I have always had to use ether to start my engine, i spray it in the mouth of the carb and it fires right up. I assumed it was accelerator pump so i bought a carb kit. Put everything in, new accelerator pump, check balls, gaskets ect. Big ball under accelerator pump. Still, nothing. New fuel pump. still nothing. Runs great when cranks and cranks right up. any suggestions?

Please post the exact procedure you use for cold starting.
One pump?...two pumps?

Have you tried multiple pumps while cranking?

I'm thinking along the lines of an automatic choke out of adjustment.

Roger

How long does it sit before you're trying to start it?

If it's awhile, the fuel may be evaporating out of the carb.

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

I usually give it 2-3 pumps. Its a carter BBD series carb(P.O.S). I have done some research and maybe it could be the sock on the pickup in the gas tank? and i have the choke completely unhooked from the vacuum diaphram, i am running a straight carb with no vacuum accerssories except the brake booster. Everything is plugged with caps. It never did this before so its weird.

Let's get this straight, you have disabled the choke and are using starter fluid to start the car and you wonder what is wrong.

I can think of a few things...

1) Fix the choke, you should only need 1 or 2 pumps of the throttle pedal for the car to start.

2) Check for vacuum leaks. They could exist in the vacuum plugs, or the base gasket or possibly the throttle shaft.

3) Install a rebuild kit. This could fix a host of problems.

The BBD is not a bad carburetor, but it is a least 40 years old and is most likely worn out. So it needs to be overhauled to work properly. Using starter fluid is not a proper overhaul procedure.