QuestionHi, I have a '69 caddy with a 472 cid stock...It hasn't been started in appr. 2 yrs. I sprayed starting fluid in the carb and it turned over but then stalled. Do I need to clean the fuel lines and tank? If so, how do I do that without doing a major overhaul on the fuel system? thx, in advance, Martin
AnswerI'll assume you mean that it started and ran, if only briefly. If by "turned over" you mean that it only ran on the starter, post a follow up question to me and I'll work on that problem instead of the following.
Based on the fact that it did start momentarily, we know the ignition system is OK, so as you have correctly guessed, the problem is lack of fuel getting to the cylinders.
Before you start doing stuff and spending money, let's narrow down the possibilities:
Step 1 is to disconnect the fuel line from the carburetor fuel inlet, and have a helper run the engine on the starter while you see if you are getting a healthy pulsating squirt of gas from the disconnected gas line each time the engine makes a full rotation. You should see about an ounce of gas each pulse. Catch it in a coffee can for safety. Smell the gas - if it smells like vinegar or varnish, it will make the car run terribly until you replace it with fresh gas, but it should stay running for you, at least if you keep the idle speed high.
If you do see the gas coming through this way, the problem is carburetor related, not fuel supply blockage. We'll come back to this later.
If you don't see a healthy squirt of fuel from the pump, the problem is fuel supply related, obviously, and you need to next disconnect the fuel line at the fuel pump inlet, then get your air compressor out, or even with your mouth, and with the gas filler cap removed, blow air back into the line that comes from the gas tank - you should hear burbling as the air bubbles up through the fuel in the tank.
If you can easily push air through the line, but don't hear the gas bubbling in the tank, you know there is either a bad pickup tube inside the tank, or perhaps the fuel line has become disconnected somewhere between the fuel pump and the tank.
If you can't push air back through the tank, the gas has gotten so deteriorated that it has gummed up the fuel pickup in the tank, or else the pickup sock in the tank is blocked. Either way, the tank is going to have to be cleaned out and whatever is blocking the flow fixed. If you don't want to tackle this yourself, go on-line to find a gas tank renewal service in your area.
If you do hear the gas burbling in the tank, your fuel pump isn't working - replace it.
Regardless of what you find in all this testing, replace ALL the rubber hoses in the fuel system, from the tank outlet to the carburetor, because modern gas is incompatible with the older rubber used until recently - buy new rubber gas hose with the SAE 30R11 spec stamped on the hose - earlier hose will swell up and crack on our new oxygenated gasoline.
Back to the first test: If you are getting good fuel flow from the gas line to the carburetor, it is likely that the float valve is stuck shut in the carburetor. You may be able to free it up by taking the fuel inlet fitting out of the carburetor and cleaning it with spray type carburetor cleaner (GUNK is a good brand). If that doesn't work the top will have to come off the carburetor so you can exercise the float and needle valves to free them up. Buy the rebuilder kit for that carburetor, and replace the needle valves with new ones to prevent this happening again.
In the future, if you are going to park the car for more than 6 months, always fill the tank to the top to minimize the air in the tank (reducing oxidation of the fuel) and add the additive "STABIL" to keep the gas from deteriorating. It is available at any auto parts store - directions are on the bottle.
Dick
