Pontiac fuel pump problem

A friend just called and is finishing up installing a rebuilt 400 in his Firebird.
His problem is that he can't get the fuel pump to draw gas from the tank.
He said the fuel pump drive rod is properly placed and he's tried another pump but all he gets out of the carb line is air being pushed out.
Also said he can blow back through it and gets bubbles in the tank.
I wasn't sure what to tell him as I mostly have used electric pumps.
Why is he not getting gas from tank to carb and how to fix it?

 

All it takes is a tiny pin hole in a rubber hose or a crack in a hard line to break the vacuum on the suction side of the pump. Check the run carefully.

 

First, try a hose into a gas can and see if it will pump from that.

Then try leaving the gas cap off. You could also try using a vaccuum pump to draw suction on the fuel line.

 

Check the rubber hose from the tank to the line---i had one that was old and soft----the fuel pump was sucking enough to make it collaspe like sucking a milk shake at mcdonalds. We sometimes forget about how old the lines are----will not do that one again

 

Rubber lines can most certainly suck air and not leak fuel.

X 2 what tommy & rusty said

 

OK, he called back and said he put compressed air on the line and did indeed find a hole in the rubber line. Now all he has to do is see if he has the distributor in 180 off.