Two weeks ago It started right off and I drove it around the parking lot at work and all was fine until it started to overheat and I shut it down right away. At that point I had only put new points in and gapped them at 20. I had tried to change out the thermostat last week and rounded a bolt. Thanks to advice here I ordered the bolt out and was able to get the bolt out easily (thanks guys) and I changed the thermostat and upper radiator hose and put new bolts in the thermostat housing. I tried to start it and it cranked fine but would only start and run with starting fluid. When the starting fluid ran out it died. I pulled the line before the fuel filter and there was fuel coming out. I pulled the filter and blew through it and it seemed clear but I bought a new one and installed it. At some time the gas tank was replaced on this truck and fairly recently. I put a new distributor cap on and regapped the points at 18 but I had the same problem. Then I gapped them at 22 and same results. I went back to 20. I tried tapping on the carb thinking stuck floats, I sprayed in carb cleaner and I cant get it to run. It sounds like a fuel problem with the carberator but I am not sure. Anyone got and advice? Oh yeah the choke knob eventually pulled off in my hand. Thanks in advance.

you may want to put this in the engine forum vs the transmission forum.