Trying to start the 1944 GPW; and no fuel-help?

[rondo]

Okay, been restoring this war dog for over a year. I thought if i could hear it run on veteran's day it'd make us all feel good inside. However it's not getting any fuel (and the water pump leaks all over the place, but that's a different story).
Fuel pump is rebuilt and my mechanic friend installed it. But it pulls no fuel. Is it installed wrong? What's the trick to installing these things?
Oh, and where to get a good buy on a battery charger for a 6 volt

 

[RockMonkey]

Is there gas in the tank?

Do you have to prime the pump somehow?

 

[Hickey]

Are the fuel lines blocked?

 

[Skylinerider]

It's a lost cause, I'll come get it out of your hair.

 

[RustEoldtrux]

On old machines, there is a very good chance that the fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump may have a leak. This will also cause a 'no-fuel' situation. I had a '49 Power Wagon that would start and run great for about 1/4 mile, then just die. It had a very small leak in the fuel line that sucked air when the engine was running at higher rev's and would die, but it would idle all day long. Good luck with your GPW.

 

[brandonlmb]

You sometimes have to prime it. Look on the drivers side engine block. There will be a glass tube check to see if here is good gas in it. As for the battery go to interstate battery, that's where I got mine.

 

[rondo]

okay, good replies but my fault for being vague. There is no tank (at least not yet). i've run the fuel line into a gas can. The pump has no suction at all. As such it won't even fill the fuel bowl. I suspect it's not installed right on the cam. I'm going to remove and reinstall.
Skylinerider: you can only take it off my hands for what i have into it...but that's enough pain and $$ that you won't want it.
Brandon: how do you prime one of these bad boys? I already have the battery. I need a charger. I must resist getting it from harbor freight as i'm sure the charger wouldn't last a week?
RustE: good advice on the fuel lines. Everything will be new but that's good to know for the future. This will be my first antique so i'm learning as i go.

 

[My10%]

GPW

I'm not familiar with the particular vehicle you are working on, but what i usually do is prime it by hand so your carb has fuel pre-crank. That way, if it dies from lack of fuel you know why (pushrod not engaging the rod). I just had that problem on a 454 with a brand new edelbrock fuel pump, they got cheap with the length of the arm and wouldn't always make contact leading to intermittent starvation.

 

[Blake]

I would do like you suggested and pull the pump back off and see if the arm is making contact with the lobe. If possible when the pump is off turn the engine over slowly and see if you can feel or see the lobe turning inside. If it is I would put the pump back on and disconnect the fuel lines and check with your finger or tongue for any suction. If all that stuff works maybe the needle in the float bowl or something else is plugged up and it isn't letting in fuel into the carb?

I have a '51 chevy truck that is 6 volt and I bought a battery charger at autozone or checker several years ago that does both 12 v and 6 v charging. It has worked great for me for years.

 

[rondo]

Thanks for the replies. A friend stopped by, took the pump apart, f@*#ed with it for a while, now it works like a champ. With new water pump and everything put back together i'll try to start it once i get back from out of state. hooaah