'77 won't start -- ideas?

[124Fan]

Background: Got the car about 7 years ago and it ran good for a long time. Drove it once a month or so until about 3 years ago. It had a bad ignition switch, so I ended up parking it for awhile. Since then, the car has been moved around (but not driven) about once every 3 months or so (playing musical cars in the driveway). Most recently, it sat for about 6 months and became very hard to start. A few squirts of starter fluid usually did the trick.

Recently, I cannot get it to start at all without starter fluid. I unplugged the fuel line going into the carb (out of the pump) and had my son crank the engine. No gas. Replaced the fuel pump (twice -- long story). Now it's getting plenty of gas. (Verified by putting the output hose of the pump into a bottle and cranking the engine over).

I checked the ignition timing as he was cranking it. It'd about 5 BTDC. Probably a little advanced.

BUT

It will fire right up with a few squirts of starter fluid, but once that stuff is gone, the engine will not run. It's obviously fuel-related, but I'm not sure where to start with this. This carb has so many hoses and whatnot compared to the relatively simple DHSA (and later, a DFV) on my '72.

Advice appreciated. Summer is upon us and I want to drive it!

Thanks,
Sonny

[124Fan]

GOT IT!

I pulled the top of the carb off.

Clue #1 - Fuel bowl was empty

Did some checking and found that the float's needle was sticking in the "up" position, effectively sending all of the fuel back to the tank. Got it all cleaned up and it runs now.

Man, that's satisfying.

Sonny