Pinto Car Club of America

Welcome to FordPinto.com, The home of the PCCA => General Help- Ask the Experts... => Topic started by: Reed on September 18, 2008, 11:54:43 PM

Title: Gas won't flow on an incline?
Post by: Reed on September 18, 2008, 11:54:43 PM
Way back when I first bought my car, the previous owner had it parked in his driveway for about 6 months.    He claimed it had no problems before he parked itm but when I went to look at it it wouldn't start.   His driveway sloped and the Pinto was pointed up the slope.

I buy it and bring it home and roll it down my driveway.    My driveway slopes down but has a flat spot on the bottom.     Once the Pinto is at the bottom of my driveway, I try starting it and it fires right up.

All is well and the Pinto starts fine in my driveway.   If it has been sitting for a few days it takes some time to pump gas up to the careb, but once  started it is fine.

Yesterday, I put the Pinto up on ramps to let me check out the neutral start switch.  I left it there overnight on a tilt.   Today, I go out to start it and it cranks and cranks but won't start.   The fuel filter is one of those clear plastic ones so I can see that the fuel is not being pumped up to the carb.

This is weird. If the car is flat, the fuel pumps fine. If the front is up in the air, the fuel won't flow.   I am going to take the car off the ramps tomorrow and see if it will start.

What would cause this?    Receipts found in the glove box indicate that the previous owner spent $2100 on the car last year to have the gas tank cleaned, a new fuel pump installed, and to have a new carburetor installed and adjusted (among other things). When it is running, it runs great.  It just seems to have a problem pumping gas on an incline.

Any ideas?       ???
Title: Re: Gas won't flow on an incline?
Post by: apintonut on September 19, 2008, 12:43:56 AM
fuel pump or floats.   id say most likely the float
Title: Re: Gas won't flow on an incline?
Post by: Reed on September 19, 2008, 09:04:39 AM
Thanks.  That's what I was thinking last night.  The fuel pump is new so the floats are just about all that's left.  I just didn't know if there was some kind of inertia valve or anti-rollover valve in the gas tank.   :laugh: ;)
Title: Re: Gas won't flow on an incline?
Post by: Farmboy on September 19, 2008, 09:43:26 AM
  Take it up I-90 to the top of the pass and see how it does ;D
Title: Re: Gas won't flow on an incline?
Post by: Reed on September 19, 2008, 10:39:56 AM
 ;D

Well, the float was way out of whack.  The carb was remanufactured by "Carburetion Technologies" here in Tacoma, but they didn't set the float at all.  I set the float per the FSM specs, but the car still won't start.  I took it off the ramps and it still won't start.  No fuel flow through the filter.  I am going to replace the allegedly new pump today.   :rolleye:
Title: Re: Gas won't flow on an incline?
Post by: apintonut on September 19, 2008, 11:09:02 AM
try blowing though the line first u may have a clog
Title: Re: Gas won't flow on an incline?
Post by: Reed on September 19, 2008, 11:22:51 AM
Hmmmm.  Good idea!   :afro:
Title: Re: Gas won't flow on an incline?
Post by: Reed on September 19, 2008, 12:26:57 PM
Good call apintonut!  I blew compressed air back through the fuel line, heard a big POP, and then the air flowed freely.  I tried starting the car and fuel flowed and it started..  But it only ran for about five seconds before it chugged, puffed some black smoke, then stalled.  Gas was overflowing the carb into the air filter and it stalled out.

Looks like I need to go back and reset the float level.   ::)   :laugh:

Thanks again!
Title: Re: Gas won't flow on an incline?
Post by: apintonut on September 19, 2008, 06:09:56 PM
yah been there done that i beat my head against   a datsun for six hour before it accrued to me to back flow the line.