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]

Happy happy joy joy... worked the linkage and had only one working (five not working). Pulled them all and found most plugged with crap? Replaced fuel filter (did not appear to be bad but not expensive).

After cleaning all the idle jets jumped in the car and cranked it up. It ran fantastic, idled fine. WOW. Very cool. Let the car warm up, aired up the tires and drove it for the first time in almost a year.

What a drag having to leave the car sitting. My job will pull me away in a few weeks. I have 2 gallons of 112 octane racing fuel mixed with 2 gallons of 91 octane (w/ some 5 or 10% freakin ethanol) for a total of 4 gallons in the tank.

Ideas on what to do with this fuel.? The guy at the fuel place said the VP C12 does not break down like the new gas does but still wondering if I should drain all the fuel out before I leave again? Is pulling the fuse on the pump and running the carbs out of fuel OK as well?

Thanks for all the great advice and input.

[J P Stein]

Happy happy joy joy... worked the linkage and had only one working (five not working). Pulled them all and found most plugged with crap? Replaced fuel filter (did not appear to be bad but not expensive).

After cleaning all the idle jets jumped in the car and cranked it up. It ran fantastic, idled fine. WOW. Very cool. Let the car warm up, aired up the tires and drove it for the first time in almost a year.

What a drag having to leave the car sitting. My job will pull me away in a few weeks. I have 2 gallons of 112 octane racing fuel mixed with 2 gallons of 91 octane (w/ some 5 or 10% freakin ethanol) for a total of 4 gallons in the tank.

Ideas on what to do with this fuel.? The guy at the fuel place said the VP C12 does not break down like the new gas does but still wondering if I should drain all the fuel out before I leave again? Is pulling the fuse on the pump and running the carbs out of fuel OK as well?

Thanks for all the great advice and input.

That must be part of Murphy's law. I've never had that problem.....had most of the rest, tho. It doesn't bode well for the cleanlines of the carb's internals.
A tear down/cleaning /rebuild would be advisable.

By all means, run the gas out of them. I'd pump the stuff out of the tank for fear that that combo you have in there is mucking up the works.....blow out the lines also.
Good to hear you got it running.