LUVTruck.com

I got my 78 Luv out of storage. Been sitting for over a year.. She cranks fine but won't fire, unless I goose it with carb cleaner. She fires then, but only for a few seconds... Fuel is getting to the carburetor, so I drained the gas tank, put in fresh fuel, checked to see that is indeed pumping fuel, and it is. But still no start... Suggestions? Clean the carburetor? But why does it fire when primed with carb cleaner?
Thanks.
M

Is the bowl filling up with fuel? Check the needle valve. It could be stuck closed.

That does look like the next move..looks like a lot of connections and linkages to be labeled and marked. Any suggestions? I'm not even sure which bolts are holding down the carb!!
Thanks
M

The needle valve in our carb gets stuck all the time. Tap it lightly with a teflon mallet around the area where the fuel line connects to the carb.

The needle valve is just below the fuel line. Just the one bolt. If tapping it doesn't help, try taking it out and cleaning it.

Yea, should probably clean it first.

Mine binds and needs to be replaced so I just tap on it for now.

I took out the fuel inlet valve (#52 in the Haynes manual) and cleaned it. Seems to be functioning.
Question: can I remove the three screws holding the level gauge cover and level gauge, pry off the cover and take a look at the float? If so, is the level gauge just a press fit that can be coaxed out?
Thanks for the help. It's good to bounce this stuff off of others who love these old trucks..
M

By level gauge do you mean the glass sight hole? If so do not try pushing it out.
You can easily remove the 3 screws and the float cover and check all that out and clean it up while you are in there.

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Luvless
1980 Mikado-Sold.

1993 Lexus SC400 my Daily
2004 Yamaha WR250F my new love in life
2016 Toyota Camry my girls ride

Yes, the cover comes off, don't damage the gasket. The level gauge is a part of the cover, it's just a glass window with a scribe line.
Fuel level should be centered on the sight window, if not the float level needs adjusted.
You take off the cover, remove the float & bend the tab that fits against the needle valve to adjust the float level.
Caution: there are some little spacers on the float pivot shaft that center the float under the needle valve. These spacers are easy to lose but must be there, if you drop one fab replacement from some very small nylon tubing.
There is a small filter screen under the fuel inlet to the carb, if it's clogged you may get fuel to the carb but not into the float bowl.
The LUV electric fuel pumps do not like dirty fuel, while it's pumping it may not be pumping enough volume, some even have an internal filter screen that is not serviceable. It should pump a good steady steam & run almost silently with a slight vibration that can be felt. If the stream seems weak or the pump is noisy replace the pump. Any aftermarket pump of the 4-7psi range will work with new mounting holes.

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'78 Chevy LUV,1.9,4sp,headers,31's,SAS Dana 30,Dana 20,SOA rear w/Aussie Locker, rough body, bought new 12/4/78.
'87 Trooper,2.3,5sp,headers,31's,ball joint flip & spacer,Aussie Locker rear,Superwinch hubs,brush guard w/5.5K winch,more to come.

The stock luv fuel pump has a internal pleated paper filter that IS replacable. Just screw off the pump end cap and it pops out. However when you go to auto parts to ask for the luv part they will look at you funny-none listed.
Instead you ask for one for a mid 70's Nissan 240Z to get the correct one.
All this is probably more time and trouble than many want to put up with, so most people just replace the entire pump.

Thanks folks. I took the fuel inlet valve,above the bowl, cleaned it, and as was suggested, simply gently tapped on the level gauge with a rubber mallet, put all the hoses back on and she is running great.
Couldn't have done it without your advice.
M

Easy fixes are the best fixes.

Once again this site comes through for me. I picked up a 78 Luv on Saturday that had been sitting about a year. Just like the OP, if you pour in a little gas it fired right up then died. I have fuel in the line but nothing in the sight glass. So last night I read this thread and today after a few taps from a screwdriver handle she fires up without a splash and runs like a top. I even drove it up and down my street a couple times.

Ben this site Rocks

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Three Amigos

Yea, the first time it happened to me, I remembered someone on here talking about it too, so I tried it.

One of these days I need to rebuild mine.

The fuel inlet valve bit me again yesterday. After 100 miles since I tapped on it the first time the truck ran fine. I tried to take it apart and clean it then but could not get the bolt to break loose from the fuel line coupler so I let it be.

25 miles from home yesterday leaving the donut shop it dies and coasts to a stop. Luckily Don was there with a buddy who had a trunk full of tools. I asked for a 12mm and a nylon hammer. With the air cleaner off I hit the bolt for the inlet valve 3 times and the truck fired right up. We were all amazed, as I buttoned it up and was back on the road.

I did get the inlet valve apart at home and cleaned it. I am no G180 guy but I think this is the first thing anyone should look at when having a fuel issue. The symptoms are the same as bad fuel pump or clogged fuel filter which are also common replacements but this is where I would go first. Even with 2 fuel filters there was some black debris in the inlet valve. My fuel pump and filters are fairly new on this truck.

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Three Amigos

I'm the OP and I have not had another incident since the original. One thing I have started doing however, is running the truck at least once a week, if only for a few minutes . Before I might let it sit a few months or more without cranking the engine...