I have a 1983 F-150 4WD that I bought for a donor truck. I bought it for $500.00 and drove it home in April and parked it out back. Although it didn't run the greatest it did always start. Yesterday I tried to start it but it wouldn't. It is some sort of fuel problem because it will catch on starting fluid. Where it is parked it is impossible to get under it. It has a 351W with dual fuel tanks. My question concerns the valving system for the dual tanks. The guy I bought it from said the front tank wouldn't work and he must have been right because it is full of gas. I put gas in the rear one when I drove it the 8 miles home so I'm sure it has plenty of gas. Since I can't get under it it's hard to see what the system is. I wonder if this truck has a mechanical fuel pump and I am also wondering if the electric valving system for the dual tanks is screwed up. Is there supposed to be an indicator someplace to show which tank it is switched to? The tank switch is on the right side of the heat ans A/C control panel but I see no indicator lights. It has that stupid variable venturi carb on it so I suppose it could even be a stuck float valve. About the only thing I can think of is to pull the fuel line and see if it will pump fuel. If it doesn't maybe I can rig a fuel can to get it up to the garage. I plan on tearing it down for the running gera si I am not looking for a roadworthy fix. I am not familiar with this era of truck as I jumped from s 72 to an 88 and from there to diesels. Any suggestions?

 

First thing would be to pull fuel line at carb and crank engine over . If you get no fuel pumping out try to prime pump by siphoning it though just dont swallow too much. If you get fuel that way but cranking over still dosent pump fuel your fuel pump is probrably gone. Not suprising with an older truck thats been sitting.