Pinto Car Club of America

Back story.
I just moved back to Canada from Hawaii.  I had to decide between my shipping my car or my motorcycle.  It was cheaper for thed bike so I went that way.  Now it is getting quite cold to be riding my bike and I need the car running.  My Uncle got the car from a coworker at Ford for his daughter.  She drove it for a while with no problems after a carb rebuild.  When she got her new car she gave it back to him and it hasn't been used for almost a year.  For the first 4 months or so it was started ocassionally.  Then it wouldn't start.  He said I could have it if I could get it running.  I don't like taking cars to mechanics due to always getting my cars back with more problems then when I dropped it off. 

Here is what I am dealing with now.
It cranks but will not start.  We tried pouring a bit of gas directly in the carb and it started then instantly stalled.  We kept doing this and it would run a bit longer every time.  finally we got it running for a good 15 minutes then turned it off.  About 3 days later I tried starting it again and it wouldn't start again.  I took the pump off and my unkle took it to a coworker who tested it and said it was fine.  I have replaced all the rubber hoses.  My other uncle said he had the same problem with his 64 cutlass and found it was an air leak in the carb.  My carb was rebuilt when my cousin drove it and worked fine after it was rebuilt.  I havn't had a carbureted car since Highschool so I am very out of practice with them.  Any ideas are greatly appreciated.  Oh and its a 74 2.3L, totally stock.  I can't afford to just keep buying parts and hope it works not to mention I have to do the work outside in the cold. 

I guess checking these items may help...

how much gas in the tank? and has any fresh gas been added?

might consider adding a fuel dryer/isopropyl to the fuel...

pull a spark plug or 2 and check condition... if one looks bad check them all.

check cap and rotor for wear...

check plug wires...

74 was the last year of points... check point gap and dwell.

these are the things I would check... hope it helps

I thought it might be something with the fuel system.  The tank is filled with new gas.  Would a hole in the fuel line cause this?  Its not leaking fuel so I didn't think it would be that.  I've never had to check the point gaps and dwell before, how do I do it?  The plugs, wires, cap and rotor are relativly new. 

points and dwell are tough and I had a mechanic check/set mine. Later I converted it with a PerTronix kit so the points are gone.

you could try disconnecting the fuel line after the fuel pump and before the carb... turn the motor over and check to see if fuel is coming out. Remember to disconect the coil to distributor cap wire before trying this one....

also check the fuel filter at the same time... see if you can blow thru it. Should be easy to blow thru and if not try a replacement.

might end up taking it to a shop... I know you don't want to but after all the basic stuff is checked... what choice do you have.

Thanks

hi zkit18

good tips from cookieboy, but when you remove the coil wire make sure that

you take it out of the coil & NOT the distributor cap!!!!  this will lessen the

chance of a spark causing a fire from the fuel pump test.

hot ain't no good in this case, good luck.

                         old man called postalpony

good call postalpony.. I should have said that... glad you did... could have been shocking  ;D