1984 Dodge Ram truck won't start

1984 DODGE RAM
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TTUSTEPHEN
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Engine problem
1984 Dodge Ram V8 Four Wheel Drive Automatic 200k miles
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drove this old W250/318 beast from indiana to georgia, ran great! parked it for the summer, after which, it wouldn't start. determined no fuel to the engine, replaced the mechanical fuel pump, finally started. ran great for a month, then parked it again for about three weeks on top of a hill. Started it up to put it in my garage, on the way back down the hill in 4wd-high, it started sputtering. by the time i was on the flat driveway, the engine died and I have been unable to restart. replaced the fuel tank, fuel filter and some lines, believing there was a clog; no change. electrical is good, engine cranks, fan turns, but it won't catch. tried starting while oil filler was open, saw the arm inside move. pouring gas directly into the carb has long been a cold-start method, but now, even that is ineffective. Thanks!
Dec 10, 2007 at 9:58 PM
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2CARPRO JACK
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So is it lacking spark or fuel or both? Need to check the quality of spark at the coil and at the plugs. Also verify fuel is getting to the carb. If you pump the throttle does the accelerator pump in the carb work? Be sure the choke isnt slammed all the way shut as well
Dec 11, 2007 at 7:29 AM
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CASPAR78
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You may have competely flooded out the spark plugs try to change plugs also a minor tune up such as cap rotor and wires not a bad idea make sure to do wires one at a time so that you do not screw up firing order also oil change not a bad idea.
Dec 12, 2007 at 10:15 AM
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TTUSTEPHEN
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Thanks for your suggestions!

Changed the choke pulloff, still dead. (no worries, it was really rusted)
I invited a friend over who helped me check out the problems. (He was able to get the engine to turn over, he was adding far more gasoline to the carb than I ever had.) Worked through the options (fuel, spark, air) and determined that fuel wasn't getting up to the carburetor.
He believed the new fuel pump had gone bad - we replaced it and after getting fuel through the system, the engine started! He suggested that because of use, then disuse, and a known problem of fuel dropping back from the system, the diaphragm in the pump may have broken.
Now, to fix the problem of having to prime the carb every time I leave it for a night...

Thanks again!
Feb 1, 2008 at 5:57 PM
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