Steve,
Tom's advice to fit a leccy fuel pump is the answer. That was the first job I did after purchasing my '41 Buick, after which it started first turn of the key (o/e accelerator pedal starter over-ridden by previous owner) rather than having to "pump the gas pedal 7-8 times while cranking it over and over with fingers crossed". That bit in quotes were the instructions from the Buick's seller which came taped to the steering wheel when I took delivery of the car.
Tom's advice to fit a leccy fuel pump is the answer. That was the first job I did after purchasing my '41 Buick, after which it started first turn of the key (o/e accelerator pedal starter over-ridden by previous owner) rather than having to "pump the gas pedal 7-8 times while cranking it over and over with fingers crossed". That bit in quotes were the instructions from the Buick's seller which came taped to the steering wheel when I took delivery of the car.