V8 Starting/fuel problem?

[Ian B]

I've not been on here for a while as my 1970 P5B has been SORNed in the garage for a couple of years or so (although I try and at least run the engine every few weeks, back it out down the drive to polish it etc!). Because of the new MOT rules last month I decided it's time to get it back on the road properly.
Yesterday I started up, and it ran for about half a minute on the choke, then died. I realised there was hardly any petrol in the tank so I topped up with 10 litres of new petrol from a can and tried again. No joy. It's turning over fine but not firing.
I've checked a few things - power getting to the coil, some spark getting to plug leads..to be on the safe side I swapped the coil over and changed the condenser too.
Fuel is getting as far as the carb inlets and flowing out of the disconnected pipes as the engine turns over.
It looks like fuel isn't getting properly into the carbs/plugs somehow. After turning over the engine the plugs are dry (pretty sooty) and looking into the carb mouth it all seems quite dry there....

They are HIF6 carbs so I know I'll have to take them right off the car to have a proper look for problems/gunk etc - but just wondering if I'm missing anything obvious before I dive in??

Any tips welcome!

[djm16]

You do not say if you have an electrical fuel pump near the tank, or rely on the mechanical one on the engine. If the latter, then maybe now is the time to add a facet pump.

The next step is perhaps to inject fuel or easystart into the carb air intakes and see if you can get a fire going. Then check for fuel in the float chambers.

[Ian B]

Thanks DJM,
It's just the standard mechanical pump, although I do have a Facet pump I bought ages ago intending to get it put in. My previous P5B had one.
I just tried with some Easystart and the engine fired straight away for a couple of seconds.
I also noticed the fuel filter is kind of bending/collapsing a little where the top pipe joins the body of it - probably isn't helping...I'm going to replace that for a start.
Then I guess take a look at the carbs.......

[johnwp5bcoupe]

As djm16 says fit the Facet it will make a big difference or you could (tongue in cheek) try this START

[Ian B]

Haha!! Cheers!

[dmaxwell]

Ha, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha (snort) ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha CLUMP! (fell out of chair!)

[benedict_h]

Classic . Reminds us of Basil Fawlty and the notorious Corporal Car Punishment scene, doesn't it?

[Ian B]

Just to say this problem is sorted now - thanks for the tips. I ended up taking the carbs off and sure enough, one float chamber had petrol in, the other didn't. They were both pretty gummed up with residue and one needle valve was stuck.
All cleaned up and reassembled and sounds very healthy now.

Except I spotted there's a coolant leak now haha!! Will post another thread on that for some advice