Cold Start

[chubble]

How long does everyones truck take to get cranked up on a cold start (especially if temps are <50* out)? I can't walk away from mine until I have keep a light foot on the gas for about 1-2 minutes without it cutting off. Is that pretty standard for an old carbureted engine? Not sure if my idle is not right or something wrong with the electric choke.

 

[HotRodPC]

How long does everyones truck take to get cranked up on a cold start (especially if temps are <50* out)? I can't walk away from mine until I have keep a light foot on the gas for about 1-2 minutes without it cutting off. Is that pretty standard for an old carbureted engine? Not sure if my idle is not right or something wrong with the electric choke.

Something is wrong with your E choke. My cold ass natured C20 454 has no choke and it's like a minute or 2 as you explain. My K1500 350 with E choke, 2 pumps turn the key and walk off. It's an Eddy carb with E choke.

 

[350runner]

Fast idle screw not set right.

 

[Boone83K10]

both choke and fast idle are set wrong.

The choke should close fully with one full pump of accelerator. Then right after it cranks, it should open just a crack. Truck should idle up to around 1600 rpm. As it warms, choke flap should open slowly and fast idle should come down to regular idle.

 

[chubble]

With aftermarket (like a Holley 650cfm) carbs it is either manual or electric right? not no choke? I ask because I don't have a manual choke in the cab so I assumed it was electric choke, but since the truck was originally fuel injected and it is carbureted now, it is possible that it doesn't have any choke set up. I haven't ever payed it much attention because with the exception of oil changes everything has been smooth sailing with this old truck so I haven't inspected the carb much.

 

[Boone83K10]

Look on passenger side of your carburetor... it should have a semi-round (usually black) choke mechanism.. this is an electric choke. It needs a constant 12V source when the ignition key is turned...like so

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If it is a manual choke, it will look like this. All you would need is to run a choke cable.

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[chubble]

THanks for the info, I'll take a look at it when I get off work shortly and figure out what I've got.

 

[chubble]

So, I just got home and looked at the carb. Here is a pic: From what it looks like to me, it is a manual choke carb and the guy who owned it before me who converted it to a carb zip tied the choke wide open?!? So am I to assume that if I bought a choke cable and brought it inside the truck, I would have a much easier time getting it started in colder weather? I assume I would still have to nurse it to get it going in very cold weather though.

 

[Jims86]

So, I just got home and looked at the carb. Here is a pic: From what it looks like to me, it is a manual choke carb and the guy who owned it before me who converted it to a carb zip tied the choke wide open?!? So am I to assume that if I bought a choke cable and brought it inside the truck, I would have a much easier time getting it started in colder weather? I assume I would still have to nurse it to get it going in very cold weather though.

yup...snot hooked up. you can get an E choke kit for it pretty cheap.

 

[chubble]

yup...snot hooked up. you can get an E choke kit for it pretty cheap.

Worth it?

 

[Jims86]

Worth it?

If it runs great after warmed up, then hells yeah. Thats a good ole Holley.

 

[HotRodPC]

Personally, Auto Choke is overrated and it fails, sticks and needs adjusting blah blah blah, I'd rock the manual choke if it were me. 90% choke to start it, then push it half in for about the frist 3-5 miles, then push it in all the way and be done. JMO :shurg:

I'd imagine a choke cable can't be but about $10 and alot simpler to install.. Once installed, hard cold starts a thing of the past.

 

[Boone83K10]

This is my first automatic choke. I don't particularly like it, I would rather have a manual choke.. but this is what I was dealt.

Run a choke cable into the cab. You can buy a cable at your local auto parts store then get rid of that zip tie. What's up with the carb hat?

 

[HotRodPC]

This is my first automatic choke. I don't particularly like it, I would rather have a manual choke.. but this is what I was dealt.

Run a choke cable into the cab. You can buy a cable at your local auto parts store then get rid of that zip tie. What's up with the carb hat?

Yep, being he's already got the manual choke carb, that's exactly what I'd do.
He will find it much simpler to install, no adjustment BS, and really, it's very easy to operate and much much more dependable than Auto Choke.

 

[chubble]

I think I will stop by the auto part store this weekend and see if I can do that real quick before we tint my windows