1977 Chevy C10 known as SharkBite

[77ChevySharkBite]

Originally Posted by knomadd

I'm by no means an expert, or even "very knowledgeable" about carburetors, but I believe that you have to press the accelerator about a quarter to half way down, once, to allow the choke flap to close on it's own. Maybe not, but mine won't engage the choke if I don't press down on the accelerator before cranking. Once it fires, the electricity will heat up a spring inside the choke cup that will allow the choke flap to open fully when the accelerator is applied again (usually a quick tap is all it takes).

Mine will fire to about 2,000 RPM, I'll tap the accelerator lightly to bring it down some (usually about 1,000-1,500 RPM) until I'm ready to go. If you're idling at 500 RPM in Park or Neutral, you're too low. Adjust your idle screw so you're at 700-900 in Park. This should put you between 500 and 700 RPM in gear. I don't like to see idle anywhere below 500 RPM as I think it starts to work too hard to keep running.

As for it dying... I'll have to think about that a little more. Not sure exactly, but if you can give me a little more info, it might help. I know you've got an edelbrock. Is it a 650cfm straight out of the box, or did you modify it at all? Was the electric choke on it or did you add it? Where are you running the red and black choke wires? How does it run/drive in other scenarios... meaning if you drive it a while, park somewhere then come out and fire it within about 10 minutes, does it fire right away or crank for a while?

When you say idle for 5-7 minutes, is the choke activated or not?

Cool thanks Duane.

Usually when I crank it I'll just turn the key until it cranks, but yesterday when it wouldn't crank I pushed down a little on the gas and cranked right up so I'm thinking that's what I'll continue to do.

Yeah when it cranks it'll go to about 1500-2000 max and once I give it a press it'll idle down and keep running. Okay well I'll adjust that tonight if I get the chance to crank it up.

It's a 600cfm out of the box no adjustments to it at all. Only thing I've messed with is my idle screw. It's an electric choke so it came that way, my choke wires black the black wire is connected on the little housing the little black housing that's on there did that advised by the Edelbrock DVD I got with the carb, the red wire is actually connected into the heater box, as that's only on when the truck is on. Driving it runs fine no skips runs on a dime. After I ran it for a little while last night it cranked pretty much on the turn of a key. As far as running it for a little bit then let it sit about 10 minutes only done that once and when I went to crank it, it cranked for a couple seconds then fired up.

The fuel pump is working fine, I was going to start messing with the air/fuel mixture screws but I think until I have a better understanding of what's going on I'll hold off on that.