"Proper Starting procedure" for Squarebody

[thecantaloupeman]

So I was reading through the factory service manual and it said something about making sure that I am using the proper Starting procedure. I don't have the owners manual though so does anyone know what it is? I'm just curious because I've always just done one pump to the pedal and then crank. What does GM consider "proper"

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[legopnuematic]

Something along the lines of fully depress the pedal to reset the choke and also pumps the accelerator pump. My 76 I just turn the key and go, never has given me any problems, and I find pumping the pedal floods the **** out of it (for me at least)

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[Big Chip]

Turn the key and when it starts let off the key. Have you been unable to start your truck all this time? How long have you owned it?

 

[eskimomann209]

Kids and carbs
I was going to mention this in one of this 30 topic threads, when he was saying he stomps the pedal when he starts it. But I was worried he’d start a thread about me

 

[thecantaloupeman]

Turn the key and when it starts let off the key. Have you been unable to start your truck all this time? How long have you owned it?

Oh no i've never had any problem starting it, but i was just curious. I started out by slowly pumping 4 times before turning the key because i looked up proper starting procedure and i guess thats what it is for a mustang. I was wrong to think it was the same for a chevy truck I guess. Someone just recently told me not to pump it as much so I have been doing once and it is much quicker and easier. I just was curious what the actual owners manual says about it.

 

[eskimomann209]

Something like this.

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[eskimomann209]

Nothing about letting it warm up either

 

[thecantaloupeman]

Kids and carbs
I was going to mention this in one of this 30 topic threads, when he was saying he stomps the pedal when he starts it. But I was worried he’d start a thread about me

LOL. I do start a lot of threads. Whatever. I like to learn things. I think its awesome how much knowledge people have to share. I don't really know anyone that can fix cars so I come on here for any questions I have. I've learned so much just in the 2 months or so I've had the truck. I wish I had a good friend that was experienced in fixing cars, but I guess that will come with time. I just have to be around more of the community. I was thinking about going to a car show with my truck to start talking to people. I like going to junkyards too thats probably a good place. But it would be awesome to just have someone I could text with a quick question.

 

[Goldie Driver]

IIRC , the manual says 2 pumps when cold, and maybe half throttle on hot starts.

After mine sits for a few weeks 2 pumps doesn't do it, but I try it, and when it doesn't work try it one or 2 more times until it does.

When it gets daily driven it seems like 1 pump gets her going, but it has been a while since she was dailyed.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Quite frankly, I think their procedure sucks. It’s never worked for me, and the old timers don’t do it this way either. This is from the ‘86 Pickup manual. The ‘86 Caprice manual says the same except hold it at a quarter throttle after the single pump. I do two pumps if it’s sat overnight, one if it’s sat the whole day, and none if I’ve used it within a day.

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[bucket]

Older carbed vehicles have a personality and they are all different. Some just need one pump on a cold start and others might want 3 pumps. Some beaters require you to just about pump the bowl dry, lol. Some may want 1/4 throttle on a hot restart while others may want 3/4 or more. Some need a little throttle input on a warm-ish start, while others do not. Or some will want another pump or two before even cranking.

It's just a matter of finding what your specific truck likes. If you drive it enough and you are observant of the different ways it acts when you do certain things, you will surely figure it out. Unlike newer cars and trucks, old ones have a soul. You just gotta get to know them.

 

[thecantaloupeman]

Older carbed vehicles have a personality and they are all different. Some just need one pump on a cold start and others might want 3 pumps. Some beaters require you to just about pump the bowl dry, lol. Some may want 1/4 throttle on a hot restart while others may want 3/4 or more. Some need a little throttle input on a warm-ish start, while others do not. Or some will want another pump or two before even cranking.

It's just a matter of finding what your specific truck likes. If you drive it enough and you are observant of the different ways it acts when you do certain things, you will surely figure it out. Unlike newer cars and trucks, old ones have a soul. You just gotta get to know them.

That makes sense because there are so many different factors that can make a carb act different. Mine is rebuilt so maybe that helps a bit but its been pretty good so far for both warm and cold starts. The idle speed is usually very inconsistent though. Sometimes it sounds really high and sometimes it sounds like it's about to stall. It hasn't done that though until recently with my potential fuel filter/vacuum/accelerator pump issue.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Unlike newer cars and trucks, old ones have a soul. You just gotta get to know them.

That’s why I love ‘em!

 

[Wumbo]

86 C20 manual with 454 calls for 3 pumps on a cold engine, 1 pump on a warm engine.

 

[thecantaloupeman]

That’s why I love ‘em!

Exactly. They just have character. If you and your friend both have a 2012 Corolla, they are exactly alike. But everyone with a squarebody has a story. Each one is miles different than the other. I'd much rather put work into an old car than have all the money in the world to buy supercars. Old cars are just so much cooler and so much cheaper. And they are a great oppurtunity to learn how cars work and how to work on them.