Well, I went to crank up the beast last weekend for a quick spin while the weather was nice, and as I was starting the engine it tried to crank over but would not start after a few seconds, so right when I took my hand off the key so the starter would stop, the engine BACKFIRED. (It sounded like it went out back through the exhaust.) After that, the engine would not start unless I poured gas into the carb. Once I poured gas in the carb, it ran great. I let it heat up to 195 degrees and I took it out for a healthy romp on a country back road. Got back home, turned the engine off, waited about a minute, and then no start...... poured some gas in carb, and she purred.

Could the backfire have damaged my carb?? Somehow it is no longer getting fuel in the bowls at startup. I did some searches on "backfire" and most said something about the power valve possible being blown, but I can't see how that would affect starting the engine. And I also don't see how the timing could be off either. Like I said, once I pour some gas directly into the carb, it starts and runs fine.

Thoughts?

Forgot to add, when I went under the hood, I removed the air cleaner, and manually pushed the accelerator pump, I peeked down in the carb and I did NOT see/hear/smell any gas squirting out. Normally, even if I can't see the squirt, I can hear the little "tssst tssst" when I pump the gas.

I am not an expert on carbs by any means however if the acc. pump is not working it will be hard to start and pouring gas down the carb would be doing the work of the acc. pump. It is possable you have dirt or varnish in the pump causing a blockage. I dont think the power valve would casue that issue I have blown mine out many times on my old carb and had no starting issues. I am sure someone with a better grip on carbs will chime in soon.

Forgot to add, when I went under the hood, I removed the air cleaner, and manually pushed the accelerator pump, I peeked down in the carb and I did NOT see/hear/smell any gas squirting out. Normally, even if I can't see the squirt, I can hear the little "tssst tssst" when I pump the gas.
Whether it is the full problem or not, it is definitely an issue to not see or hear gas from the accelerator pump when you pump the gas.

The backfire could have just been a misfire since the car has been sitting due to old gas in the carb.. Normally, it is the backfire through the carb itself that causes the power valve in Holley's to blow out, but this was rectified by Holly in all their designs back in the laste 80's or 90's (help me out here Holley folks).

No matter how long you crank it 9not exceeding 60 seconds), the car won't start on its own now?

It is possible the fuel bowls are empty due to low fuel pressure, which would also make your accelerator pump not discharge. Can you unhook the fuel line, crank the engine and see if fuel is pumping out?

I'm waiting for the right person to chime in cuz I had kinda the same problem, after my car sat for a couple days I would have to pour gas into the carb. 2 fuel pumps and two different carbs. I even removed my gas cap to see if there was a vacuum created in the tank. Good luck on her.

could be something as easy as a pluged fuel filter. but the gas we have now days can actually gum up your carb. you need to pull it apart and get good carb cleaner and spray in in every hole in the metering blocks and carb base. check the fuel line while cranking the motor over to make sure the fuel is getting to the carb. if you pour gas down carb and it starts the carb starts pulling the cfm and draws fuel in. just trying to start the car does not draw the cfm as it does running. I hope this helps. I clean my carbs out every year after storage. just to ensure everything is clean and running correct.