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I have tried starting a 77 Ford LTD II (with 302 V8) after sitting roughly 2 years. First I removed all plugs & added oil thru plug holes, then cranked it in at least 3 intervals of 10 seconds each.
I had a container to catch any fuel from a temporary hose attached to the mechanical fuel pump's outlet line. It didn't pump much, but some. After installing plugs, reattaching fuel pump line to carb & filling carburetor bowl with gas, it will start & run until the bowl is dry. Have to admit that I had siphoned the gas tank dry some time ago - but did add some gas before trying the re-start.
How much gas is necessary to add to facilitate a "prime" of the pump without removing any pump intake hoses or the like?

I added fuel to the outlet side & as air bubbles worked their way out, I would add more gas til it finally wouldn't take any more. Roughly 14 hours later, some gas that wouldn't go into the pump's exit line, that had been left showing in clear temporary tubing had also disappeared.

Don't know how much a full tank would be, in gallons, but maybe have 4.5 or 5.5 gallons in there now.
The front of the car is down from true level a bit as the front is resting on the rims.

On some other web sites, some owners of cars in the same situation have said that they jacked the rear of the car up to help prime the pump. Others did that but also filled the tank first. Using a one gallon gas can would make that maybe 19 trips to the gas station - if the tank can hold 24 gallons - so I don't want to do that, especially if it is not necessary.

Have tried an "obscure" method of blocking the carb's air intake path & cranking for 3 second intervals for 3 or 4 attempts.

I think that be cranking without the plugs in & little gas in the tank, at first, that I managed to dry out the fuel line from the tank to the pump. No wonder (besides needing a higher pressurized system) that more modern cars use electric fuel pumps in the tank.

Thanks all.

Thumbsley, You might want to

Submitted by drivability on Tue, 09/27/2011 - 16:26.

Thumbsley,

You might want to add fuel to the inlet line to fill the void between the tank and the pump as well as adding to the outlet line. Keep in mind you could have a failed pump/lobe or fuel line plumbing issues such as dry rot. You can check the fuel pump pressure/volume by using and external fuel tank (aka gas can) hooked to the inlet side of the pump and hooking a gauge up to it.

Let us know what you find. Thanks.

Thumbsley, Mechanical fuel

Submitted by ASE MASTER on Tue, 09/27/2011 - 17:45.

Thumbsley,

Mechanical fuel pumps work on vacuum, they do not need to be primed. Blow back thru the hose. Is the pump clogged or are the lines clogged? Are the lines kinked or pinched. Does it bubble into the tank? Is there an air leak somewhere with no bubbles? what steps have you taken to rule out a failed fuel pump. Two years of just sitting can easily deteriorate a pumps diaphragm.

Since I will be working alone

Submitted by thumbsley on Wed, 09/28/2011 - 13:02.

Since I will be working alone - if I blow back (lung pressure) thru the line from the gas tank to the fuel pump's inlet - will I be able to actually hear any bubbling sound?

Thanks for the technique.