[Zeke's Garage]

It seems like you had about 4 different symptoms with the Q-Jet, but now you've got a total 'no start' problem with the Holley (BTW a 750 is probably too much for that engine... you'll probably have issues with it running rich just off idle)

But for starts... get a can of engine starting fluid (either) and spray a quick shot into the primaries and try to start it. If it kicks and fires for a second or two, you know that you've got compression, spark, and reasonably close timing.

If it doesn't kick over, double check your spark... it could be a bad ignition module in the HEI... Double check that you are getting 12v to the distributor, the original points wire may not have been swapped out and it's only getting 7~8 volts.

Also double check ALL vacuum ports and seal them off. For any testing, disconnect any vacuum lines and plug them until you can get the engine to run smoothly, then reconnect the vacuum advance, brake booster, transmission, PCV and whatever else.

So now take a look at your fuel system. Pull the fuel line off the carb and route it to a container of some sort and turn the engine over a few times... you should get some healthy squirts of fuel coming out of it. If not, pull the inlet line to the pump and see if any gas runs out. If it does, then you know it's the pump, If not, you've got a plugged line, bad pickup in the tank, a plugged vent line, or just no gas.

If you do have fuel pumping then you need to check the filter in your carb, then the needle and seat and float settings to make sure you are getting fuel to it. Are you getting any fuel squirting into the carb when you work the throttle? Maybe the accelerator pump is bad.


I know it's a lot to look at, but you just have to look at each part, test what you can and then continue to work backwards.

Good luck!

Shawn