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73 crewcab 2wd 4spd with a 360, this truck is HARD to start.
If i dump gas down the carb she will finally start or if i crank it to death while working the gas pedal a 100 times she will finally
catch...Where to start???

 

The first thing to check is whether it is getting fuel and spark in the proper amounts and at the correct time.

Aside from that let me ask you this.
How many miles are on the engine? My brother had one the exact same way when it is cold like it is now. It turned out to be low compression. If an engine has low compression and it is pretty cold out, then it will be hard to start. If an engine has low compression it also has a low vacuum and thus doesn't draw in the air fuel mix as well. The main reason is that a gasoline engine needs compression to create the proper conditions to ignite the air fuel mix along with needing a good spark. The lower the compression the less able an engine has to combust it and creates the cold temp = hard to start condition.
Reasons for low compression: Worn pistons, rings, cylinders, camshaft, valves and valve seats.

One of the oddest things I have ever seen that caused an engine to be hard to start was one where a rat/rats plugged to exhaust system with what appeared to be nesting material. I mean it flat plugged up the exhaust pipes. I doubt that that happens much, but it was one worth taking notice to.

 

When was your last tune up? Still running points? When were they last adjusted? As said previously what condition is the engine in?

 

Hi

i just bought this truck, so i know it had another 360 put in at one time, the owner told me that, but mileage is unknown,
yes its still running points, time for a duraspark!, and maybe a tune up...Would an accelerator pump do this???

 

Is your choke working? An electric choke did wonders for my 390.

 

69cc , The MSD 6A box Doubles fires each combustion stroke up to 3,000 rpm. But if you go that far($) I would go ahead and get the MSD dizzy as well. good luck with your diagnosis......fd

 

Sounds like your choke isn't working. If it is, you might need to put a kit in your carb or buy a rebuilt from AutoZone or somewhere. Then again, maybe you just need a new fuel filter. Anyhow, it doesn't sound like a big deal to fix. Good luck.
jor

 

Check your choke to make sure it's closing tight. Also, cranking for a long time and pumping like crazy doesn't help a lot. My '77 sort of does the same thing. BUT, Even when it sits for a month I tap the throttle to set the choke, crank it over a couple of turns, (2 engine revs per fuel pump stroke 'cuz it runs off the cam) pump it twice, try it again, just a couple of revs, pump it a couple more and keep trying like that 'til it fires. Usually doesn't take more than 4 tries. Also the short crank times help to keep the starter from overheating.
Hope this helps.
Greg