77 Won't start right, help a newby.

[o_jay66]

I've got a 77 LWB with a 4-barrel 350/TH350.  I basically bought the truck because I just couldn't pass the deal.  It had set for a couple of years before I got it, so I figured the carb needed a little freshening.  The engine runs good once I get it started and warmed up, but I've always got to prime it and even after it warms up, if I let it set more than a couple of minutes it has to be primed again.

I am no carb expert, I usually just change them and let somebody smarter than me rebuild and/or adjust them.  This time I thought I'd take a shot at a rebuild myself.  I got the right kit, and it went pretty smooth, but I've still got this problem.

One thing I notice is that the rod from the accelerator pump doesn't extend all the way up to the actuator arm of the linkage.  It's about .25 short, but I don't remember how it was when I started, and I'm not sure if it should stick up farther.

I don't have a vaccuum gage, I just adjusted it by ear to try to get the smoothest, best idle.

Any ideas on why it won't start w/o a little drink of gas?  Also any tips on proper adjustment.

[VileZambonie]

Are you saying the accelerator pump is not contacting the lever? If so it's not right. Check your fuel pump and lines for kinks. Is the choke working?

[Lt.Del]

My first guess is something Vile tacked onto his comment, check the fuel pump...the diaphram is probably rotted.  They cost like $15 and takes a whopping 8 minutes to install.  That'd be my first thing I do if the truck sat for a couple of years.  And you are in the right direction too, the carb gaskets and such are probablky shot too.

Don't rely too much on your brakes either at first until you give them a thorough going-over.  I guess you drained the gas tank, right?

[autorepr]

From what I gather it runs ok but after you shut it off and let it sit for a while it won't start. I would suspect the welch plugs in the bottom of the mid section of the carb. Did you epoxy them while you had it apart?

The accelerator pump needs to be hooked up and working properly double check it. There are a couple of hook up points on the arm on some of them Make sure you have it in the right hole.

[o_jay66]

Thanks for the input guys.  I was kinda leaning toward the fuel pump.  When I put the carb back on, I had my son turn it over for me w/line open and got gas, but I didn't think it was very strong at the time.  They're certainly cheap enough and easy to change, so that'll probably be the next thing I change.

The epoxy comment catches my attention too, when I re-built the carb I noticed the epoxy, and it was actually coming loose in one spot, which I peeled off to keep from getting somewhere it shouldn't.  At the time, I just thought it couldn't be that important if it was left to epoxy, but now that bugs me too.  I think I'll take it back apart and re-do it.

Didn't get any G2 on adjusting the carb.  As I said, I don't have a vaccuum gage, I guess I could go get one, but anybody got any sure-fire shadetree tips?

Thanks again - this site is really helpful.