Alright if I had more time I'm sure I could figure this out, but I don't move like I used to and between work and 3 teens and weekend trips up north, I just don't have a large block of time for guess work...

1960 Plymouth Valiant, my dad passed away a few years ago and I'm not sure how much he ran the engine back then but it hasn't been on the road since. I was able to start it at first until I saw gas coming out of the top of the carb around the accelerator pump.

I've since rebuilt the carb, and I had it running once or twice. But for whatever reason I just can't get the engine to run except that I can get it started with starting fluid, but is won't run once that's burned off.

I've replaced spark plugs and set the gap correctly, replaced cap and rotor and points, new spark plug wires, new fuel pump. And currently I've eliminated the gas tank and run a rubber hose from a gas can with new gas and an in-line fuel pump. Oh yeah, and oil and filter change.

So obviously I've pretty much replaced everything that should be making spark and getting gas into the engine, and something ain't right amongst what I've already done.

My first guess is maybe I didn't get the gap set right on the points, but would it still start off starter fluid if that was the problem?

Where should I start? I'd like to get this car running smoothly.

You've already identified the problem, but then did work elsewhere. Back up and figure out why fuel is not getting through the carburetor.

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Joshua

Well as much sense as that makes it's one I have to be in denial about because I did have it running after the carb rebuild... and what I'd be inclined to figure out is the fact I find carbs to be deceptively simple and exceedingly devious, and I should probably buy one that's been rebuilt by somebody that knows what they're doing.

First thought: Don't sell your self short. Carburetors in need of a rebuild are often about careful disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly.. That you got it running after the rebuild suggests you did fine..

Second:
The gas coming out of the accelerator pump, I am guessing was a float stuck open, or had some junk in the needle and seat, and that is why you were seeing the carb be overfilled.

Repeating myself:
The fact that it ran once or twice suggest it is something simple... and not needing a "rebuilt" carb, to solve the problem...

First troubleshooting question is: does the accelerator pump express fuel into the carb Venturi when you open the throttle linkage (engine off). If "YES", then ether the fuel is stale, the engine is flooded, or something else is the problem...

If "NO" then start troubleshooting between the carb and the fuel tank: Is the fuel pump working? Is the fuel filter clogged? Is the needle and seat preventing fuel flow for some reason? You can troubleshoot those three things pretty quickly, and likely faster than the time it takes for your "remanufactured" carb to arrive.. I would pull the fuel line where it goes into the carb, and put the fuel line in a bottle, crank the engine 1 or 2 revolutions and see if there is fuel in the bottle..

You can buy a re-manufactured carb if you must, but KEEP the one you have!! Reman carbs can be problematic and once you send yours away to be abused by the rebuilders you can not get your good one back..

The only carb I would send to a box store rebuilder would be one that is so full of white chalky scale, and powder that I could not see through the main jet.. which is nothing like what you have already rebuilt. Even then.. I would hesitate long and hard with deliberation.

Carburetor operation and repair manuals and links to training movies and carb repair/modification threads are posted here for free download.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

Well so far I took the top off of the carburetor and sure enough the bowl is dry

That suggests the needle and seat may be stuck together, not allowing fuel in, or perhaps the float is stuck, holding the needle and seat together.

Roger

Did you test the fuel pump by disconnecting fuel line at the carburetor and trying to pump fuel into a bottle? Seems like the problem is between the needle valve in the bowl and the fuel tank says Capt obvious.

Could be the fuel pump can't pull a vacuum on the fuel line back to the tank. In this case; a fuel can full of fresh fuel. Cause could be defective pump diaphragm or problem with pump's actuation lever not moving for whatever reason.

Is the fuel pump's lever in correct contact with its lobe on the camshaft. Remove pump, stick your finger in and feel for the cam's lobe. I once replace a fuel pump on my 82 LeBaron, it worked for a few miles and quit pumping. The Chicom part was defective such that its lever broke in two...

Have the rubber or soft lines used as couplers degraded with age and ethanol laced fuel?

Lastly did the fuel filter get replaced?

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67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC

I just got a cam reground at Oregon cams. They charged me extra to weld up the fuel pump eccentric and regrind it back to where it should be, they said it was worn down and that they see alit of them that way from the /6s....