They towed my baby home., starter, carbs, hydrolock? Options

[Lawrence]

Car had been acting wierd since the last fillup, especially when starting from a dead stop. Unfortunately, I put 89 grade ethanol in it, without reading the pump. (Best grade they had.) I figured that the problem might be minor vaporlock or just poor performance from the crap gas.

Well, on the way to work, the car was acting worse. Several times the car just stalled at an intersection, and I'd have to give it lots of gas to start. Starting was very hard.

At lunch, the car wouldn't start. I noticed the outside of the right carb was dripping. Checked hoses, and tried to start again. Engine started to turn - then stopped abruptly. Let it set, and it finally started.

I went to get gas and stop by BK for lunch. I filled it up to dilute the ethanol, which I still believed was most of the problem. In the drivethru, it stalled twice. I couldn't get it to start the second time, so I pushed my 914 through the BK drivethrough. How embarrassing.

Well, I get it out of the way, and try to start it again. Same "locked" problem. Give it a few minutes, and the starter clicks once. Hmmm. Battery dead? Try to start one more time, and now the starter whirrs freely, like the gear was broken off the end.

Here's my hypothesis/diagnosis:

Right side carb has a needle valve stuck open. Would cause poor running problems at low RPMs. When the key is set in the run position, it starts to fill 1 or more cylinders with fuel. Starting the car, I had a partial hydrolock. I didn't ever try to push-start the car down a hill or anything. The resistance from the engine damaged the starter.

Thoughts? Comments? Bets?

-Rusty