So I decided to head to one of my areas largest annual car shows here in Olcott NY this morning. Over 1,000 cars. Line was long to get in and idled and moved a few feet at a time for almost an hour. Car is 350 car, Holley carb and mild rebuild, 4 speed... (feel free to check my profile for some specs). Temperature gauge stayed around 195 on the way in. 20 feet from my spot the car sputtered for a second. A few feet away and she stalled. Turns over but nothing happens.... oil changed last night and after she stalled still looks good . I have had an issue when the car sits for a week or so it takes a while to fire up (like no fuel in the lines) or when I go for a cruise and gets up to temp and let it sit for 2 hours it takes a little bit to start...... but let it sit for 10 minutes and she starts right up...today after it stalled the temp gauge went up to over 230 degrees..... I have seen some threads about fuel boiling in and out of the carb....... all new fuel lines within a year or 2 and doesn't drip a drop of any fluids in my garage.... any ideas? Haven't checked the basics like spark or a anything yet..... gonna let her cool down and try to fire her up in an hour or so.... Wish me luck and hope I don't need a tow
Open gas cap. Sounds like you don’t have a tank vent if its not starting for a week. . Pull plugs also just to make sure they are not wet/flooded. Your timing should be up atleast near 10 advanced at idle.
Thanks. Yeah a lot of folks said vapor lock.... it did just fire up after sitting for a few hours but took a bit... at least i can get home need to figure this out though. Thanks again
Sounds like vapor lock to me. For the show problem anyhow. The hard start after sitting a week is common. Evaporation and drainback are primary causes of this.
Riv sets for a week or more at a time and I know its gonna take 2 pumps of the peddle and 2-3 rounds of 6 second of cranking. It always starts and once its been run will fire up with a quick click of the key.
My Skylark would take a while to start also if not started for a few days, that's why I went to an electric fuel pump now I just switch it on three times to get the fuel to the carb and starts right up. Mine is wired so it will only run for a few seconds if the engine is not started.
I always carry a can of starting fluid with me so I can quickly rule out one problem. It's easy to see if you have spark with a screwdriver. Or you can just stick your finger in.
I don't remember reading it, but when this happens, IS there any fuel shooting outta the accelerator pump nozzles? Being you have a Holley carb, remove one of the site plugs to see if fuel pours out.
Thanks guys, will try a few different things... now I know its fairly common when it sits for a bit...
I had the same type of starting after setting problem with my 73 Ski Nautique. Finally went to cheap inline electric pump and not had problem since.
