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  • #1

    runs sluggishly, but does not drive.

    just got the sediment bowl part of my fuel pump fixed today and she started right up! tough keeping it going without constantly putting pressure on the throttle. tried to drive it a few feet, but no avail. seems like it won't move in ANY gear... including neutral! could the e brake be stuck in the engaged position?

    i have no idea. it drove when i bought it.

    a totally different problem is that it seems to only start when there's something in the carb. i know there's adjustments, but where and how?
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  • #2
    Jack each wheel off the ground and see if you can manually spin it (with the car in neutral for the rear wheels). Perhaps a brake is stuck? Make sure your brake system is in good condition before driving on the road. As for the car not easily starting...does the choke close? Has the carburetor been rebuilt recently (new carburetor kit installed)? Good luck!
    sigpic
    In the middle of MinneSTUDEa.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Milaca View Post
      Jack each wheel off the ground and see if you can manually spin it (with the car in neutral for the rear wheels). Perhaps a brake is stuck? Make sure your brake system is in good condition before driving on the road. As for the car not easily starting...does the choke close? Has the carburetor been rebuilt recently (new carburetor kit installed)? Good luck!
      the carb has been rebuilt within the past 5 years or so, but not driven much after that. only a few times a year to keep it moving. i'll check the wheels. might actually be my parking brake that's stuck (which would solve two problems).

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      • #4
        Could be that the leather cup in the accelerator pump had dried out. Put a few drops of light oil in the top of the accelerator pump shaft and let it soak in. I have done this before and it seemed to bring it back to life.
        John Clary
        Greer, SC

        SDC member since 1975

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        • #5
          how old is the gas in the tank ?

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          • #6
            Originally posted by jclary View Post
            Could be that the leather cup in the accelerator pump had dried out. Put a few drops of light oil in the top of the accelerator pump shaft and let it soak in. I have done this before and it seemed to bring it back to life.
            what where?

            okay, i know what light oil is... but accelerator pump? i'll look in the shop manual (as i haven't gotten any of the other books yet).

            got it running today, but wouldn't idle on its own. always had to give it gas to keep it going. still couldn't get it in gear, but i admit i haven't really tried today. a friend told me that it should work once the engine is running. might need a carb gasket kit; i noticed a wet spot on the drivers side of the carb. my friend said it might have leaked when i had the gas pedal down, but i don't know. i'm working by myself right now.

            found out i don't have any parking brake cables. they're all gone.


            gas is fresh. i don't have a gas tank yet, but i've got a 1 gallon can rigged up under the hood. put fresh gas in it two days ago.


            i took out the instrument cluster today. need to replace a lot of wires. the ones to get the car running have been replaced, but not much else. what's stumping me is the wiring that goes down from the roof of the car down the sides of the windshield (and the rear part of the passenger door). i think i can get everything else, but i haven't been able to get those loose yet. tips/tricks? oh, and i can't figure out how to get the horn button off. i'll do some research, but in case i come up dry, it'd be nice to know. haven't found that in the shop manual. only horn adjustment.

            a few wires go to nothing. will have to take pictures and ask questions later. i'll be gone all weekend.

            thanks!

            oh, i only jacked up the drivers rear tire. it spun no matter what gear i put it in. but again, what my friend said about the engine running while shifting gears.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by pyrodork View Post
              what where?

              okay, i know what light oil is... but accelerator pump? i'll look in the shop manual (as i haven't gotten any of the other books yet).
              Sorry, but not knowing just what carburetor you have, and what your experience working on them is...I just threw that comment at you assuming you were familiar with accelerator pumps. Your particular model might not have the access to the accelerator pump exposed. If you are working on a '51 champion, it is likely a carter model WE single barrel. In that case, I think the pump and its mechanical linkage is under a cover. If you are not familiar with them, you really need a shop manual to help. Seems like you are working on several problems at once. Keep at it and you'll get it figured out. They are not very complicated compared to the newer computerized fuel injected stuff.
              John Clary
              Greer, SC

              SDC member since 1975

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              • #8
                Do yourself a favor and rebuild the carb. Even if it's not the problem, it needs it and, it may well be the problem.
                Sincerely hope you have already refurbed the complete brake system. I would much rather have a car that won't run than a car that won't stop.
                Brad Johnson,
                SDC since 1975, ASC since 1990
                Pine Grove Mills, Pa.
                '33 Rockne 10, '51 Commander Starlight. '53 Commander Starlight
                '56 Sky Hawk in process

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                • #9
                  I believe I have a spare gasket kit that I will send you with your manual if you need it.
                  It is a universal kit, plenty of extra gaskets and parts in it.

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by 1950 Champion RegalDeluxe View Post
                    I believe I have a spare gasket kit that I will send you with your manual if you need it.
                    It is a universal kit, plenty of extra gaskets and parts in it.
                    excellent. i'll have to see what other parts you have to maybe send them all together. i get paid (or should) this friday.

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