I'm trying to get this 440 started. Its been rebuilt and broken in and then it sat in a garage for a few years. It doesn't seem to want to run for longer than 10-20 seconds. Its got a brand new Holley 950 on it that is supposedly flow tested and tuned up so its ready to be bolted on. I figure these factory settings should be close enough to at least keep the motor running. The motor only seems to want to start after I give it 2 stomps of the gas pedal, then it will run for 10-20 and then stumble out and die. I have a clear inline fuel filter before the carb and I can see that its getting fuel. Whats do you think the deal is?
The carb doesn't have a choke but its pretty hot in AZ. Still in the 100*'s out here so its not like the motor is completely cold.
choke.... is it mechanical or electric ? if it is an electric unit and not hooked up it will not idle for crap... :shruggy:
The carb does not have a choke.
Sounds like a fuel issue. Take the fuel line off the carb, run a hose from the fuel line into something like a clear coke or water bottle and have someone else turn the engine over for say 5 seconds. The bottle should fill up pretty fast. If it does, you might have a carb problem, If not then it might be the fuel pump or a small hole in the fuel line sucking air. Even though the clear filter has fuel, the volume may not be enough.
The reason I bolded the "someone else" is because I've heard of people doing something like this only to have the fuel line come out of the bottle and spray gas all over a hot engine or all over a spark plug wire.... Not a good combination.
It also could have a stuck float.....A couple light taps on the front float bowl will sometimes do the trick,but not always.
I second checking to see how much gas you are getting.
or just connect an inline fuel pressure gauge
I should also mention that I'm running a Holley blue fuel pump and a fuel cell.
Does it have a good spark when it's trying to start?
BBD
Quote from: BigBlackDodge on September 20, 2009, 09:21:47 PM
Does it have a good spark when it's trying to start?
BBD
I'm running MSD ignition. I checked with a timing light to see if I was getting consistent spark and everything looked good. Whether the spark is hot enough I'm not sure. How can I check that?
Almost sounds like something electrical is heating up and cutting power to the coil. Try putting a volt meter on the coil and see if the volts are steady when you experience the cut-out. A fuel pressure guage is a good idea as well.