Tony...the fuel pump "whirrs" and never stops.

Joe Curto is the guy to go to for carb rebuild kits.

If you do contact Joe Curto, try to be in front of the carbs when you talk to him.It makes for better ID of the carbs and the parts you'll need.

That means it can't pressurize the system either because of a`problem in the fuel pump or one in the carbs....however, all that fuel its putting into the carbs has to go someplace & that's into the carb cannister & then all over the garage floor.

You might need this checklist because I'm betting every system is gonna need rebuilding http://www.theautoist.com/CHECKLIST.HTM.

Right now, pull the carbs for a rebuild & prepare to rebuild/replace the fuel pump.

Don't worry Gary, it'll get better. I'm just a dilletante, mechanically speaking,but after hanging around this forum, I've learned a lot. I learned a lot of new words from reading some of the posts, but then Basil installed the cuss word filters, so those days are gone.

One new word I can help you with is "dizzy" ( in case Dr. Entropy is abed already)

Dizzy = distributor.

I was fortunate enough to live down the road from Doc when I first got my GT. He managed to instill some good problem solving pointers, and he makes great coffee!

And Tony makes an excellent suggestion regarding the fuel pump. It may be working now, but once it meets resistance ( when the carbs are fixed), it may resemble a lawn sprinkler when in operation.

Not abed yet but th' chicken is about grill'd.

BTW, Garry, your presence is miss'd. Mornin' coffee is still here, tho.



Extrapolation is as good as anythin' there.


And if th' pump is "humming" or "buzzing" it's likely an aftermarket one. It may be overpressuring the float needle. That thing doesn't want to see more'n a few PSI delivery pressure. 2.5 to 3.5 MAX.

I REALLY appreciate all of the help and kind words. You guys are great help! If there weren't cuss word filters, I'd have to let loose every now and then . Thanks again. I'll be back at work on it tomorrow. G'night all.

I know everybody wants to hear their engine run...but, you've got a car that's been sitting for 18 years....does it have good brakes? good clutch? is there 18 year old oil that's turned to vinegar in the engine? does it have old gas that's turned to varnish in the gas tank? How old is the anti-freeze in the car? are the tires 18 years old? I wouldn't trust them down the drive!

You've got lots of things to think about before cranking the engine

And ~DO~ keep us up on events. Once we start this process we kinda feel "vested" in the project!

Tony's assessment (and his "Awakening" article) are top shelf. Old fuel is the enemy, old oil worse. If the beastie has truly not run in 18 years your best (safest) bet is to have it up on jackstands and go thru the drill outlined in Tony's article. We don't need to hear ya have the engine spun up only to have the thing smash ya into the garden wall 'cause the brakes are useless.

Remember: It ain't how fast the thing can go but rather how well it'll STOP that really counts.


And me dear ol' Grandad told me once: "Son, ya can run 'em all day without gas, but don't even START it without proper oil!"

...I thought at th' time th' ol' coot wuz loony. Only later did I recognize the wisdom.

Wait a minute Doc - wasn't your Grandad referring to the Stanley Steamer when he made the remark about running without gas? >:))

OUCH!!

Ouch?

When my Grandfather talked about tuning up the family sedan, it meant he'd gotten the mule re-shod.

mehheh... not in that particular instance, but he DID tell me the Stanley company would bring a car to the Rogers (Ohio) fair and anyone who could hold it to WOT down a quarter-mile hill without backing out of the throttle could drive the thing home. It would have been something over 70 MPH, IIRC.

Yikes! And no seatbelts, either.

Nobody ever had th' nads to actually go the distance.

& today I toss my 380SL in neutral down one of our tallest, curviest 'mountains' to see how far I can coast.....I start at the speed limit & get up to 90-95!

Kinda puts things into perspective: Nearly 100 years later and we can COAST down paved roads faster than that steam power'd buggy could rumble down a grade in a pasture at full throttle... in air conditioned comfort!!!

OK guys...here we go. Tony, Doc and everyone else, we really appreciate the help and comments. I realize that I have a LOT of work to do on this car. I do need to say though that I don't THINK I'm QUITE as dumb as I look...maybe close . Our thought was that, given our mechanical inexperience and financial situation, we should see if the car would run before investing in new brakes, tires, floor pans, etc., etc.

Carla and I put it on jack stands and read Tony's Awakening list. We changed the oil, had been told that it was drained of fuel before being parked (found nothing in the tank on plug removal), put in new plugs and tried to start. That's when we discovered the fuel/carbon canister problem that started this topic.

We then took your advice and removed and disassembled the carbs...they were indeed "gunked up". We decided to try just cleaning before rebuilding. We rebuilt the carbon canister. Tried starting again...no fuel/canister problem but no spark either. We put in new distributor cap, points, rotor and condenser. Car fired up within 30 seconds and runs well with all gears working.

We now will not be starting it again until all other fluids are changed, brakes rebuilt, new tires, floor pans installed, some new wiring done, etc. Thank you all VERY MUCH for your assistance and I'm sure we'll be asking a lot more questions.

Congrats! I think were some of the info you shared in this latest post in the first post, we might've taken a different direction with our help....but, you pulled off what you wanted: hearing it run.....as for my checklist, use it as you need it....it doesn't have to be followed top to bottom but the items on it are usually the ones I've found needing work in my experience with these little cars.

Keep us informed & don't be afraid to ask questions.

Thanks Tony...we really appreciate the help and we are never afraid to ask questions. You'll be hearing many more!!