Ok, the other day I had vette on the driveway and was looking at some stuff and decided to put it back. Thought I'd have enough gas but apparently I used it up enough so that when I went up an incline gas stopped going to the carb.. No big deal. I put some gas in and dried starting up but gas spewed out of the carb and it flooded. Long story short, I had been unable to start the car for about 3 days becuase gas would spew from the carb and I'd have to keep my foot on the ignition to keep the motor running. Today I tried it and it gurgled a spurt of gas but is now running fine, actually perfect. My question is, was this because the float was stuck when it went to empty and it just now released, or is it something more serious? Must say, it wasn't the most pleasant experience.

P.S.
I was taking my friends little brother for a drive when this happened.. Took the tops off and everything (my driveways pretty long) and figured I could get it up to about 30 and let him hear the engine and stuff. Then I get to the end of the driveway and turn up the hill and the car stalls.. It was like I was on display to the world, right next to my neighbors and the highway.. SO I tried starting it, that didn't work and eventually the battery died.. Had my friend jump it, that didn't work.. Eventually I had to have my dad help me and we hocked it up to the truck while he steered and drug it back to its car port.. It was an experience.. Just some character building humility I suppose. :o

 

The float is likely stuck in the 'down' position or the float is saturated with fuel and won't float...which will NOT shut off the fuel supply to the carb as required. You will need to remove and [at least, partially] disassemble the carb to correct this problem. If the carb has lots of years/miles on it, you should just get a kit and rebuild it. Also purchase a new float, if it doesn't come with the kit.

 

Neat, I've been told that if you tap lightly on the side of the carb where the gas line is that the float will release is this true? And how much is a carb kit, where can I get it, and how do I rebuild it?

 

I have bought several carb kits at NAPA, both Rochesters and Holleys. Get the numbers off the carb as well as the year and engine code. The kit comes with reasonable instructions that anyone with some mechanical inclination should be able to follow. Sorry, but I forgot how much I paid. Maybe $20?

 

If you are very lucky, that might happen...but it's doubtful. [no harm in trying, though] You can get a rebuild kit for your carb (and the float, if not in the kit) at NAPA and any number of car parts places. NAPA doesn't sell 'junk'....yet; other places do. If you just want the thing fixed quickly, you might want to exchange your carb for a rebuilt--if you can locate a good match for yours. If you want to learn about the carb and how to work on it...and you have decent mechanical skills...go to one of the chain book stores {in the Transportation section} and pick up a manual on rebuilding and proper setup of your carb (Q-jet or other carb brands all have such books). You need to read up on how yours is put together, how to take it apart, clean it out, rebuild and properly adjust it. The manual will be about $30; the kit and float will be about $40; rebuilding and adjusting your carb will take a day or so (for a first-timer, anyway; experts do it in an hour or two). So, it will cost you less than $100 to rebuild it. To replace it with a rebuilt unit would be $150 or so; a new unit would cost about $200+. Rebuilding yours makes sense if you have the downtime available to study, learn and do it.

 

you can buy carb kits from just about anywhere...even amazon.com

 

Tomorrow will be fun, I'm going for the do it yourself option. Thanks for all the help.