:D Well, I bit the bullet today and bought my sister a 71 Pinto sedan. Red with black vinyl roof and black interior. Body is pretty straight, needs cosmetic touch ups.
The main problem is the car won't start. I am about 99% certain it is a fuel delivery problem. If I pour gas down the carb (which is new) it will catch and run for about three seconds, then die. The car has been parked at an uphill angle for aboput four months on a nearly empty tank of gas. I added about four gallons of gas but no gas seems to be pumping up to the carb. It has a clear fuel filter so I can see that no gas is geting to the carb.
I am fairly certain that either the fuel pump has failed or there is sludge built up in the tank or fuel line. Does that sound right?
I also have a question about a ropund metal cannister that is in the fuel line prior to the fuel pump. It is bolted to the driver's frame rail at the front of the engine compartment and is painted blue. The fuel line appears to go into this cannister and then up to the fuel pump. What is it? Some kind of charcoal cannister?
Thanks!
Sound to me like you are on the right track with the fuel pump and lines. You may also want to make sure the tank is good and free of debree before you start to draw fuel from the tank into your new carb. I cannot comment about the cannister though....
Thanks. The first thing I plan on doing is blowing some compressed air back through the fuel line to unclog anything in the line or the tank. If that gets it running I will be happy. I will run some fuel system cleaner through it and replace the fuel filter and cross my fingers.
By the way, can a 71 motor run on unleaded or do I need to either find a later cylinder head or have hardened valve seats pressed in?
Boy am I embarrassed. For being a self-professed old car hobbyist and mechanic I forgot to check the basics-- it was out of gas! I put in 5 gallons of premium and let it slosh around in the tank as I towed the car home. Then just for kicks I tried starting it in my driveway and it fired right up! YAY! :laugh: ::)
Purrs like a kitten. haven't driven it under its own power yet, but the manual steering wasn't to bad as I was steering it home.
Thanks for the suggestions!
You were able to knock off $750 because there was no gas in the car? Dont be embarrassed that was a genius move :amazed:
Edit* Or maybe not, it costs just about that to fill the tank right?
Well, the guy I bought it from was very nice and it was obvious he was very attached to it. Plus, he just did $2200 of work to it a year ago. So basically all the maintenance is already done and i just need to clean it up and fix the interior. I'm happy,but I still feel kind of dirty. However, I did try and try to start it at his house but it just wouldn't start, even after I added about three gallons of gas. So its not like I was lying.... :)
Quote from: Reed on July 10, 2008, 06:05:46 PM
By the way, can a 71 motor run on unleaded or do I need to either find a later cylinder head or have hardened valve seats pressed in?
At some point in time you should have the hardened seats installed. Also check the little piece of fuel line coming from the fuel sending unit. If it's original it should be replaced.
Bob
Will do. It sounds like the Precision Tune where the car was taken for the work didn't know how to adjust the valves so i will be doing that, and I will check out the fuel line when i replace the rear shocks.
Thanks!