fuel problem

[66+81]

My 81 has a 305 out of a 79 Caprice with the original intake, but an Edelbrock 4bbl carb. Whenever I turn on the key, it doesn't pick up any gas. If I pour a little bit in the carb, and open the barrels before turning on the key and pour some gas in for about 30secs with the barrels slightly open, it starts to run fine. It'll run till it's outta gas, then. Is something wrong with my $200 carb or is it in my fuel pump, or something else?

[ureckme]

See if your getting gas to the carb. Take the gas line off the carb and put a rubber hose on it going to a jug or some thing, but be carefull and safe. Start the engine then shut it off see if theres gas in the jug. No gas, fuel pump. Gas in jug, your needle seats may be stuck or some thing. Matt

[Chevillac]

Stop pouring gas down the carb of a cranking engine unless you want a fire. My uncle was badly burned while doing just this thing. The engine coughed and he was on fire! If you have started it a couple of times and the fuel pump still hasn't primed you need to check it. Check the float adjustment in the carb and make sure that there are no blockages in the fuel lines.

[66+81]

I'm not pouring it while cranking.

ureck me, it's like it's not picking up gas when I'm cranking. After a few minutes, it starts right up.

[ureckme]

If it only does it when the engine has not run for a while, like over night. It could be the choke or the fuel pump. But before you start changing the pump. Check all the lines, rubber hoses, fuel filter. Do you have duel tanks?

[66+81]

No, I have only one tank. It does like that any time I start it up. If I turn it off and let it sit for 5 minutes, it does that.

[piecesparts]

Had a problem a few years ago on a truck the carb would not get gas and the fuel pump worked fine. The needles in the carb were stuck hard onto the seats in an EDELBROCK carb. I talked to a tech at Edelbrock and he sent me two new needles and seats and I haven't had the problem since, I am guessing that there was some of that ethanol in the gas and it set the needle to the seat as the gas and it evaporated from the bowl.

[ureckme]

It does sound very odd. 1, need to know if fuel is comeing out line at carb after sitting. So take the line off the carb, put it in a container. Turn the engine over, (with the hot wire off the HEI ) we dont want it to start. just see if it has gas, or how long it takes to get gas. I keep forgetting about this tread. When you find out PM me.