Just purchased this beast. We are brand new at this so any help is greatly appreciated. Already replaced battery, but driving it from Lancaster OH to Columbus OH it decided to not start after driving it for 3/4 of the distance. The gas smells off. Engine tries to catch, but just won't. Thinking maybe bad gas? Need plugs and wires?

Maybe all of the above needs serviced. You may try some starting fluid to get it running and top off the tank with fresh gasoline and add an additive to absorb any moisture in the tank. It may also need the fuel filter to be changed.

Primary tank was full.We think it may have went bad as it sat. He says engine purrs when it is running. But, it has backfired. Maybe you are right. I will pass your suggestions to my husband. Thanks.

BelleStarr71 wrote:Primary tank was full.We think it may have went bad as it sat. He says engine purrs when it is running. But, it has backfired. Maybe you are right. I will pass your suggestions to my husband. Thanks.The bad smell is usually indicating old gas. If you can I'd get rid of about a half tank of the current gasoline and fill it up with new gas. Probably a good idea to change the fuel filter and put Seafoam additive in the tank when you fill it. You'll have to change the fuel filter again after a tank full has been run through.Good luck.

BelleStarr71 wrote:Just purchased this beast. We are brand new at this so any help is greatly appreciated. Already replaced battery, but driving it from Lancaster OH to Columbus OH it decided to not start after driving it for 3/4 of the distance. The gas smells off. Engine tries to catch, but just won't. Thinking maybe bad gas? Need plugs and wires?Gasoline has turned; Carb is gummed up; fuel line and filter need cleaning and maybe even replacing ( Filter)Clean everything up.....replace filters....install totally fresh gasoline and dump existing gas....try it again

Not uncommon for engines of that era to jump or break the timing chain when they're shut down. Your going to have to do a lot more inspection and testing before someone can just tell you what to do to fix this.

1978 Dodge 440: Gas has funny smell, Backfiring, etc

23 Replies

SRT
Explorer
Jan 05, 2014
BelleStarr71 wrote:
Primary tank was full.We think it may have went bad as it sat. He says engine purrs when it is running. But, it has backfired. Maybe you are right. I will pass your suggestions to my husband. Thanks.

The bad smell is usually indicating old gas. If you can I'd get rid of about a half tank of the current gasoline and fill it up with new gas. Probably a good idea to change the fuel filter and put Seafoam additive in the tank when you fill it. You'll have to change the fuel filter again after a tank full has been run through.

Good luck.
BelleStarr71
Explorer
Jan 05, 2014
Primary tank was full.We think it may have went bad as it sat. He says engine purrs when it is running. But, it has backfired. Maybe you are right. I will pass your suggestions to my husband. Thanks.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Jan 05, 2014
Maybe all of the above needs serviced. You may try some starting fluid to get it running and top off the tank with fresh gasoline and add an additive to absorb any moisture in the tank. It may also need the fuel filter to be changed.

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1978 Dodge 440: Gas has funny smell, Backfiring, etc

23 Replies

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