65gtinsf

I'm having a problem with the engine in my '65 GT. It started fine after sitting for about a week. Drove it down the street for about 10 blocks and the engine died. Now it won't start. Pretty surefuel isgetting to the carb, as I've got aglass fuel filter canister and see fuel in it. Also smell fuel in the carb.Just changed the plugs, wires, points, cap and rotor. And confirmed I'm getting spark at the plugs. What else can it be? Haven't checked my timing yet, but gapped the points to .015". Where exactly is the TDC mark on the pulley? I don't see one. I see two white marks on the pulley, but I was expecting an indent to show TDC? Don't see a degree scale mounted anywhere either.

Thanks,
Steve

andrewmp6

sounds like your carb needs to be rebuilt or replaced

Soaring

You will have the degree marks etched onto your harmonic balancer.

65gtinsf

The Holley 4V carb on it was rebuilt about ten years ago, but the car has been sitting for almost all of those 10 years. What are some other signs of a carburetor that needs to be rebuilt? I see some gas staining around that little black rubber disk that's on top of the front of the carb. Is that normal?

I don't seedegree marks anywhere on the harmonic balancer.

65gtinsf

Oh, just before the car died. I gave punched the accelerator a bit and when I let off I heard some backfiring. Then it died and now won't start. Could the backfiring have damaged the carb? Also the passenger side exhaust manifold has a bad crack in it. Would that cause the motor to run richer or leaner than normal?

67mustang302

Pull your plugs and look at them, the accelerator pump may have such a huge shot it flooded the engine out. You could be getting fuel starvation too. I doubt you damaged anything with the backfire, but it's possible. If it's an older carb without power valve blowout protection and you backfired through thr intake, you may have ruptured the power valve diaphragm, and it's flooding the crap outta the engine. And yes, fix that manifold, if it's leaking enough exhaust gas you can damage your valves

65gtinsf

Ok. I'll check the plugs. I also noticed a bog when accelerating from a stop, before the engine backfired. Maybe the idle mixture is set too rich? I'm going to see if it'll start later today, after it's been sitting overnight.

gothand

Open those plugs up!!!! IIRC, stock gap (with points) is something like 0.035". If you have a Pertronix or Duraspark III believe it can be 0.045". If you have an MSD or other type high discharge setup you can go 0.055". I don't know if your gap is so small that it caused the backfire and did damage to your carb, but start with the plugs.

67mustang302

The accelerator pump may be too rich, the power valve may be opening too soon etc. If your plugs are all black and nasty looking then you're too rich. But what you describe sounds like an accelerator pump or power valve issue maybe

plcdude

I think you found your problem. If the carb has been sitting for 10 years without use I am betting all of the gaskets and diaphragms are leaking, dried out, or cracked. I suggest a rebuild kit.