Carbureted starting procedure - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

05crewcab · 09-06-2011, 01:16 AM

Hi guys,

I don't think my truck starts like it is supposed to. Here are the rough procedures depending on when I am starting it:

After sitting 10 hours to 10 days: Pump pedal once and it fires right up

After sitting for 5-10 minutes and warm: No pump, fires right up

After sitting for more than 10 minutes and less than 10 hours: Hold the pedal down while cranking and then it fires up.

The last part concerns me. I would think I should have to pump it once or twice to get it to start and not have to hold the pedal down. The engine is a 350. Edelbrock 1406 carb (with a 1" riser). HEI ignition. FWIW, I have a clear fuel filter and after it sits a while there is no fuel in the filter. Normal?

Anyone have any ideas and or how do you start your trucks? Maybe I am just crazy...

Thanks

dmack91 · 09-06-2011, 02:51 AM

The first 2 sound normal.

On the last, have you tried starting without holding it open (I assume you did)? Mine will generally start in that circumstance with just feathering the gas.

If you are having to hold it to the floor to start, it is usually flooding.

fastwillie 696969 · 09-06-2011, 03:00 AM

electric choke or man.

05crewcab · 09-06-2011, 09:59 AM

Electric choke

Tink · 09-06-2011, 09:59 AM

We have a clear fuel filter and the fuel drains out of it when it sits...

I agree the first two are pretty normal... to start my 76 when it sits for a few hours it does not need a full pump of fuel, but it does need something, so I'm with dmack91, I just feather the gas a bit until it gets going.

BTW, is that your bulldog? Cool dog.

05crewcab · 09-06-2011, 10:32 AM

Thanks, the bulldog's name is Winston. He's a 60lb chunk of fury

I guess I don't hold the pedal to the floor, but I do more than feather it....i'd say turn the key and half throttle until it starts(usually within a second or two) This is my first vehicle with a carb, so I don't really know what's right or wrong.

MacGyver72 · 09-06-2011, 11:32 AM

Based on your last post all three conditions seem normal. If you read the owner's manual, it will instruct you to start a warm engine with the gas pedal halfway down. A carb allows fuel to evaporate so you don't get a shot of fuel to the cylinders immediately like on a fuel injected engine. The amount of evaporation depends on how long it sits.

prostreetC-10 · 09-06-2011, 11:40 AM

The key phrase is "it fires right up". There can be different factors that come into play. This could also change as fall and winter start to creep in. Bottom line is "if it aint broke....". Probably best to leave it alone. You start messing with it an you might cause it to become tempermental in one or more of those areas. Then you spend a ton of time, sweat and hair trying to get it back to square one.

67Slider · 09-06-2011, 05:15 PM

I have the same configuration and mine fires exactly the same as yours.

05crewcab · 09-06-2011, 06:13 PM

So it sounds like I am crazy... Thanks for for the input guys!

lil hoodlum · 09-06-2011, 06:30 PM

I hate to say this, I have the same exact set up as you but I almost never have to give any gas (i.e., pump the pedal) to start mine. Maybe it has something to do with location, I'm in Texas, and altitude.

My glass filter seems to be about half-full when it has been sitting for awhile.

Don't know what else to say, it would be interesting to see what else others have to say about their start up procedure.

Good luck!

Keith

09-06-2011, 01:16 AM	#1
05crewcab Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 409	Carbureted starting procedure Hi guys, I don't think my truck starts like it is supposed to. Here are the rough procedures depending on when I am starting it: After sitting 10 hours to 10 days: Pump pedal once and it fires right up After sitting for 5-10 minutes and warm: No pump, fires right up After sitting for more than 10 minutes and less than 10 hours: Hold the pedal down while cranking and then it fires up. The last part concerns me. I would think I should have to pump it once or twice to get it to start and not have to hold the pedal down. The engine is a 350. Edelbrock 1406 carb (with a 1" riser). HEI ignition. FWIW, I have a clear fuel filter and after it sits a while there is no fuel in the filter. Normal? Anyone have any ideas and or how do you start your trucks? Maybe I am just crazy... Thanks __________________ 1971 C-20 350/350

09-06-2011, 02:51 AM	#2
dmack91 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Redmond, OR Posts: 760	Re: Carbureted starting procedure The first 2 sound normal. On the last, have you tried starting without holding it open (I assume you did)? Mine will generally start in that circumstance with just feathering the gas. If you are having to hold it to the floor to start, it is usually flooding. __________________ 68 Chev C20- son has it now 83 K20 - bought from son 70 C20 - in progress

09-06-2011, 03:00 AM	#3
fastwillie 696969 ~Rest In Peace~ Join Date: May 2005 Location: CALIFORNIA NOR CAL Posts: 9,707	Re: Carbureted starting procedure electric choke or man. __________________ is it fast ? it has a lighting bolt donut? B___H please, I can remove 90% of your so called "beauty" with a kleenex

09-06-2011, 09:59 AM	#4
05crewcab Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 409	Re: Carbureted starting procedure Electric choke __________________ 1971 C-20 350/350

09-06-2011, 09:59 AM	#5
Tink Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: VA Posts: 1,337	Re: Carbureted starting procedure We have a clear fuel filter and the fuel drains out of it when it sits... I agree the first two are pretty normal... to start my 76 when it sits for a few hours it does not need a full pump of fuel, but it does need something, so I'm with dmack91, I just feather the gas a bit until it gets going. BTW, is that your bulldog? Cool dog. __________________ 69 Chevy C10 88 Sierra 02 2500 Suburban And too many S10s to list!

09-06-2011, 10:32 AM	#6
05crewcab Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 409	Re: Carbureted starting procedure Thanks, the bulldog's name is Winston. He's a 60lb chunk of fury I guess I don't hold the pedal to the floor, but I do more than feather it....i'd say turn the key and half throttle until it starts(usually within a second or two) This is my first vehicle with a carb, so I don't really know what's right or wrong. __________________ 1971 C-20 350/350

09-06-2011, 11:32 AM	#7
MacGyver72 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Greencastle, IN Posts: 132	Re: Carbureted starting procedure Based on your last post all three conditions seem normal. If you read the owner's manual, it will instruct you to start a warm engine with the gas pedal halfway down. A carb allows fuel to evaporate so you don't get a shot of fuel to the cylinders immediately like on a fuel injected engine. The amount of evaporation depends on how long it sits.

09-06-2011, 11:40 AM	#8
prostreetC-10 My Carbon Footprint Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Orygun Posts: 5,527	Re: Carbureted starting procedure The key phrase is "it fires right up". There can be different factors that come into play. This could also change as fall and winter start to creep in. Bottom line is "if it aint broke....". Probably best to leave it alone. You start messing with it an you might cause it to become tempermental in one or more of those areas. Then you spend a ton of time, sweat and hair trying to get it back to square one. __________________ A quick "pedalfest" *Still getting loose (carb test)* 496 Initial fire up video!

09-06-2011, 05:15 PM	#9
67Slider Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pueblo West, CO Posts: 944	Re: Carbureted starting procedure I have the same configuration and mine fires exactly the same as yours. __________________ 67 C10 Stepside 66 Mustang Coupe 99 Burb 2500

09-06-2011, 06:13 PM	#10
05crewcab Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 409	Re: Carbureted starting procedure So it sounds like I am crazy... Thanks for for the input guys! __________________ 1971 C-20 350/350

09-06-2011, 06:30 PM	#11
lil hoodlum Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denton, Texas Posts: 1,729	Re: Carbureted starting procedure I hate to say this, I have the same exact set up as you but I almost never have to give any gas (i.e., pump the pedal) to start mine. Maybe it has something to do with location, I'm in Texas, and altitude. My glass filter seems to be about half-full when it has been sitting for awhile. Don't know what else to say, it would be interesting to see what else others have to say about their start up procedure. Good luck! Keith



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