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It Only Runs on Starter Fluid

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Old 06-19-2006, 07:47 AM
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Car: 87 Pont Firebird
Engine: 305 Carb
Transmission: 700r4
It Only Runs on Starter Fluid

Here's my problem. I have a father son project 87 Pont Firebird. It is a carb 305 engine. It will only runs as long as I spray Starter Fluid in the carb. The original engine was a mechical fuel pump, and the replacement is a electric. I tested the flow of the pump and it's at 6 -7 lbs. I also tryed using a nice Molly Fuel regulator and fuel gage, and also tryed using just fuel no pumps (gravidy feed). Still no luck. It runs fine as long as you spray the starter fluid. But that's bad for the engine and does flame up if you run it that way to long. I've swap out carb (the replacement was used), but they both do the exact samething.

Any ideas out there would be great. It's the last hold out on the project.
Old 06-19-2006, 09:10 AM
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Car: '88 IROC-Z medium orange metallic
Engine: L98
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27
Is it possible that the fuel you're using is old and shot? Could be a clogged filter. Are the floats adjusted properly? They may be set too low and not allowing any fuel into the bowls.
Old 06-19-2006, 09:13 AM
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Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
What happens if you fill the carb's fuel bowl through the vent on top?

I'm expecting to hear that it runs fine until it's out of fuel (15-20 seconds).

In which case, it's fuel delivery.

Fuel flow isn't measured in lbs. It's measured in gallons/hr or similar. It's entirely possible that you have pressure wherever you're measuring it, but not wherever the fuel is headed to.

One place you could possibly have pressure but no flow, is the fuel filter. If this is the stock Q-Jet with the fuel filter in the inlet nut, you could have pressure in the line, but the filter could be so clogged that none gets into the carb.
Old 06-19-2006, 10:06 AM
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Car: 87 Pont Firebird
Engine: 305 Carb
Transmission: 700r4
I have an inline fuel filter and have removed the built in carb one. I did try using good new fuel during the gravity test. I haven't tryed just pouring the fuel into the vent hole on the carb. But I will try that tonight.

All great ideas.

Thanks,
Old 06-19-2006, 11:01 AM
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Car: a car being parted out
Engine: blown up
Transmission: in peices
I had a eddy carb that did that before it got primed.
I had a mechanical pump though.
I ended up having to crank/run filterless to get everything to prime correctly. I also ended up removing the carb filter cause it was acting like a blockage.
Old 06-30-2006, 10:15 AM
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Car: 87 Pont Firebird
Engine: 305 Carb
Transmission: 700r4
Well I tried by filling the vents with gas (as receommended) and it did run for a short time then dies. I again hooked up a dedicated fuel source (gas can hanging from hanger), and I can hear the pump pump until it sounds full. Also a clicking noise that stops once the bowl seems to full. But the same results runs until that gas that is poured in is gone. I though maybe the fuel pump (electric) even though its new, but I let it bleed off into a container to see the flow and it seemed to be flowing ok. Both carbs I used were not brand new but they did the same thing.

Any thing else you guys can think of I should look at?

Thanks,
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