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Topic: 78 Starting issues

in Forum: C3 Engines

Re: 78 Starting issues

Posted: 5/31/16 9:47am Message 11 of 31
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Scarborough, MA - USA
Joined: 5/30/2016
Posts: 30
Vette(s): 78 Corvette stingray
If I were to spray starting fluid in carb if it was a carb issue would it start so I can start ruling some stuff out such as plugs? It is at Sears auto now but to be honest I don't have much faith in Them when it comes to this car.


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Re: 78 Starting issues

Posted: 5/31/16 10:35am Message 12 of 31
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Brookline, NH - USA
Joined: 5/2/2014
Posts: 46
Vette(s): 1976 corvette L82 red interior with white seats and door panels with ceramic headers and flow master exhaust and a Crane Cam
sounds like the carb for sure I wouldn't let sears touch it. i would search for someone in your area that knows about carbs !! You can try putting the pedal to floor and leave it there while you crank it (this is usually done when carb is flooded but should work in getting it started it might spudder for a little bit but only crank it for a few seconds. But my guess is defintely carb just sounds like it from what you are saying since once you get it going it's usually good for the day.

also could be that manual choke your talking about which again is part of the carb.

Did the previous owner tell you exactly how to use the manual choke might be worth a phone call to him and ask him how he use to get it started while cold. 



There's nothing better in life then a Vette Smile
 
 
 

Re: 78 Starting issues

Posted: 5/31/16 11:00am Message 13 of 31
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Scarborough, MA - USA
Joined: 5/30/2016
Posts: 30
Vette(s): 78 Corvette stingray
On the advise of a friend, they already have it Going to replace the plugs distributor and something else? At $528.00 If that dose not do it I will need to find a Vette guy. Seems to have an electronic choke that last owner over rid And put in a manual one for whatever reason? I will know if they were at all successful in a few hours But I feel today's work will be a waiste of time.


Re: 78 Starting issues

Posted: 5/31/16 11:21am Message 14 of 31
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Overland Park, KS - USA
Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 914
Vette(s): 1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day. 2023 Accelerate Yellow HTC Stingray
I suspect you might have just thrown $528 away. Here's what I think is your problem.  Yousay it does not want to start after sitting for several days. What could be happening is the fuel in the float bowl is slowly leaking out and when you go to restart it after several days, the fuel pump needs to refill the bowl. You can check this by removing the air cleaner and pumping the accelerator while looking down the throat of the carburetor. If you do not see it spraying gas, then you know that it's has no fuel in the fuel bowl.  Personally I would get the car back from Sears before they do any of the above-mentioned work that you mentioned.


1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 78 Starting issues

Posted: 5/31/16 11:25am Message 15 of 31
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Scarborough, MA - USA
Joined: 5/30/2016
Posts: 30
Vette(s): 78 Corvette stingray
I agree that I most likely just threw over $500. Away, but at least now I know those parts will now Be new at least, So, to your point, if I took starting fluid and sprayed it Down the carb, am I correct to say it should fire up then Until I can find a Vette guy to fix it correctly?


Re: 78 Starting issues

Posted: 5/31/16 12:52pm Message 16 of 31
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North Charleston, SC - USA
Joined: 3/20/2004
Posts: 4176
Vette(s): 1975 L48 AT AC T-top
I agree with 73Shark. Definitely sounds like the float bowl is leaking/emptying and the fuel pump is filling the bowl before any fuel is being introduced to the combustion chamber. It also could be choke issue but certainly sounds like the engine is staving for fuel on initial cranking.


Re: 78 Starting issues

Posted: 5/31/16 2:16pm Message 17 of 31
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Overland Park, KS - USA
Joined: 7/9/2003
Posts: 914
Vette(s): 1973 Orange Metallic Coupe (orig owner), L82, 4 spd (WR), PS, (A/C & PW (I installed from wrecked 73)), leather, AM/FM Stereo, ran with '65 FI unit earlier & will again some day. 2023 Accelerate Yellow HTC Stingray
buxton161 said: I agree that I most likely just threw over $500. Away, but at least now I know those parts will now Be new at least, So, to your point, if I took starting fluid and sprayed it Down the carb, am I correct to say it should fire up then Until I can find a Vette guy to fix it correctly?
 I suppose you could do that but ether is dangerous if the engine backfires and it is very, very flammable.  As you can imagine, Corvettes do not tolerate engine fires very well.

 If your carburetor has an idle vent, it would be easier and safer to refill the bowl with gasoline through that vent.





|UPDATED|5/31/2016 2:16:47 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|



1973 L-82 4 spd

Re: 78 Starting issues

Posted: 5/31/16 4:26pm Message 18 of 31
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Scarborough, MA - USA
Joined: 5/30/2016
Posts: 30
Vette(s): 78 Corvette stingray
Back from sears,

New plugs, wires distributor and its running, however still hesitates a bit before starting.

The true test will be tomorrow morning after it has been sitting all night.

I do have to find a good vette guy to look at the carb and possibly rebuild it.

Tomorrow will be the true test to see if they fixed something, or just moved something around a bit getting gas into the carb.



Re: 78 Starting issues

Posted: 5/31/16 5:43pm Message 19 of 31
Former Member
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Scarborough, MA - USA
Joined: 5/30/2016
Posts: 30
Vette(s): 78 Corvette stingray
Yep, Just gave me a small issue starting then stalled While in reverse. Had to keep my foot on the gas for a Few to prevent her from stalling. Dam it. Don't know where I am going to find a reliable Vette guy Here in Maine


Re: 78 Starting issues

Posted: 5/31/16 6:12pm Message 20 of 31
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Canada
Joined: 12/24/2013
Posts: 414
Vette(s): 1975 L48 Stingray 1992 LT1
there is all the guys right here on this site to walk you through it start with what carb you have then go to u tube and watch a video of it and you will have much better understanding of how things work then all the advice here will make sense to you. Great bunch here




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