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Topic: No gas to carb, can't start!

in Forum: C3 Fuel, Emission Control, and Exhaust Systems

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No gas to carb, can't start! (1/5)
9/6/14 1:51pm

Brownoxford
Former Member
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Chapel Hill, NC - USA

Vette(s):
1979 L48 T-Top

Joined: 5/5/2014
Posts: 15

I just finished some initial work on my 1979; replaced the fuel hoses from the tank to the steel lines, rebuild power steering control valve and ram cylinder, and some other misc. stuff.

I'm trying to get the engine started, and am having no luck. It turns over fine, and if I manually put a little gas in the carb it will start long enough to burn that off, but then dies quickly.

Any suggestions on troubleshooting this issue? The fuel pump looks new (i.e., it's not filthy, like the rest of the underbody), but I don't know for sure.

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Re: No gas to carb, can't start! (2/5)
9/6/14 3:03pm

Sarge81

Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.

Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

So I'm assuming you made sure those new rubber hoses you replaced are not kinked up.

How many times did you prime the carburetor? Sometimes it will take awhile to pull gas up through the fuel line when its been replaced.

If you've primed the carb a few times and still have no luck, then I would disconnect the fuel line at the carburetor and crank it to see if you have fuel pumping from there. If you do get fuel there, you may have a plugged fuel filter.

If not your fuel pump just may have pooped out. You could also crack the supply line from the tank at the fuel pump to see if you have any presence of fuel there.

I highly doubt the "sock" on the end of the fuel sending unit is plugged or collapsed, but it could be a possibility. Thats a last resort item to check there. PITA to get to.

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GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

3.54 Dana 44

'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975

Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.

Lifetime Member #26

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Re: No gas to carb, can't start! (3/5)
9/6/14 6:41pm

Brownoxford
Former Member
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Chapel Hill, NC - USA

Vette(s):
1979 L48 T-Top

Joined: 5/5/2014
Posts: 15

Thanks Sarge, I only primed it once, and it has been sitting for close to two years. When I replaced the fuel hoses, there was very little gas in them to start with. I did replace the fuel filter as well, so that should be clean. I'll try priming it a couple more times and see what happens.

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Re: No gas to carb, can't start! (4/5)
9/7/14 12:34pm

Brownoxford
Former Member
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Chapel Hill, NC - USA

Vette(s):
1979 L48 T-Top

Joined: 5/5/2014
Posts: 15

One more prime of the carb and it started right up! PSCV is balanced (and more importantly, not leaking like a sieve), and it's ready to roll. Thanks for all the help!!

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Re: No gas to carb, can't start! (5/5)
9/7/14 3:03pm

Sarge81

Lifetime Member
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.

Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379

Awesome!

______________

GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.

3.54 Dana 44

'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975

Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.

Lifetime Member #26

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