Please help!!!

[bribri3875]

I am new to this so I hope I am not in the wrong place. Please forgive me. I am having trouble with my 1969 Ford f250, V8, 390 engine with a 4 barrel Holley carburetor. I had recently rebuilt the carburetor because it had a leak and the choke wasn't connected when I got the truck. I also had replaced the whole charging system. It did run until I had to replace the spark plugs and then reset the timing on it. I have read all the specifications on it and I am 99 percent sure that everything I have done is by the book and not a hair off. I don't know if I am missing something or did I do something wrong? Please help, I am losing my mind on this one and I do miss my truck. Thank you.

I'm not sure what the problem really is. it just won't start. The motor turns but doesn't start and I don't know what else I should do to make it run again.

[HIO Silver]

Your post doesn't really say what trouble yer having... please describe the actual problem.

[bribri3875]

Your post doesn't really say what trouble yer having... please describe the actual problem.

I'm not sure what the problem is, it just won't start. The motor will turn over but will not start.

[HIO Silver]

Ahhhhhhh. it won't start. Brilliant!

First off... I see you changed the spark plugs. You did change one spark plug at a time as to not mix up the wires, right? Or at least marked every spark plug wire before pulling them en masse. Correct? Verify the firing order. Cylinders 1 to 4 are front to back on the passenger side. 5 thru 8 front to back on the driver side.

Moving on... An engine needs three things to combust: air, fuel, and spark.

What troubleshooting have you done?

Remove the air cleaner housing and actuate the throttle while looking down the into the carb... get two shots of gasoline?

If yes, then check for spark... pull one spark plug boot and expose the terminal. With an insulated tool, hold it about 1/8-inch away from the engine block and have an assistant crank the engine. Do you get a spark jumping across to the block? What color is the spark? Yellow, white, or bluish white?

If no, check your fuel filter for cloggage. If clogged, changed the filter. If not clogged, then then verify that it shoots gas when your assistant cranks the engine.

No gas? Then your fuel pump might have a blown diaphram or the fuel line is clogged....

Report your results......

[bribri3875]

Ahhhhhhh. it won't start. Brilliant!

First off... I see you changed the spark plugs. You did change one spark plug at a time as to not mix up the wires, right? Or at least marked every spark plug wire before pulling them en masse. Correct? Verify the firing order. Cylinders 1 to 4 are front to back on the passenger side. 5 thru 8 front to back on the driver side.

Moving on... An engine needs three things to combust: air, fuel, and spark.

What troubleshooting have you done?

Remove the air cleaner housing and actuate the throttle while looking down the into the carb... get two shots of gasoline?

If yes, then check for spark... pull one spark plug boot and expose the terminal. With an insulated tool, hold it about 1/8-inch away from the engine block and have an assistant crank the engine. Do you get a spark jumping across to the block? What color is the spark? Yellow, white, or bluish white?

If no, check your fuel filter for cloggage. If clogged, changed the filter. If not clogged, then then verify that it shoots gas when your assistant cranks the engine.

No gas? Then your fuel pump might have a blown diaphram or the fuel line is clogged....

Report your results......

Hey thanks, I didn't think of that. You might be on to something with the fuel pump. I will check that out and get back to you when I'm done.

[Kurt Combs]

Most starting problems are electrically, not fuel. Spray some starting fluid down the carb and see if it tries to start (or a tablespoon of gas) try to start it and if it does not light off that will tell you if it is fuel related. Next, do you have spark at the plugs? at the coil? keep moving backwards towards the battery (source of electricity) and when you find power, you probably found your problem.

[Lord Grantham]

I am not a "Techie" but just changed the carb on my 1968 f100 6 cyl. I did everything right but it did not start. Turned out that while the truck was sitting for only two weeks the gas had drained out of the pump. This needed to be primed. try squirting a little gas into the carb and see if it runs for a few seconds. If it does pull off the inlet rubber hose to the mechanical fuel pump and fill it with gas..my Wife's olive oil bottle worked a treat for this.
May not be your answer but thought I would throw it out there. T.R.