79 quadrajet modifications
Race Director
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From: San Jose CA
Is it reasonable for there to be fuel in the float after 7 days? The float bowl is designed to let fuel evaporate out.
Also, setting the carb on a paper towel on the bench will tell you if it's leaking out the bottom or evaporation only.
Back when my car was carbureted, I'd have to crank for a few seconds, then pump the carb, then crank to start if I wasn't driving daily. No leakage issues.
Also, setting the carb on a paper towel on the bench will tell you if it's leaking out the bottom or evaporation only.
Back when my car was carbureted, I'd have to crank for a few seconds, then pump the carb, then crank to start if I wasn't driving daily. No leakage issues.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: eastern NC
Shark Racer, I agree, it is not unreasonable for fuel to evaporate over a 7 day period. 
However it is also prudent to check that it isn't ending up in the base as well. Especially so, since it is pretty easy to check. If for no other reason than peace of mind.
GUSTO
However it is also prudent to check that it isn't ending up in the base as well. Especially so, since it is pretty easy to check. If for no other reason than peace of mind.
GUSTO
Race Director
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From: San Jose CA
Agreed 100%. Fuel does not make for the best cylinder lubricant... especially after it washes and leaves a clean, dry bore.
Last edited by Shark Racer; Sep 16, 2020 at 02:30 AM.
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Shark Racer, I would have thought 7 days would be achievable but as you say maybe not, I will see how many days it takes to completely empty, will take a few weeks to do that though. When I redid the well plugs I put the carb on some paper for over 12 hours and there was no evidence of fuel after that time so thought all was good.
Gusto14 The oil level is fine and still clear so doesn't look like it is draining into the bores.
As I said above I will see what the longest time is between able to start up first time and having to turn it over and over before it starts. In the meantime I have wiring issues as well now so will be posting up another thread.
Gusto14 The oil level is fine and still clear so doesn't look like it is draining into the bores.
As I said above I will see what the longest time is between able to start up first time and having to turn it over and over before it starts. In the meantime I have wiring issues as well now so will be posting up another thread.
Race Director
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From: San Jose CA
stilltrying - please try this technique for the next start after a few days: when you first get into the car, don’t touch the gas pedal. Let the engine crank over for a few seconds, a 3-second count SHOULD be good, but experiment. Stop cranking. Fully depress the accelerator pedal and release once, then crank again. The car should fire pretty much immediately.
EFI cars need to prime the injection system before they start - there’s no reason a carbed car shouldn’t need at least a little bit of priming, especially after a week of sitting.
EFI cars need to prime the injection system before they start - there’s no reason a carbed car shouldn’t need at least a little bit of priming, especially after a week of sitting.
Last edited by Shark Racer; Sep 20, 2020 at 02:18 PM.
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Well, a bit of an up date, did as shark racer suggested and having not touched the car for two weeks I cranked it so it turned over maybe four or five times then depressed the accelerator to bring on the choke and it fired right up. I am happy with this as it doesn't crank for ages and two weeks apart I can live with. If used everyday then it fires right up each time, so it looks like doing the well plugs and adding in the filter has made an improvement that I think is reasonable. As stated fuel does evaporate but I think after two weeks there must still be some fuel left in the carb as it would take alot more than four or five revolutions of the engine to get enough fuel up to the carb to allow it to run.
One problem down just a hand full more to go
One problem down just a hand full more to go
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Race Director
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From: San Jose CA
A couple turns of the motor probably pumps a lot more fuel than you think. If you figure a fuel pump is ~70 GPH, that means the motor could put out over 1 gallon in one minute. A few seconds should be worth at least an ounce or two - and that's enough to get things running.
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A last 2020 update.
Hadn't touched the car for well over 6 weeks, went to try to start it, cranked over maybe 8 times and fired in to life, left it running for a good twenty minutes, heater inside nice and toasty, it's bloody freezing over here and the car is outside so I'm very happy it started the way that it did.
Only possible down side is that it is definitely running rich so will need to see if I can do something with that given that a gallon of fuel over here costs the equivalent to just over double what you pay in the USA.
So a big thanks to everyone who helped me get to where I am now.
Hadn't touched the car for well over 6 weeks, went to try to start it, cranked over maybe 8 times and fired in to life
, left it running for a good twenty minutes, heater inside nice and toasty, it's bloody freezing over here and the car is outside so I'm very happy it started the way that it did.Only possible down side is that it is definitely running rich so will need to see if I can do something with that given that a gallon of fuel over here costs the equivalent to just over double what you pay in the USA.
So a big thanks to everyone who helped me get to where I am now.