Clean out bad gas

[Denwilmat]

Greetings all!
I just joined this forum. I have a Thing that I've had for 25 years. Drove it regularly for pleasure for most of those years. Unfortunately, I neglected to run it for the past year and can't get it to start. I have siphoned all the old gas out of the tank and replaced it with several gallons of ethanol free gas. Engine turns over but won't start. Obviously there is bad gas forward that I was hoping if I cranked the engine for a while it will blow out. No such luck. So, I need advice on what to do. Are there things to check before rebuilding the carburetor? Thanks for any guidance!

[WD-40]

[WD-40]

Oh, and:

[Wildthings]

If the points have gotten corroded the engine may not start. Determining if you have spark would be a good place to start.

FWIW, a rig with a tank of 20 year old fuel may well start and run better than a rig with 4 month old gasohol.

[GI Joe]

Welcome!! It's awesome you've had your Thing so long, and a wonder it took you so long to find the samba!! Lol....

GreAt advice so far...
Only 3things that engine needs to run...... Fuel, fire and air....
Air is there, unless the carb throat is stuff with a rag......

A simple test for fuel is to remove the outlet hose from the fuel pump, and crank the engine over.. If fuel flows, then you know it's an ignition problem..

Quick test for ignition would be to pull a spark plug wire from the distributor and have someone crank the engine while you hold the wire "near" it's terminal in the cap.. Watch for an arc, if so, then you know it has fire...

Good truck, let us know where ya end up!
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[fragile_this_side_up]

i'm in the same situation... except mine only sat for a month!!! ran when we bought it. then we neglected to start it weekly.. now it won't start. i think i flooded it out. mine's on a hill as well so i'm thinking carb issue.

good luck.

[doublecanister]

hey Guys,

just sayin,

if you want to rule out the gas tank itself, due to rust corrosion, etc.

I (when i discovered my tank was full of rust particles) just bypassed
the tank with a 5gal tank and a hose to the fuel pump.

But, the carb, pump, float, jets, all that can be funked up too.

In my case, rust particles and old tank sealer turned my fuel filter purple and the particles clogged the carb, had to dissasemble twice to fix, and replaced the tank and screen.

Side note, will starting fluid start the engine, if so the electrics are good.
problem then could be fuel system related.

hope that helps

T
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2020 - Mustang Eco Boost [High Performance]
1973 - Thing
1966 - Mustang GT- Fastback
1951 - Ford F1 pickup Flathead V8

[Denwilmat]

Hey Guys,
Thanks for the help and advice! I'm a little behind on doing my homework, since its been so freaking cold in my unheated garage! So here's where I am.

I disconnected the fuel filter and replaced it. When I crank the engine the fuel does run through the line but very slowly. In fact, it took a long time to even fill up the fuel filter, and I notice after I stop there is some back flow (the gas goes back down on the filter. Not sure what the fuel pump is, but if it's got a diaphragm could that have a hole in it? Can I take off the fuel pump and look at it?

I got some starter fluid and sprayed into the carborator intake and the car starts right up, so I know my ignition system is operational. Of course once the fuel start fuel runs out, the engine stops.

So before I go to look into the carborator, how can I make sure my fule pump is working correctly?

And then what's the advice of cleaning the carborator? Is it something I should try to tackle? Are there any videos/pictures of cleaning the carborator on this site?

Thanks for your advice in advance. Spring is coming and I gots to get my Thing out ;-}

[Wildthings]

You could check to see what kind of pressure your fuel pump is putting out, but since they are so cheap it would be easier to just buy another pump and install it. There are specs for how far the pump actuation rod needs to stick up out of the guide.


Starter fluid is H@!! on engines, best to not use it.

[Air-Cooled Head]

[Denwilmat]

So, I didn't have any one around to help me, but I put an extention tube on the outflow to a bucket. I cranked the engine multiple times and there was only a little bit of gas in the bucket. Should I check to see if my engine has an enlarged prostate? I will try with a helper to confirm. So then where can I buy a fuel pump?

Since the car has been sitting for over a year, should I go ahead and change the oil while I'm at it? Not sure about oil break down science.
Thanks for helping me!!!

[Wildthings]

Buy yourself a copy of John Muir's Idiot Book and do some reading. Also search on line to learn about your local VW clubs to get info on repair shops and parts houses close to you.

[Denwilmat]

Thanks for the sage advice, guess you and John Muir have me pegged. I ordered his last edition. I will need to clean out the Victoria Secrets Catalogs near the throne to make room. I was looking for a Robert Bentley book on the Type 181/Thing and can not find one. Is there a book specific for the Thing?

[Air-Cooled Head]

[Wildthings]

[ente_kaefer]

[Denwilmat]

Hey gang!
Okay, so Im fairly certain its a bad fuel pump. I disconnected the intake gas line and blew air towards gas tank and it bubbled in the tank and gas flows fine. I cranked the engine and very little gas flows out of the pump. I'm ready to replace the pump. Can I just get one from auto zone or Napa? I would also like to replace the rubber/mesh lines. Where can I get these? The ones at Autozone are just rubbe an slightly bigger. Thanks

[Wildthings]