This 460 motor is on a boat. Fuel seems to be getting to the carburetor but not into the engine. Could it be the fuel pump?

Ford

get your car fix right now

Check the gears on the distributor.

It is designed that way. Based on my experience you have a defective ignition starter swich, it is a common fault and the subject of many recalls for this very problem. The switch is at the botton top of the steering column

Are the pumps getting power, and is there a tank switch ?

I am not a mechanic, but any good mechanic knows where the fuel filter is. You should take it to a mechanic, it seems like that would be the safest and wisest thing to do and it would save you time, trouble and money in the end.

If you're not getting fuel to the carburetor, check/change your fuel filter, check the fuel pump. And for the oil pressure you can change the oil pressure sending unit to see if thats the problem, for the oil pump the oil pan has to come off, it can be changed without pulling the engine, however you still have to lift the engine up.

Pull a couple of the sp. plugs out and see if there is fuel on them. If not pull the o2 sensor out of the exhaust and see if it starts. It will run rough but should start and run. If it does start you have a plugged catalytic converter or muffler and it is putting back pressure on the engine and not allowing the fuel into the cylinders.

FOR A MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP.BACK WHEN I WORKED ON OLDSMOBILE WITH MECHANICAL FUEL PUMP.WHAT I WOULD DO IS REMOVE FUEL LINE AT CARBURETOR AND PLACE A T IN THE PRESSURE HOSE SO THE FUEL LINE CAN BE CONNECTED TO THE CARBURETOR AND THE PRESSURE GAUGE.I WOULD DISABLE SPARK IGNITION THEN CRANK ENGINE OVER TO GET FUEL PRESSURE READING.

Interesting problem. Not sure what the mechanic has tried - but I recommend that you test YOUR thought about heat on the fuel line. Try some aluminum foil wrapped on the line near and after any heat source... If that fixes it, YOU identified the problem . For perminent fix, just get some heat tape and wrap the line near any heat source and the 460 should be happy.

On older, carbureted engines, cold stalling (and hard starting) is most often due to an automatic choke that is sticking, misadjusted or broken. Cleaning the choke mechanism with aerosol carburetor cleaner may free up the choke allowing it to work properly again. If the choke housing as an electrical heating element, the element may not be receiving voltage when the key is on, or the element may have burned out (check resistance with an ohmmeter).

Other causes of stalling with a carburetor include an idle speed adjustment screw that is set too low (turn screw to increase idle speed rpm). The engine may stall if the idle fuel mixture screw(s) are not adjusted correctly or the idle mixture port(s) are dirty or clogged with fuel varnish deposits (clean the carburetor and readjust the idle mixture screws for smoothest idle). Stalling can also occur is there are vacuum leaks in the carburetor, under the carburetor (bad base gasket), or any vacuum hose connections to the carburetor or intake manifold