The issue I am having is that my 1984 Dodge D100 Custom with the 225 slant 6, Holley one barrel, is that when you first try to start it you can crank the heck out of it and it will begin to smell like it is flooded, but you can spray some started fluid in it and it will start right away and continue to run. But when it does start it does not do so until "just as you let off of the starter", does not start while it is cranking. I have removed the lean burn system and put on 1979 remanufactured Holley carb. I changed to a HEI electronic system. At first it ran fine, but after sitting for several months because I had medical issues. It became hard to start and had little or no fuel at the carb. so I replaced the fuel pump once and it did the same thing so I changed it again. I put a clear fuel line the end of the metal line (about 24 inches) from the carb. and fuel filter. After I got it started and ran it until it got warm, I would shut it off and with in about 20 minutes the fuel would be going down in the clear fuel line. I even put the other new fuel pump back on and it still leaked down. I have checked the fuel lines under the truck and found one very small place that showed to have fuel on it, but not enough to drip. I repaired that with a new hose. It still does the same thing. I took the fuel line to the tank off at the fuel pump and blew through it and heard the bubbles in the tank. Then I siphoned the fuel back into the line and reattached it to the fuel pump. I then took the fuel line off at the carb. and put it in a gallon jug. I cranked the truck in about 10 second at a time for about 40 seconds, there was only about 1/3 of a cup of fuel in the jug. I dumbed that out and cranked it for about 15 seconds at a time for about 1 minute I got a little over 1 cup in the jug. I dumped that and reattached the fuel line to the carb. and it still did not want to start. I sprayed starter fluid and it back fired with blue smoke just as I let off the starter, but did not start. I tried again and it started just as I let off of the key. I let it run and warm up, shut it off and it started right away. Something I failed to mention earlier was that at the beginning of all of this, I had set the timing and adjust the idle and fuel mixture. As far as the fuel issue could it be something in the tank? As far as the late starting, only when letting off of the key, could that be a vacuum advance issue?

 

You may have more than one issue but, it sounds like your ignition system isn't getting power when the switch is in the Cranking position. Maybe bad wiring or faulty ign. switch.

I'm also curious since you switched to HEI, did you correctly bypass the ballast resistor. Mopars have two hot wires that power the stock ignition. Ballasted (aka RUN) and Bypass (aka Cranking). When using a one wire ignition system like HEI. These two wires should be joined together to help ensure ignition power in both key positions.

You should test for spark to confirm it's present while cranking.

 

 

Thanks for your response. I had purchased a kit with instructions when I switched to the HEI system, and yes I did by pass the ballast resister, as that was part of the instructions. When I first put in the system, it started fine. After the switch to HEI the truck set for a while. There could be an electrical issue some where, but what I am confused about is that, if I spray starter fluid before the first time trying to start it. It fires up and starts, but like I said, it starts when letting off of the starter. Then after it is warmed up it will start normally without issue. I believe that there is a combination of issues, involving both the fuel and electrical. I believe I need to solve the fuel issue first so there is something there for the electrical system to ignite. I am considering a electric fuel pump, if I can not keep the fuel pressure at the carburetor. The next thing I am goin to do is purchase a fuel pressure tester and go from there. Thanks.

 

Check to make sure that you have spark while cranking the engine? Like DodgeM880 said.... Thats a good start..

 

I will the next time I get to work on it. Thanks