[tucsonjwt]

I come from the great white north but have been in AZ for the past 28 years. In both climates, I installed a manual choke. In my experience, both electric and hot air chokes are not reliable. In the cold climate the choke stayed on too long, and the high idle caused the rear wheels to spin on ice. In the warm climate, the choke stayed on too long and just wasted gas.
It is better that you control the choke, not a inaccurate thermostat coil.
I depress the accelerator all the way to the floor once, hold the pedal down and pull out the choke, release the pedal all the way, turn the key. If it does not start right away, I pump the accelerator a few times then try again - always starts on the second attempt. I push the choke in all the way and take off slowly - on cold days (like below freezing - it does freeze in AZ) I leave the choke in half way for a block or two, then push it in all the way.
A manual choke is the best mod you can make to a carbureted vehicle.