got a 1978 f250 with a 400 CI motor, and ive put a new starter on it and in the morning it will start right up without pumping the gas and after i drive it to work and when i get off ill try to start it and ill have to hold the key and turn the starter for about 10 seconds and itll finally start is it bad grounds on the battery wires or bad battery or starter relay??

 

First, let's get straight on some terminology. Do you have a "no start" which is the truck turns over, but doesn't start, or do you have a "no crank" which is when you turn the key and nothing happens. The "no crank" condition could be due to wires. The "no start" could be many things.

 

idk where you got that it wont start, i said in the morning itll start right up, after i drive it a while and try to start it i have to hold the key over for about 10 seconds until it starts

 

You can't drive a carburetor vehicle like a fuel injected vehicle. When cold, you do need to pump the gas once to set the choke and fast idle. If yours is starting cold without touching the gas, something is actually not right with the carb.

Okay, when you are in the no-start situation, let go of the key and pump the pedal once and try to start it. If it fires right off, just remember to pump once before starting.

If that has no effect, press the pedal to the floor, hold it there, and try to start it. If it's flooded, it will start.

Either way, you may need a good carburetor adjustment and/or rebuild. The choke could have issues.

 

yea i pump it once then start it, but after that it will take a while to start, what do you mean by car adjustment?

 

Okay, now try starting it with your foot on the floor - does it start faster?

Your issue is carburetor-related. You could be getting percolation after you shut it down - fuel boiling out of the bowl and down the intake. If you are using ethanol-added fuel, the carb may need to be rejetted.

 

oh wow that doesnt sound good lol what do you mean by rejetted i know nothing about carburetors btw lol

 

Time to find an old-timer that knows carburetors to look at it for you.

 

Back when I was in college I had an old Plymouth that wouldn't fire, just crank and crank.
My procedure was to remove the air filter, wingnut made that easy, and stick my pocket comb into the butterfly to hold it open.

Eventually, I bought a carburetor rebuild kit and went at it.
Problem was after I did the rebuild I had about ten pieces leftover, some dirty and some new.

So I went to plan B and bought a For Sale sign.

Still, that car was probably my best deal ever, 1970 Fury.
Paid $100 and put four recaps on it, drove it three years and sold it for $100.

 

ok so what does rejetting mean, and how is it done,

and what if i just drive the truck the way it is what will that hurt, i bought a rebuild kit today but im kinda second guessing that move lol