Question for the Ford Guys

[bryce_burden]

My boss recently gave me his old 1980 Ford F150 for a work truck. It has the original 300 straight 6 and 4-speed with 237,000 oilfield miles. The problem is it has been sitting for about 8 years. I thourougly cleaned under the hood, put some gas in the tank, primed the carb with a little fuel, and cranked her. Started and ran until it ran out of fuel in the carb. Tried a few more times and same result. Went to the local auto supply and bought a new fuel pump. Installed it and now its picking up fuel but still won't run. When I took the line off the carb and cranked it, fuel shot all over the place so i know it's getting there. This has the boss and i both thinking something's wrong with the carb (single barrell Carter). Any ideas and help would be appreciated.

[Roy Hodges]

Sounds to me like the needle&seat is stuck shut or plugged up .The fuel bowl is probably crudded up with dryed up fuel and full of "green death".

[700R]

I would definately have the carb gone through, cleaned, with a rebuild kit and fresh gaskets. A new one would probably be a better choice...and try to find at least a 2-barrel.

If you need any more information, be sure to check out http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php

There are tons of knowledgeable people on there with years of experience working as mechanics.

Here's the forum for the 1980-1986 trucks:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum37/

And here's the forum for the 300-6:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum52/

Good luck! That engine should still have a couple hundred thousand miles left in it!

[David R]

:) Varnish in the carb :)

David

[TozziWelding]

Berryman B-12 in a spray can, douche it out good.

[CaptainWilly]

It may have one of those stupid brass rock fuel filters in the carb... they love to clog up and and corrode.

either that or the floats are stuck, or something else is clogged... id take it off and clean the crap out of it like everyone else said.

[zapster]

Once you do get it running you will absolutly LOVE that engine..:cool2:

Can't beat'em for durability....:nono:

...zap!

[mccutter]

Rebuild the carb. I'm sure it's gummed up inside. They are not that hard to do and the kit is cheap. I don't know if you could find a new or rebuilt carb. or if you want to spend the money.

Ideally, you'd find the F.I. setup from a later model and retrofit it (I know, it's a hell of a lot of work...fuel tank to air cleaner--you'll need it all). That is a sweet setup and a bunch more torque than the carb version. Ran smoother, as well. Hooked to the 5-speed you could get crazy gas mileage for a truck--close to 20+mpg.

PS: even with a carb., that is a very good engine! The only issue I can think of is the exhaust manifold likes to crack but it has been years and I could be wrong.

[prop-doctor]

AGREED time to rebuild the carb(easy job) but sounds like the accelator pump in carb is bad
just buy the kit and go
i have a 1979 1/2 ton with the 6 banger(4 speed) and love it

[Qucifer]

Try some sea foam. I use it to get my small gas powered lawn equipment going again after the off season. Ive used it with good results on vehicles too, but none that have been sitting 8 years.

[bryce_burden]

Thanks for the advice guys. I sure hope to get this thing running soon as we have a lot of junk to haul off and my 94 Chevy just ain't got the power to do it. Soon as i get some money I'll try rebuilding the carb. Thanks again