The fuel system in the 1800ES was not in the "best" shape.

The fuel lines under the driver's side were rotten through in the same nasty event that let most the driver's side supports rot. The seller had patched the lines back together in several places with some rubber fuel line. The setup leaked badly and one fuel line was so loose it was sparking off the starter solenoid. Additionally, the FPR (mounted mid-rail) was leaking fuel all over the exhaust manifold. That, combined with raw fuel that was pouring out of a line leak in the engine compartment made it all very scary.

(Hot manifold + leaking fuel line + sparking off the solenoid = flaming 1973 1800 ES)

Despite all this, the car did start up and run - although I couldn't let it run long due to the fire risk.

The easiest fix I could see was to shorten and offending fuel lines, couple them back together with a single patch (not 3) and re-route the fuel lines up the front firewall and use the 71E's FPR and fuel rail.

The switch over went fine. The FPR is now mounted to the heater box, and the fuel line runs behind the valve cover - not around the front of the motor.

I removed, cleaned and re-bent the fuel lines, grafting the broken line together with some snug fuel hose and clamps and . I also carefully clamped the line connections up at the FPR and fuel rail. It looks a lot better and no longer leaks.

BUT...
Now I can't get the car started. If I pump the pedal and then crank, it will sort of start, but dies quickly. Endless cranking does not get it going. I pulled various fuel connectors and determined that there is fuel (a lot of it) in the rail and the cold-start injector line.

So, here are some questions.
Is the early-style 71E rail and FPR compatible with the 73ES?
I could see the FPR being central vs. external making a difference…

Could I have my fuel lines backwards?
I have the center-most fuel line (from the pump) going to the fuel rail.

Right now it goes: pump -> fuel rail -> FPR -> back to tank.

There is a third fuel line under the car. The 71E also has one that runs over the left front wheel frame and up to some more rubber hose in the nose. This line has a deliberate (or coincidental) break about midway under the car, it is connected by a vaccum line w/o clamps. It was the same under the 71E. What is this? My only guess is that it goes to the front end vacuum canister. The 73ES’s line is severed at the firewall. Judging by the light oxidization on the tip, it has been open for a while.

The vacuum retard to the distributor is hooked up. Should I unhook it?

Any help and/or suggestions are appreciated.


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1967 P220 (My every-other-daily driver...), 1972 145S (1993-1997), 1973 1800ES (2006-Present), 1977 245 DL (1993-1999), 1983 245 (1998-2001), 1986 745 GLE (1997-2005), 1990 745 GL (2003-4), 1995 945 (2005-Present)....
What's a "Sedan"???