Starting issue

[Sara 68 Coupe]

Hi, Im trying to get my 289 ‘68 coupe started after many years of sitting in garage unused.

So far I have; replaced all rubber fuel hoses, removed/cleaned and refurbed tank, new sender unit, new fuel pump, new battery, new coil & Blown out the metal fuel lines so there is no blockage (though lots of filth came out). Done Oil change and filter. Engine turns but will not fire up and there is no fuel getting to carb (I put a bottle on the end of the fuel line before carb and no fuel is going in). Ive put around 8litres of new fuel with additive in the tank.

Any ideas?!

[pmustang]

When you take off air cleaner and pour a bit of fuel down the front bowls (four barrel) or front bowls (2 barrel carb) does the car then start? Put air cleaner back on before attempting starting in case it backfires.

[DavidG]

As the car has stood for so long and you had a lot of muck out of the fuel lines, I would make sure the carb is clean inside.

[ALLAN R]

The first thing I would do is to disconnect the fuel line from the carb and put the fuel line into a clear plastic bottle. Crank the motor and see if fuel is coming out of the line. There should be good healthy squirts of fuel.If not the pump may not be priming. If you have an air line, that you used to blow out the lines I would put the air line in the filler cap with some rag around it and try to blow some fuel through to the pump whilst cranking the engine. The pump should pick up and begin to pump fuel. With this done it should need a few seconds of cranking to fill the carb before you start to get some firing from the engine.

[Sara 68 Coupe]

I seem to remember a hear or two ago (prob last time it was running) it did fire up momentarily when fuel was poured directly into carb, I’ll make that the next thing to try.

Is there a quick / easy way to see if the carb is clean inside?

I tried pitting the bottle at end of fuel line before the carb to check for fuel, nothing is getting that far. I don't have an airline as such, when I blew out the metal lines I did it manually… but I guess you mean if there was some pressure to push the fuel through from the tank end that may help?

[missfastback]

Try pouring fuel down the pipe that comes from the fuel pump then reconnect pour some fuel into carb give it a try might work fingers crossed ⁷

[moozmoozmooz]

Resist the temptation to pour raw fuel around the engine, its dangerous and embarrassing on the insurance claim. Reading your post you don't seem to have a carburettor problem (at the moment) A few simple things you could try, do you have fuel to the pump, disconnecting the tank/pump line, gravity should pull fuel through (open the filler cap there might be a venting problem) a couple more gallons in the tank couldn't hurt. Are the inlet/ outlet lines connect correctly (generally nipple on the inlet and olive/nut on the outlet. And when installing the new pump did you encounter pressure, the pump lever needs to run on the underside of the pump drive cam.
Best wishes

[ALLAN R]

Without and air line, as said above, try disconnecting the fuel inlet line from the tank into the pump and see if fuel is flowing down this pipe to the pump, it should. I am pretty sure the issue is that the pump is not priming.

[pmustang]

I seem to remember a hear or two ago (prob last time it was running) it did fire up momentarily when fuel was poured directly into carb, I’ll make that the next thing to try.

Is there a quick / easy way to see if the carb is clean inside?

I tried pitting the bottle at end of fuel line before the carb to check for fuel, nothing is getting that far. I don't have an airline as such, when I blew out the metal lines I did it manually… but I guess you mean if there was some pressure to push the fuel through from the tank end that may help?

As alan mentions if it did start with fuel directly in the carb and no fuel coming from the fuel pump it sounds like a fuel pressure issue/flow issue and nothing else untoward.

[missfastback]

Resist the temptation to pour raw fuel around the engine, its dangerous and embarrassing on the insurance claim. Reading your post you don't seem to have a carburettor problem (at the moment) A few simple things you could try, do you have fuel to the pump, disconnecting the tank/pump line, gravity should pull fuel through (open the filler cap there might be a venting problem) a couple more gallons in the tank couldn't hurt. Are the inlet/ outlet lines connect correctly (generally nipple on the inlet and olive/nut on the outlet. And when installing the new pump did you encounter pressure, the pump lever needs to run on the underside of the pump drive cam.
Best wishes

It worked for me

[rider]

There is no point trying to start the car until you fix the no fuel to carb problem. If you disconnect the fuel line at the pump and get fuel but then get no fuel to the carb then you know the pump isn't working. This will only be one of two reasons, a burst diaphragm or missing or slipping eccentric cam. I wouldn't worry about solving a fuel or lack of issue at all, solving timing and spark issues can be much more involved.

With the mechanical pump there are only two bolts that hold it in so its an easy removal to check it out and poke the timing chain while there to see that has a decent tension to it.

[Sara 68 Coupe]

Thanks all, maybe I’ll source an airline of some sort and try that. I believe there is fuel getting to the pump i.e it leaked a bit of fuel last time I disconnected the tank-pump line (although that was before emptying the tank to refurb it). Fuel pump is brand new and when fitting it there was tension on the arm so I believe its fitted correctly.

Might be a week before I get the chance to work on it again but will update after that,

[ALLAN R]

Thanks all, maybe I’ll source an airline of some sort and try that. I believe there is fuel getting to the pump i.e it leaked a bit of fuel last time I disconnected the tank-pump line (although that was before emptying the tank to refurb it). Fuel pump is brand new and when fitting it there was tension on the arm so I believe its fitted correctly.

Might be a week before I get the chance to work on it again but will update after that,

The fuel should flow freely out of the tank line at the pump. The fuel line comes out of the tank and rises above the tank to go along the chassis rails. I guess it's a matter of pulling or pushing the fuel into the line using either an airline or a syphon of some sort.