Scotty
I have a 1969 Camaro with a 350V8 and an automatic transmission. It has a starting problem. It just cranks and cranks but won't start. I have resorted to using starting fluid sprayed into the carburetor while a second person cranks the engine. Sometimes it will start immediately. Other times it won't start at all while the smell of gas is all around. Am I flooding the carburetor?
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nbkayaker
Are you flooring the gas pedal before starting to set the choke? Does it still have breaker-point ignition? Are the plugs fouled? If you smell gas either you have a leak or the carb is flooding.
I have tried pressing the pedal to the floor- it won't start. I have tried not touching the pedal at all and it won't start. It has a distributor cap. The plugs aren't fouled. Could it be the distributor cap?
When you floor the gas pedal does the choke set properly? Is the accelerator pump working (squirting a little gas when the pedal is pressed)? How about the fuel filter, is it clogged? Is the fuel pump working OK? Does it fire up briefly every time when you squirt in starting fluid? If so, your ignition is working at least to the point where the engine should fire but if things are out of adjustment or worn it may not run very well.
If the car has the original ignition system it would more likely be the points or condenser. If the cap is cracked or has carbon tracks between electrodes it would probably make the engine miss rather than prevent it from starting. That car is over 50 years old, how long has it been since the carb and ignition system were serviced?