1970 LeMans won't fire

[dkpd1787]

OK. I have a 1970 Pontiac LeMans that wont fire on its own. I have gone a changed the battery with in the last week and still no fire. The starter spins and belts turn, just no fire. Yet if I use starter fluid the car comes to life and runs fine. I can even run the car for a while, park, come back to the car and she will start up with out the use of starter fluid. But if she sits, for say longer than an hour, I have to use the starter fluid. Any help in diagnosing the cause would be great and what I need to do to fix the problem. Thanks!

 

[melsg5]

when it does start do you get lots of black smoke out the tailipipe? if you let it sit for a day, are the spark plugs wet? You dont say which carburetor you have an original 2 bbl or 4bbl? The 4bbl have plugs on the bottom that can cause what you are describing. The gas leaks out of the bottom of the carb into the manifold.

 

[dkpd1787]

Sorry that I have not responded back to my thread earlier. I have been traveling or my work and it has been basically crazy. My LeMans has the 2 barrel carburetor and yes it dose produce the black smoke form the tail pipe when I get it to start up. I do not know about the spark plugs but will check them out next. Again thanks for your help in assisting me in trying to diagnose this issue so I can get car back out on the road.

 

[melsg5]

sounds like a carburetor issue