What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

1975 Chevy Blazer won't start. Would like help to get it running after sitting a few years!

S

Sylvia75Blazer

Registered Member
 Premium
Joined
Aug 11, 2024
Posts
12
Reaction score
26
Location
Vancouver, BC,Canada
Hey everyone! I would love to get my 1975 Chevy Blazer up and running ! I got lazy and left it sitting for a few years without starting it. Before that it ran fine. I have a very limited amount of knowledge about cars. So this is what I have done so far:
New battery installed and works (lights turn on and fans turn)
New engine oil
Gasoline is also a few years old and I tried to siphon it, but could only get the siphon in 2 feet which didn't even touch any gasoline. It's about a 3/8" hose. It is a kit I bought at Canadian Tire meant to siphon gasoline and it has a manual pump ( I think I need to go at least 3-4 feet to reach the tank) So I added 20L of gasoline to try to mix it but still turns but won't start. The gasoline gauge doesn't work so I have no idea how much gasoline is currently in the vehicle.
The engine does turn it just doesn't "start" the motor.

Is starter fluid an option?
It would be cool to do this myself. I love working on my car even in a limited beginner capacity. Any ideas would be awesome!
Sylvia
 
Few things to suggest.

Make sure you have spark.

Don't crank the motor much on the battery. It doesn't take long at all of repeatedly cranking the engine over (without starting and charging between each start) before permanent damage is done to the battery.

Fill the float bowl up with gas. Hopefully sitting this long the only problem is the lines are dry and the pump needs the engine to run for a bit before it starts pulling fuel. It's not an efficient system for that, so it can take some time. A lot of variables, but it's possible for the float bowl to get all crudded up as gas dries in there, and ethanol can make that problem much worse.
 
You can try starting fluid. Give it two or three squirts in the snorkel of the air intake. Then try to start it. If it fires off, you know you have spark and it’s a fuel issue.
Like dyeager said, it can take while for the gas to get up to the carburetor.
Do you have a battery charger?

Nice K5 btw. My first was a ‘75.
 
Hi and welcome @Sylvia75Blazer
Beautiful K5 you have. We will certainly happily help you get it running.
Definitely give the the startering fluid a quick try. If the engine lights and stalls that'll tell us we have a fuel delivery issue.
How rural has the last two years sitting? Any possibility rodents could have chewed on things ?
Is Canada using ethanol in the fuel ?
 
Fastereddie said:
You can try starting fluid. Give it two or three squirts in the snorkel of the air intake. Then try to start it. If it fires off, you know you have spark and it’s a fuel issue.
Like dyeager said, it can take while for the gas to get up to the carburetor.
Do you have a battery charger?

Nice K5 btw. My first was a ‘75.
Click to expand...
Two or three quick squirts is what he means. Don’t hold the button down
:yikes:
 
thanks for all the advice! Really appreciate it. Gonna try these suggestions this week.

Vehicle has been stored always indoors in a garage in the city. Small possibility of rodents so I will look at the wiring.

Yes Canada uses ethanol in the fuel. A Canadian gas station i often use state "Yes, all of our grades of gas, including our Ultra 94 high octane fuel, may contain up to 10% ethanol content. This is required by federal and provincial regulations."

I don't have a battery charger but it's a brand new battery. I may have to get one.
 
Even a new battery will go flat with a few attempts to start with no success.
A charger and maintainer, of 10-15 amps, and @ 2 amps is recommended. it will fast charge the battery when very low, and keep the battery fully charged if not being used regularly. Noco-Genius is a good product little spendy.
Along with checking for chewed wiring, you'll want to inspect the fuel lines, esp the soft rubber hose sections. Look for cracks, splits, soft squishy sections, hard brittle sections. All of these conditions can stop gas from being pumped to carburetor.
The fuel pump will be on the lower right front of engine (passenger side). There is a small hole in the pump body, @ the middle, and probably toward the exhaust, if this hole has oil or gas or looks wet, the fuel pump is bad and needs replacement.
Let us know what you find
 
Thank you for all the great suggestions
My findings:
-no wires looked chewed at all so this is good news
-tried fuel starter in the snorkel to the air filter and it did sound like it would start..almost....but didn't..(next step fuel in float)
-fuel lines look good, the ones I could get to easily anyways
-the carbeurator looks pretty clean from the outside, next step it to put fuel in the float (didn't have a syringe last time to try this out )
 
Are any of the plug wires touching the exhaust manifolds, or could they reach by airflow in the engine bay? Some look close in the pictures and while this probably isn't the only issue, it certainly wouldn't help your chances.
 
Take off the air cleaner, hold open the choke and move the accelerator. If you see gas then your fuel pump is working.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom