I have been working on my 77 for about three or four months now and last night I finally finished and tried to start the engine and it would not start. It has been sitting on an incline with the gas tank downhill. There is no gas coming out of the fuel pump. My question is can a mechanical fuel pump lose its prime or air lock? Any suggestions would be a great help.

 

Yes, you can vapor lock. It usually takes a fair amount of HOT weather to do that though. All I can suggest at this time is to do the obvious: ck. for enough fuel in the tank, correct tank selected, blocked filter, bad fuel pump. After mine sets for a long time it takes a lot of cranking to get fuel back through the system and running again.
Gary

 

Over time it can. You may want to add more gas to the tank to get enough over the pick-up tube so that the fuel pump can pick up fuel. You may also try removing the hose going to the pump from the frame. Have someone crank the engine and put your finger over the hole on the fuel pump and see if it has any suction.

 

:P Poor Paddy. I replaced the Fuel pump in my 77/460 about a year before I tore it down. Then a year later I put it back togather and tried to start it.
NO GAS! I checked all the obvious, had fuel, so I put the Air Hose in the tank and forced fuel up to the Pump. Then cranked it and got fuel, but not enough! It seemed like the valves in the pump lost the seal, so I have decided to get another pump. (I think that's the hardedst pump to replace that I've ever fooled with)
I've been away for the Summer and haven't been able to work in it since April.
You can pull your plugs, block the throttle open and crank it for awhile. The Battery and starter can take that. It seems to me that the pump should regain it's ability to pump. If not??? Swap it out!
Also check to see the filter is not plugged. Mine wasn't but check it out anyway.