I have gotten to the point in the restoration of my 55 Century to start the engine and make sure everything is operating correctly. Well, the darn this won't start, no fuel!

If I dump a little gas down the carb it fires up for a few seconds till it's burns it off and then of course quits. I can not see any fuel getting into the glass bowl filter which is attached to the carb. My fuel pump is the later style for 55/56 with the single bolt in the top cover. If I remove that cover there is some fuel there. It doesn't seem to be pumping it out of the pump into the filter though.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, Now I wish I had a spare pump.

Glenn

Glenn,
Have you had the engine running without this problem before? Yea, that would be this ol parts swapper's approach, swap it out and see if it works.
I'm curious that there is a glass bowl filter on a 55 carb, I've seen them on 56 but not 55. If it is an after market filter it doesn't by chance have an on-off valve that needs turning on does it.

Hi Lamar,

This engine ran fine last summer, before I got carried away and did a complete body off restoration. I did not rebuild the engine in the process but did fiddle around with the fuel pump. I am just trying to make sure that my diagnosis is correct. I don't understand why there is fuel getting to the pump but it wont pump it up to the carb?

Is there a possibility that a stuck float could cause the same symptom?

The glas bowl filter is an aftermarket item added for safety sake and in this case is very helpfull in determining the problem by sight, quickly.

Thanks,

Glenn

Glenn
The fuel pump probably dried out from inactivity and the valves are not sealing. It probably should be replaced or rebuilt.
There are a couple of things you can try. If your carburetor is the Carter WCFB you can take off the cover over the metering rods and slowly pour in 2 ounces of gas. This will fill the bowl and allow longer running that may jolt the pump back to life. Maybe applying pressure to the tank filler will move fuel past the pump. Also be sure you have at least 5 gallons of fuel in the tank.
Willie

Rebuilt pump on it's way, Thanks for the advise.

Glenn

Rebuilt fuel pump installed tonight, thanks to Arthur Gould for having a freshly rebuilt unit sitting on the shelf just waiting for my call. All installed and problem is gone.

Thanks all for your comments and help.

Glenn