Hey all, I just bought a 1973 Dodge Dart Sport yesterday. The car had sat for about 4 years I was told. I got the car to turn over by jumping it, and I got it to catch by pouring a little gas into the carburetor, though it would not stay running. Since I got to hear the car run, and I thought it sounded great, I purchased it. I knew it was getting spark, and I knew it had compression (at least enough to start...) so this morning I replaced the fuel pump, and the inline fuel filter. I pulled the carb off and sprayed it out with carb cleaner. The guy who sold it to me told me that the tank was bone dry. I'm wondering if that's not the case. After the work I did I still could not get it to catch without pouring some gas in the carb, and it still will not stay running. I pulled the fuel line after I got it to start up for a few seconds, and saw that it was still getting nasty gas. I was planning on dropping and draining the gas tank tomorrow, but I wanted to throw a post up here to see if anyone had any other ideas... The car has a 1968 318 in it, and a 904 automatic transmission. The tranny is bad, but before I bother rebuilding that I would like to get her running first. Obviously the car needs a tune up. New plugs and wires, Maybe a distributor cap rotor and points, oil change, coolant flush, etc.. but none of that should prevent the car from staying running, even if it runs like crap... any ideas?

 

Well of course it could. And you can add to that gum / crap/ junk in the tank, the fuel lines, the pump, and the filter.

Since you have already proved to yourself that there is at least SOME old nasty fuel in the system, there's only one thing to do.........clean it all out, including the carb.

 

i Agree...

 

I attempted to clean the carb out to no avail, do you think it's a wise decision to drain the gas tank? maybe fix the sending unit while it's out? Or just go ahead and rebuild the carb? Should probably do both I suppose, but right now I can only afford to go with one or the other until next paycheck lol

 

If you don't do it all and start out completely clean (all components) you'll be revisiting this problem in the future. Old tanks can get rusty inside and continue to create debris so a new tank and lines is a good idea on these old cars.

I know the dollars suck but think how fast the driving fun goes away when your stopped at the side of the road and have to clean it all again.

 

Yes... Pull and clean the fuel tank.... Change the sending unit... Change the hoses and clamps.... Take some air and blow out the metal fuel line while it is apart to clean it out. Change the fuel filter and hoses. Perform a carb overhaul.

Now if you want to just run the car.... The hose that goes from the Fuel pump to the fuel tank pipe. you can just put that in a small can of gas under the car and drop the the hose in it and run it that way for awhile.....
And then fix the rest of the system....

 

Well I pulled the tank today. Sending unit is definitely shot. Te tank isn't much better. I'm going to attempt to clean it up, but I'll probably just end up ordering a new tank as well, it's pretty bad. I ran a hose into a can of gas from the fuel line. Still no start. Looks like after I get the tank back on I'll be rebuilding my carb.

 

What carb is it. Some you can remove the needle and seat or lift the top off to clean just to get it started with a gas can before complete removal and rebuild.

I`d like to see you get this thing running.

 

That's a good question! lol. I would like to know myself. The kid I bought it from said that it was a re manufactured Holley carburetor. It's a 2 barrel. The passenger side of the bowl reads "MFG By Carter Carburetor St. Louis MA 0-1781," The driver side of the bowl reads "Ball & Ball carburetor MFG for Chrysler Corp Detroit Michigan." The rear (toward the firewall) of the carburetor reads "1936" and "6-1902." I wouldn't even know what rebuild kit to pick up for this thing, I'm hoping somebody on here can tell me what carb. I have.

 

A Ball and Ball carb inlet fitting is the seat and contains the needle, the top will come off easily too.

 

Would that be the Carter BBD Carb I have?

 

Probably. Should be a tag number, or stamped right in the carb somewhere. You have a shop manual? Closest you can get "free" is a 72 from this thread here:

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/...p?p=1970088617

I HIGHLY advise you to seek out one the proper year. You can find "repop" manuals on ebay and around the www, either on CD or paper. Paper ones are easier to deal with in the shop, CD ones are easier for postin' photos on the www, LOL The wiring is somewhat different in 72, 3 and 4, so get the right year.

And I mean a CHRYSLER factory shop manual, not Haynes, Clyne etc