1974 Dart 318 no start

My 1974 Dart 318, 2bbl starts and runs fine provided I start it every day. If it sits for more than a day, it requires a long cranking time, and a couple jabs on accel pedal to get it going. Choke closes fine, choke pull off set to spec, new fuel filter, new carb. But, start it daily, fires right up. Runs perfect. Ideas?

Sounds like fuel is slowly draining out of carb, causing long cranking time. Maybe the fuel pump not holding light pressure in fuel system allowing fuel to drain back to tank? Just a guess.

Modern fuels can evaporate out of the fuel bowl, especially in warmer temperatures.

I keep a cleaned out mustard squeeze bottle around with gas in it to pre-prime the fuel bowl through the vent when needed.

dnicodemus12 said:

My 1974 Dart 318, 2bbl starts and runs fine provided I start it every day. If it sits for more than a day, it requires a long cranking time, and a couple jabs on accel pedal to get it going

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That is so normal it should be a sticky note in the forum. We all have become accustomed to FI cars starting instantly that we all forget what a carberater is.

If I drive my dart every day starts easy. If I don't drive it for a few days, two shots of the pedal and crank, two more shots and some more cranking and it will usually fires.

You can easily see if the fuel has boiled out of the carb by looking down the carb before you start the car and pumping the pedal. If file squirts into the bore, there is fuel in the bowl.

Many have suspected that fuel is somehow being syphoned out of the fuel bowl but that is a physical impossibility. The inlet for the fuel is above the float level.

Could fuel be flowing back to the tank thru the fuel pump etc, sure.

I was driving my 67 dart yesterday. It was about 100 and I had been ideling for about 10 minutes, naturally the eng temp rose. When I started to drive I got to about 40mph and the engine became fuel starved, let off the throttle and the engine recovered, from then it was ok. Stopped at a light and the same thing happened again.

I believe that two things are coming into play, the achohol in the fuel and the lack of vapor release.

I have video of a clear fuel filter being completely empty but holding pressure, till the engine rpm dropped then rapid filling and rpm picks up.

Classic fuel vaporizing in the tube after the fuel pump.

My 76 Ventura is the same, unless I start it every day or two, it will take several pumps of the throttle and a good amount of cranking before it starts. I always felt that it's partly because it is set up to be extremely lean, tiny 2 bbl carb, and today's piss poor fuel.

Best thing I did for my 67 before converting to EFI is .........convert to rear mount electric pump, build a fuel return system, and use a thick insulating gasket under the carb.