Good day,
My newly acquired '66 Toronado won't start/fire up.
I did get it started once or twice in the fall but now it won't.
It turns over and is always just on the brink of firing up, but won't.
I don't want to damage anything in the engine by trying to start it over and over.
Could it be my fuel pump?
Also does anyone know the location of the pump?
Thanks in advance everyone.

 

check the points in the distributor they might be bad.

 

The stock location for the fuel pump is: as you face the engine, your lower left. It is on the passenger side front of the block just behind the edge where the timing cover plate bolts up to the block. But, I would first check for fuel delivery and spark delivery. You may have a clogged fuel filter or, if the engine hasn't been run in a while, just bad fuel in the tank. The fuel filter should be in either of two places or both. The first place is between the fuel filter and the fuel inlet on the carburetor, especially if there is a rubber fuel line you might find one. The second place could be in a housing on the fuel inlet of the carburetor, some models of Rochester had a porous bronze insert inside the housing. Be careful with this though, if the engine has a stainless fuel supply line you can twist/crimp the line when you try to remove the line to get the housing off. Use care and if you have them use line wrenches. If you do disconnect the fuel line to inspect or r/r the filter, then is when you can check for fuel pump operation by using a large coffee can, some rubber hose attached to the fuel line to allow you to aim the expected flow of fuel into the can. Disconnect the Coil wire from the distributor cap first. Wear eye protection. Have an assistant turn the engine over and look for a solid stream of fuel as delivered by the pump. Sort of a rambling post but hope this helps.
I looked for an image of the pump, this is the best I could find. Ignore all the fancy braided fuel line and the chrome pump, all aftermarket stuff. But notice the pump location.

http://www.mondellotwister.com/FuelLine.gif

 

Thanks a heap. I'm anxious to get this baby running and I appreciate every bit of advice that people offer. I've already changed plugs,wires and distributor cap. I'm not a mechanic but I'm doing my best to learn as much as I can about my car. Thanks again.

 

You might also move your distributor to adjust your timing. If it is way off the car will be hesitant to start.

 

Tarza, what part of the country are you in? Or if not in the US, what part of the world are you in? John

 

Hey, I'm in Toronto,Canada. I got it started up again on Saturday,(on my 8th try) let it idle for a spell, then shut it down. Sunday came, and she wouldn't start again.Arrrrr

 

Are you getting fuel?

 

I think I'm getting fuel. The front of the carb is wet with fuel. Could it be a clogged fuel filter?

 

It could be, did you check?

 

Mine has difficulty starting when it sits for awhile. One blast of starting fluid in the primary starts it immediately.

 

Awhile, like a week or a month? If it is a long period of time you could just be loosing fuel in the fuel bowl due to evaporation so there isn't any available for the accelerator pump to give the first squirt. If it is not a long period like a month or more you may have a worn gasket on the accelerator pump piston, a carburetor rebuild kit should fix your problem then. Have you tried just a little amount of fuel instead of starter fluid? If that does the job as well then I would look at the gasket.

 

So what has happened since then?