Sorry I know this is not 3rd gen related but I have no where else to turn. I have an 78 TA 403. I had it running fine about a month ago before the first real freeze. Bout 2 weeks after it sat, I tried to start it but no such luck. Battery is fully charged and I've checked for fuel. I took a fuel line off of the carb and turned the engine over and it spat fuel all over. I havent checked for spark yet since I can't do that by myself, but I wouldn't see how anything spark/ignition related would just go out when its just sitting. It will crank and crank but not even a pop. I don't have that much knowledge when it comes to carbs, but can someone give me some suggestions on what may be the problem???

Thanks

 

If you have a timing light, put that on a plug wire and have someone crank it over. If it flashes, then you have some spark. How strong, I can't say, but you have some at least.

 

I believe what you have is a 403 from a 78 in your (insert random 3rd gen body here) and you are having a problem in which the car will crank but not start. Checking for fuel flow was a decent start, fuel pressure would be even better... if it ran fine before all you need to do is figure out whats missing now, its turning over so you have power.. its getting fuel.. not nessicarily enough fuel but lets assume it is.. check for spark.. maybe water got under your cap or something..

 

Sounds like an ignition problem if its getting fuel.

Could be thirdgen related too, Any ignition system is prone to the same problems. Check the cap, make sure its not cracked. Take it off, make sure its not full of water or moisture and the contacts arent corroded. You can try the timing light as well, though if you were to pull a plug and ground the electrode you could see if its no spark, weak spark (yellow) or a nice blue spark. I dont remember where the dist is on a 403, but on a SBC and in a thirdgen, water can leak between the hood and cowl and drip right onto the distributor, between the coil and cap, into the cap. Been there, done that. They dont work so well when they have water in them.

 

on a side note i had a similiar problem with a bad seal around the shaker hood on a 2nd gen T/A I had where water leaked directly onto the cap and caused a buncha misfires.. but thats probably not your problem since yours is in a 3rd gen.

 

Ah yes, dur. Water. The engine seems to have anlot of water in there, such as the manifold had deep pockets of water all over it. Next thing tomorrow is to for sure check the cap and rotor. Thanks guys, I'll let you know If I find anything

 

O sorry. It is indeed in a 78 Trans Am, not a third gen . The hood has some bending damage so that might have some affect on its sealing abilities

 

 

 

 

Opened up the Dist and everything in there was brand spanking new, not a spec of dust. I played with the carb and cable, I moved it and it didnt move somtething else so I manually moved it and I heard it spray gas into the carb. Sorry not to mechanically inclined on carb parts nor operation, all I can say is it runs now. Thanks for all your help and suggestions