Re: Car won't start without priming carb

Posted by DrewLA On 2016/10/11 3:08:26

Okay, so first things first: that engine and carb (which is probably a Carter WDO or WGD, 118-68 is the casting number on the metering rod cover, not the carb number) -- they're from a late 1940's or early 1950's car. Given how modern the engine setup is, relatively, this shouldn't be a problem AT ALL, electric fuel pump or not.

While it certainly is possible that you're percolating fuel from the bowl, you likely have a fuel delivery issue or possibly an ignition problem. You need to do some analysis to help us out here. When you can't get the car to start, does the accelerator pump squirt when you actuate the throttle? Can you get more than two good squirts? If so, you've still got fuel in the float at bowl and fuel starvation isn't your problem. Check spark. Check accelerator pump delivery when you know the bowl should be full.

I would assert that it could just as easily be a flooding condition as it could be a lack of fuel problem or electrical issue. But whatever it is, you certainly have a problem. With good fresh gas, a carburetor in good condition, strong compression, and good ignition, the engine should light off with just a few revs of the starter, hot or cold. Even on the hottest days, when operated at slow speeds, when operated at high seeds, with high amounts of engine heat, whatever, I've never had trouble getting the '36 Eight I'm most familiar with to start. And I'm in California where E10 is the only gasoline available. My '52 Patrician has a 327 but a very similar setup to your 288 and it also has never had that issue, so blaming external causes like the general quality of fuel may not carry much weight - we're all using the same gas, and others aren't having that issue...so it's probably something to do with your car.

These cars were very well engineered and were quite reliable when they were new. Find out what's not right and put it back the way it's supposed to be. If there's an insulator that's supposed to be between the carb and manifold, put it back. If the choke is supposed to be set 1 notch rich, set it there. It's impossible to properly diagnose an issue without a solid foundation. Have you done a full tuneup per the Packard specs?