What's wrong with the fuel system?, 914-6 w/ 40 PMO's won't start or idle (without assistance) Options

[david63]

It will become obvious that I am not the best mechanic in the world so keep that in mind when you hear my questions.

My 1970 914-6 (GT replica w/ twin plug 2.5) is not feeling too well. A job change kept me away from the car for several months and now you guessed it - it will not run.

What have I done so far... I suspect that the gas is bad so I drained the gas from the tank, replaced it with new gas (even put in a couple of gallons of high octane racing fuel (I know the fuel is OK now).

What the car is doing... It will start if I put a little gas in each carb (has 40 MM PMO's) it starts right up and NOW if I keep my foot in it I can keep it running. It will not idle and it does not hold a constant RPM with no change in throttle position?

I think the fuel psi could be the issue or there is something wrong with the carbs(different settings on the regulator between 3 psi and 9 psi do not seem to help or hurt)? Could the PMO's be plugged with crap (when I left the car sitting I ran it out of fuel prior to storing the car). Maybe the factory fuel pump is going bad. The car was set up like the GT with the factory fuel pump moved up front. Car ran fine before storage (actually would flood really easily prior to the storage period). Does someone rebuild the factory pumps as I have an extra that is leaking badly and thought I might re-build it and try that but would rather not just "swap parts".

Any thoughts, Thanks.

[david63]

Thanks for all the quick responses.

I will check the idle jets. and let you know what I find (thanks for the pictures).

The car was REALLY hard to start and with much time it seems to be getting a little better. It will NOT start on its own (without putting a little gas in each carb) and if I keep the throttle on it will run.

I am struggling with how to descibe what the car is doing. If I try to hold a constant RPM it is not possible. It will stay for a second then start to die and of course I then blip the gas. Even with no change in throttle position the RPM "drifts". If I let the RPM's get below 2000 the car runs pretty rough (lots of "motor shake" and will die if it gets below 1500. When I watch the fuel psi it does seem to fluctuate a bit so I may change the fuel filter just for grins. If I keep the RPM's above 2500 - 3000 it runs OK and is not missing.