Took my '66 Skylark 300 with 4bbl out yesterday to the first car show of the year. On the way I got stuck at a red light for about 5 minutes. It sputtered as I pulled away but was fine after that. Got to the show and was there for about an hour. Went to leave and the car started fine. Put it in gear and as I was pulling out it stalled. Wouldn't start again. took the filer off and could see no gas was going into the carb. Some of the guys there thought it would be the fuel pump. After trying I was able to get some gas into the cup. As I sat in the car turning it over the guy next to me poured a bit of gas into the carb. After a few tries and the gas pedal to the floor the car started. I drove it home (20 minute drive) with no issue. I let it sit in my garage for about 30 minutes and it fired up right away. I believe it's a vapor lock issue. last year I had short of the same issue where it would take a bit of turning over to get it started, but it would always start. My mechanic suggested we need to move the fuel rail as its too close to the intake. Has anyone had this problem before. if so, how did you resolve it? Thanks.
Sounds more like plugged vent in gas cap or rubber line cracked sucking air. If it sat for an hour and would not start, i doubt its vapor lock. Maybe a weak carb syphoning fuel out .
Thanks. One guy last night did mention that I didn’t have a vented gas cap. But it’s never caused me problems before. Should I have a vented gas cap?
You could always make your own, when I was an idiot (maybe still am) I just drilled three “stock looking” holes in the gas cap of my 76 Corvette. Then again, the cap was on top of the tank, so it likely worked better
lol Good point. The guy who pointed out that my gas cap wasn't vented said to just drill a small hole in it. I will probably do that and save myself a couple bucks.
If you still have winter blend gasoline in the tank from last year, it just might be that. Winter blend is more volatile and can cause problems during warmer weather. Run the gas out and fill up with the stuff they are selling now, and see if the problem goes away. I believe your gas cap should be non vented. That is what rockauto shows.
The cap should be non-vented. There is a separate vent for the gas tank, it loops up into the trunk and back down/out. It's by the pass side wheel tub. The exit is on the underside of the car, just in front of the gas tank. Check the hose outlet for clogs. As mentioned, check all your rubber hoses for cracks/leaks, old rubber doesn't last long with today's gas. An 2x, it might just be the gas vaporizing in the carb when it sits a while.
Ok, I'll check the hoses. My mechanic seems to think its the fuel rail and that it's too close to the intake causing it to heat up. Like I said earlier it bogged a bit driving to the show after sitting at a read light for about 5 minutes. After sitting an hour I did have it started and probably should have let it run a bit before putting it into gear. Once I did that it started to stall. The guys at the car show said I shouldn't pump the gas pedal when starting it. They say I should put it to the floor and start it that way.
If its starting easier with pedal to floor, that means its bleeding into intake manifold and you need a professional carb requild.
I never tried to start it like that. It was suggested I start the car like that. The carb was taken a part and cleaned. Normal I pump the pedal twice and it starts. The issue comes when it's sat for a bit after being driven.
When you first said fuel rail, I thought he has EFI? Do you mean the fuel line? You can try insulating it and see if that helps. Do you have gas in the tank from when you parked it in November/December?
lol Yes I meant fuel line. What do you insulate it with? I've heard some people try tin foil. What do you suggest? I had about a quarter of a tank when I parked it in the fall. I may have a little left. I've probably put about 75kms on it since the fall.
Something like this will work, https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...MI383QyPuJ4gIVjhyGCh3O4AKiEAQYAyABEgK5WfD_BwE Like I said, winter blend fuel will be more volatile and can cause vapor lock especially on a stock motor with an iron intake heated by the exhaust cross over. It just boils the fuel out of the carburetor and then when you go to start the engine, the carburetor is empty and the intake plenum is full of fuel vapor. Winter blend fuel will make this more likely.
Great, thanks for the link. I'll take the car out once we get some nice weather and burn that gas out of it. Thanks for the help and information.
Quick update. Haven’t been able to get the car to my mechanic as he’s busy. The last two times I’ve started it I’ve had to turn it over for a long time to get it started. Today I took off the breather to make sure gas was coming out of the Jets which there was but then again I had to turn it over for a long time to get it started. Any idea what that could be?
I have one of those thermal shrouds on my fuel line, too. I got from the JC Whitney catalog 20 years ago, and wrapped it with vinyl wire-harness wrap to keep it clean.
There is a pick of one of the plugs. Car fired right up after sitting for about 15 minutes. I may take it for a drive tonight to see how it runs. Thanks for the comments.
