All Small Six Slow cranking, zero fuel pressure after sitting 6 months. Starter? Fuel pump? Both?

[famicomical]

It's unfortunate when a project that was once going strong begins to stall and suffer setbacks. Back in Summer 2023, I took the Ford ('66 Fairlane 500) for a road trip to the coast (2hrs one way). By the time I made it home, the car clearly needed a transmission rebuild. I had been putting that off since we revived it in 2021. Progress on the restoration got slower after that. I worked on the engine briefly in May 2024 -- brazed a crack in the oil pan, replaced timing chain -- but then work stopped altogether due to the war and situation in my country.

So, the car sat for 6 months. When I tried to turn it on in December '24, the battery was a bit weak but the starter cranked at what seemed to be a normal pace. Engine would not start. Let it rest 30 seconds between tries. Cranking progressively got slower and slower. Tried jump-starting, no dice. We pulled the fuel line from the carb and found no fuel pressure. Had to roll the car back into the garage afterwards.

S'pose I was being a bit naive and optimistic by cranking like that. Figured the fuel bowl would fill up any minute but it never did. I'm hoping I didn't damage the engine.

Will definitely charge / replace the battery, and I have a replacement fuel pump. Not sure if i can source a starter locally -- will have to import it. How likely is that to be the culprit? Looking forward to hearing y'alls thoughts.

 

[Bronctopia]

My guess is you may be sourcing a new battery, but the starter will be fine.

Your lack of fuel pumping is the most probable reason for no start. You didn't say if the fuel pump is mechanical, or some electrical conversion.

In the future, no-fuel as a cause of no-start can be verified by cautious manual fuel dribble down the carb bore and/or ether (starting fluid).

This won't make a running engine, but should cause it to fire and run briefly enough to finger the fuel pump/supply as the culprit.

 

[famicomical]

Hi Bronctopia, thanks for the tip. The fuel pump is the original mechanical one on the driver side of the 200 six.

 

[B RON CO]

Hi, any battery over 5 years old is suspect. I would put it on a charger and have it tested no matter. I would clean the cables and connections, especially the grounds. Cables can deteriorate under the insulation, but that is not really common. Before changing the fuel pump, I would remove the rubber line that goes to the tank, and gently blow air back to the tank and listen for bubbles. You can also place a gas container under the fuel pump, and run a rubber fuel line from the fuel pump to the container. If the fuel pump is good, it will quickly pick up the gas, and pump it up to the carb. A good fuel pump will fill a coffee can with gas in @ 20 seconds of cranking the starter. Be careful when working with open gas lines, and keep a fire extinguisher nearby. Good luck

 

[Frank]

Agree- change the battery but not the pump. If the engine can fire it will assist the pump to reprime and pick up gas. I prefer to fill the fuel bowl on the carb by using a very small funnel and carefully pouring 3 or 4 ounces of gas down the brass vent tube that goes into the bowl. A small nozzle can work also. This will allow it to start and run for 10 seconds or so, by then the pump should have picked up. If there's still no fuel at the carb, then address the pump.
Use caution, some gas will spill and a lean engine is subject to backfire in the carb. Have a heavy rag ready, in case it spits back and ignites the top of the carb.
Don't pump the gas pedal excessively when the bowl is dry, it can damage the accelerator pump plunger.

 

[DON]

It might be a good idea to verify you aren’t getting any trash in the fuel. New fuel filter or blow through the old one. There should be no restriction. This can very depending on what quality of gas you have available. Eg: additives or ethanol ( probably not). There is a pick up screen the the gas tank too. If that gets clogged, new fuel pump won’t help