Hi all...many of you have helped me so far...thank you...but it ain't over

Quick recap:
Last time I drove the car last fall, it back-fired and died while sitting in front of my house. After that, it wouldn't start...pushed it into the garage and there it sat all winter.

This spring...wouldn't start. A friend came over and confirmed it's getting fuel and that I wasn't getting spark. I changed the coil, points, condensor, battery. Now, after changing the battery, the car fired up immediately on the first turn of the key...it ran like crap for about a minute while leaving my foot on the gas...as I started backing my foot off to see if it would hold idle on its own, it died. I thought no big deal...it should run like crap, it's been sitting here for 9 months. But then...wouldn't start again.

I disconnect the battery, let it sit over-night...last night try to start it again...it starts immediately on the first turn of the key...runs like crap for a minute or two...dies...then won't start.

I brought my rotor in to the auto parts store and they thought it looked ok...I cleaned up the edge a bit and put it back in. I bought a new cap and a new set of plugs, but didn't put those parts in yet. The fuel filter is only 2 years old and probably has 1000 miles on it at best.

Car is 1970, 350hp/350, big holley carb, headers, different cam (previous owner raced the car).

Ideas? Please?

 

Water in the gas tank. Buy some dry gas and pour it in. Or pour some fresh fuel in the tank. Generally if I know I'll be storing a car over the winter, I put in some fuel stabilizer and keep the tank as full as possible.

Good luck.

 

Water in the fuel was what I was thinking too.

 

Now my thoughts that you are getting spark and it is running (not vary good) is the carb is gummed up dirty and your needle jets and possible bowl float ect.........before I got into vetts I have been into boats and performance marine engines for 20 years and us boaters go through many PAINS to winterize or engines for LONG storage periods 3 to 6 months.

The fuel in carbs and EFI systems has been and will forever be a source of problems in storage if one forgets to FUEL STABLIZE and clean it when she comes out of storage.

I am amazed how little talk their is about proper storage of engines on these vette engines that see as much storage as most boats. Boaters change oils before storage,(lowers acid content)FOGG the engine(lubercates the rings & valves), fuel stablize (lowers gum up)

Just .02 worth

 

ya' pour in 2-3 bottles of Heat and add a few gals of fresh gas

 

Thanks for the feedback!

I didn't think of water! Typically my Vette mechanic has told me to just make sure I fill the tank with gas before it goes into storage, and then start the car once a month and let it get to operating temperatures...then I should be fine.

Well, of course when my car died last fall it was REALLY low on gas (in fact, when it died I thought that might have been why...I ran out of gas). And since I couldn't get it started, I haven't been able to bring it up to fill it up. I should have brought gas to it...but I didn't.

Also, when my friend was helping me a couple weeks ago (checking for spark), he noted that my carb was really dirty...I think he said quite a bit of varnish???? Not sure.

Ok...so I will put some heet in...get some good gas in it...get it running (I hope).

So, do we think that it wasn't sparking before because I may have had bad battery and/or condensor and/or coil? And since I changed that part, now it starts..but runs poorly due to other reasons? I wish I had confidence as to why it didn't start before...as in, did I really fix that problem when I changed the parts...I suppose I could put the old coil and condensor back in and see what happens?

Would your theory of bad gas/dirty carb explain why lately it has started on the first fire...then won't start after that? It almost seems like there is something related to disconnecting the battery for a while, then reconnecting and it works. I guess I have been focused on electrical problems...

Thanks again...I really appreciate your help!

 

Also, why not create a post in the events section for example and explain that you need help with your car. I'm sure a few good hearted Vette enthusiasts in Minneapolis would be glad to help get you back on the road.

 

my dad works up in minneapolis every other week consulting, he knows his stuff has been working on these cars since he was my age, and is why i know everything i do, he gets bored at night so if you really need help i can prolly ask him about it, not sure if he would be up for it or not

 

Some of those Holley's have power valves, and all it takes is a backfire to destroy them. Might be your problem, if fresh fuel didn't work. Sounds like it had problems before you parked it for the winter though, could have bad gas from sitting, but what about then?

 

Hey Mpls Funk,

Our fuel up here has a lot of ethanol in it. I've never had any water problems. I don't think we need to use Heet anymore.

I had a Camaro that did the same thing as your car and it turned out that the float was sticking. The fuel would slowly trickle in and fill the bowl. The car would run for one bowl full then die. No restart 'til it filled again. Anyway, even if this is not the problem, I would clean/rebuild that dirty carb and replace that older power valve. It can't hurt and would probably help your overall performance.

I'm not a tech, and as you can see from my post I don't know much.
I'm located in the SW suburbs. Let me know if you need any help.

-Dan

 

-Dan[/QUOTE]

 

For the price of a kit for a Holley carb, I'd be pulling it off, cleaning it all up and running a kit through it...

Just a thought

 

Hey all -

Sorry, been away on vacation for the past week. Unfortunately my car didn't fix itself while I was gone!

Here's the update...before I left for vacation, I poured one bottle of Heet in it and added 10 gallons of 92 octane gas. I started it before I left (about 20 minutes after adding the stuff) and it again ran like crap for a few minutes, then wouldn't start.

Upon retunring this weekend, I started the car...again, it started immediately...ran like crap for a few minutes....died....then wouldn't start back up.

So...as of now, I can get the car to start immediately on the first turn...it runs like crap for a few minutes...can't hold its own idle...I have to keep my foot on the gas...then, when it dies, it won't start back up.

Note that I am disconnecting the battery between uses because I'm affriad there is a small drain on the system somewhere (which will be my next adventure once I get it running again) and I don't want to replace another battery.

Some of U have mentioned a sticky float...do U have any pictures that could help show me what that part is and how I could check it? I will get the numbers off my carbs (the Holley that's on it now and the original one I have in the garage - I think it's the Q-jet?) and post here tomorrow.

Thanks again...

 

mplsfunk...

If you would like, I could stop over sometime this week and take a look at it for you. I've been fixing and modifying cars for the last 30 yrs. I live in the NE suburbs...between White Bear Lake and Stillwater. Send me an e-mail and I can call you to set up a time and place. I'm free this week, Monday-Thursday daytime, and Tuesday evening is open as well.

Jeff
ixlr8rt@aol.com

 

My money is on the sticky float. Sounds like it's flooding.

Brett

 

Jeff - thanks for the offer. I heard through the grapevine that my in-laws are buying me some meters for my birthday...and now I heard they are coming out tonight. My father-in-law has had some experience working with cars and such. I think I will wait until tonight and see how it goes...and mention all the things U guys have said and see if we can't get it working. If not, I may need to make an SOS call. Unfortunately, I'm way down in Shakopee...quite a ways for U!

Hopefully tomorrow morning I will be able to post that the car is working, along with the carb numbers so that U all can help me get a rebuild kit...then I get to really start asking questions!!!

Thanks again!!!

 

It could also be the fuel filter, especially if it's the small stone one. For $5 try that first

 

Boy, oh boy...long story short...the car lives!!!

My father-in-law came over last night and bought me a timing light and dwell meter for my birthday. We then went out and started the car. Guess what happened....I'm embarrassed to tell U...well, I never claimed to be smart about this stuff!!!

The Holley carb that the previous owner put on had a manual choke on it (w/no cable)...and it was stuck closed. Explains why I could start it when it was cold...it would run for a few minutes...then die...and no re-start!!!

Man...I remember reading in my Haynes book about how that choke plate should be closed when it starts...and I confirmed that it was doing that...but I never thought to confirm that it was opening up after I start it...although, I wouldn't have been able to (by myself) as I was trapped in the car with my foot on the gas anyway.

He also sprayed quite a bit of that cheap carb cleaner in it and recommends that I change the plugs and oil, which I will do. Before we figured it out, he thought the carb was just broken as he couldn't figure out why the choke was sticking closed...he thought I would need to have it rebuilt. Then he finally realized it was a manual choke, then moved something with a screwdriver and it would then allow us to open it and it would stay open.

This also explains why in years past, the car is a little tough to start when it's cold and I gotta keep my foot on the gas until it warms up a bit to keep it running...because the choke is stuck open, by "design."

So, the car is alive...I drove it to work today even! Quite a nice b-day present! I do still need an opinion:

My father-in-law suggested that since the car is running now, he wouldn't mess with rebuilding the carb...he thought leave it alone. What do you all think?

Anyway...now I can get on to fixing my headlights, windshield wipers, electrical problems, etc...but at least I can drive my car!!!!

Thank U all so much for all of the help and suggestions U have given me...this is really a great group of people!!!

 

Don't rebuild the carb....if it aint broke, don't fix it.

 

Glad to hear your problem was simple. Your question about rebuilding? If it runs alright, leave it be. Just my humble opinion. Sounds like you do need a choke cable installed though.