1970 Grande won't start; looking for thoughts

[horse sence]

I started it up and it ran for a few on its own and died because the bowl was emptied. Refilled it and now it's squirting tiny bits of fuel up out of it. :/

Soo I'm not a carb person, this means?

It's also not replenishing the reservoir, this could be because I only put a gallon in the tank and the lines are dry. But anyone have a different thought?
I'll check the fuel filter for rust build up.

it some times takes a few turns for the fuel pump to pick up.as long as it has sat the fuel pump may have gone bad.

 

[JordanB21]

I did find minor minor bits of rust in the fuel filter, I blew it out and bits of fuel dripped out and it had rust sediment. But it seemed negligible. I've read I should try cranking it with the carb off the fuel line, clear bottle and a hose, if it pumps fuel it should be good. Is this a test I should look to conduct?

 

[horse sence]

if you do it carefully, put the hose in a clear bottle and have some one crank it
see if it pumps anything into the bottle ,if you get rust you will probably need a new tank.take the filter off the hose first so it will not trap any garbage from the tank and plug up.

 

[JordanB21]

if you do it carefully, put the hose in a clear bottle and have some one crank it
see if it pumps anything into the bottle ,if you get rust you will probably need a new tank.take the filter off the hose first so it will not trap any garbage from the tank and plug up.

looks like the plan for the next free day I have then!

 

[woodsnake]

The farther we get from the fuel these cars are designed for, the worse it is for fuel to sit and degrade. I had a LOT of valve train issues, some legitimately from a similar state as your car is in. If there is rust in the tank, you can try and remove it, clean it, coat it with that gas tank repair stuff, and find out it is still crappy. Or, you can spend the money, get a new tank and sending unit, and completely remove "bad fuel from the tank" in the restoration process. My opinion is that a new tank/fuel sending unit is the smart way to go.
http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=70002K+01

 

[JordanB21]

The farther we get from the fuel these cars are designed for, the worse it is for fuel to sit and degrade. I had a LOT of valve train issues, some legitimately from a similar state as your car is in. If there is rust in the tank, you can try and remove it, clean it, coat it with that gas tank repair stuff, and find out it is still crappy. Or, you can spend the money, get a new tank and sending unit, and completely remove "bad fuel from the tank" in the restoration process. My opinion is that a new tank/fuel sending unit is the smart way to go.
http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=70002K 01

The gas tank is a huge worry for me. The filler hole tubing is actually broken off, when it was left while restoring they order the bottle neck piece. So debris from the trunk could've gone into it, rust was already found in the fuel filter as little as it was, there's more where it came from.

I was looking at gas tanks but I can't justify buying the tank and misc pieces yet because I don't know if I can handle it. Lifting the back on uneven ground (dirt), dropping it is easy, but replacing the sending unit I don't know what entails.


Wouldn't I also need to clean the fuel lines? And I still think the fuel pump is bad, but that's cheap.

So I'm looking at-to summarise-
Fuel pump 40
Gas tank and sending unit 130
Fuel line replacement (maybe) 30

Which isn't bad for getting a car to start and run. Then noting the 25 I spent on the carb rebuild 5 on the lower gasket.



But I can't stop imaging how great it would be to be driving it around
Just needs new tires for the front (they're too big and rub) and interior and trunk restoration which aren't immediate.

 

[woodsnake]

Keep an eye on the local craigs list, for things like used tires, and even carbs and intake manifolds. I shop craigs list all the time, and have never had a bad experience yet. Meaning I have never had a problem with a person trying to steal from me, or rob me.

 

[horse sence]

The gas tank is a huge worry for me. The filler hole tubing is actually broken off, when it was left while restoring they order the bottle neck piece. So debris from the trunk could've gone into it, rust was already found in the fuel filter as little as it was, there's more where it came from.

I was looking at gas tanks but I can't justify buying the tank and misc pieces yet because I don't know if I can handle it. Lifting the back on uneven ground (dirt), dropping it is easy, but replacing the sending unit I don't know what entails.


Wouldn't I also need to clean the fuel lines? And I still think the fuel pump is bad, but that's cheap.

So I'm looking at-to summarise-
Fuel pump 40
Gas tank and sending unit 130
Fuel line replacement (maybe) 30

Which isn't bad for getting a car to start and run. Then noting the 25 I spent on the carb rebuild 5 on the lower gasket.



But I can't stop imaging how great it would be to be driving it around
Just needs new tires for the front (they're too big and rub) and interior and trunk restoration which aren't immediate.

just part of the thrill of owning a classic, knowing you did the work and made it
run your self......priceless.

 

[JordanB21]

Keep an eye on the local craigs list, for things like used tires, and even carbs and intake manifolds. I shop craigs list all the time, and have never had a bad experience yet. Meaning I have never had a problem with a person trying to steal from me, or rob me.

Always do! I love craigslist. But sadly theres only a guy with a boat load of interior misc pieces and exterior trim pieces. Nothing really of what I need right now. I've used it plenty for my foxbody (which I might sell soon now because there's a fubar mess of suspension) which I should make some profit, enough for money return on investment, profit, and then some for the Grande.

just part of the thrill of owning a classic, knowing you did the work and made it
run your self......priceless.

Telling people that, yes. I don't know what it is, but carbs I think are way cooler than fuel injected. Not that fuel injected isn't efficient, but carbs are so hands on, guess and check, no computer, no schematics.


It isn't much work, but I have all the rights to saying I fixed it, I drive it, and it's a classic when it's street ready. If everything goes my way it should be before new years. But who knows.