edelblock 1406 hard starting

[roadking]

im having problems with hard starting when my truck is cold, talking to the edelblock rep. he says i need to put a fuel pressure reg. on and tune it to 6psi. truck has a new crate engine with a stock (new) fuel pump that runs great once warm.. has anyone had the same problem corrected with putting fuel reg. on these carbs?

[RON WOODGEARD]

Originally Posted by roadking

im having problems with hard starting when my truck is cold, talking to the edelblock rep. he says i need to put a fuel pressure reg. on and tune it to 6psi. truck has a new crate engine with a stock (new) fuel pump that runs great once warm.. has anyone had the same problem corrected with putting fuel reg. on these carbs?

I don't want to argue with no Rep. But he doesn't even know what pressure you have now. It sounds more like a Choke adjustment ( or lack of) to me.. Or even a partially plugged fuel filter?? But I still lean towards the Choke.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I have the same carb you do on a rebuilt 350. I have the electric choke on mine. I usually hit the pedal once in the mornings and it will fire on the first crank (even cold days). I don't have to do it again if it has been running that day. Do you have the manual choke? The 6psi sounds like BS. A stock truck engine should not need a pressure regulator unless you have tons of hp, and electronic fuel pump, or fuel injection.

[67chevemall]

I put a reg. on my truck for 10 minutes then chucked it to the ebay pile!
Garbage.
Good with electric pumps though.

['70_402]

i have the cure for all your problems.. i have a street avenger for sale on the parts board. that will cure your edelbrock probs.

[COBALT]

Oh nice try dude.

What he's suffering from sounds like poor fuel/air @ idle on cold start-up. if it's an electric choke verify you have 12v to the choke first. It should be getting juice from an ignition connection on your fuse pannel.

Then just give the gas petal a pump to set the throttle. It throws just enough fuel over the venturis for it to idle at the right rpm for warm-up. I usually wait for the temp guage to reach the first line before idling down and driving away.

As for fuel pressure that's easy to tell if you're running rich or lean. Out of the box the 1406 is pretty well tuned for a 350 - stock, crate or not in my opinion. It's pretty middle of the road. If you have a stock mechanical fuel pump you will probably have more luck without a regulator. it's when people opt for electric pumps or aftermarket mechanical ones where the problems with PSI start I think. Some new fuel line, and a pressure guage will tell you right away what your fuel pressure is from the pump.

After that it's adjusting the fast idle, the accel pump arm, and the needles and seats to get the best performance.

[Lemield]

Originally Posted by roadking

im having problems with hard starting when my truck is cold, talking to the edelblock rep. he says i need to put a fuel pressure reg. on and tune it to 6psi. truck has a new crate engine with a stock (new) fuel pump that runs great once warm.. has anyone had the same problem corrected with putting fuel reg. on these carbs?

I have an Edebrock on my 383 stroker....same type of problem. If truck sits for a few days, I have to pump throttle 10-12 times before truck will even think of starting. Edelbrock mechanical fuel pump too.

I'll be watching this thread for an answer.

['70_402]

Originally Posted by COBALT

Oh nice try dude.

hey whats a guy to do.

[Guff]

Originally Posted by COBALT

if it's an electric choke verify you have 12v to the choke first. It should be getting juice from an ignition connection on your fuse pannel.

Ditto on that.

I have the same carb and I experienced the same symptoms until I got the 12V and ground wires connected properly. Now I tap the throttle once and the truck fires right up every time.

[toddtheodd]

I have a manual choke edelbrock, and have a similar problem.
I think I'm just going to replace it with something else when I rebuild the motor.
Todd

[ac102nv]

Originally Posted by roadking

im having problems with hard starting when my truck is cold.....

Roadking, could you describe the problem in more detail? Hard start...have to crank for a long time, starts up then dies, etc. Also, does it do this after sitting overnight or after truck has sat for 3,4, more days? This might help diagnose the trouble.

[jamis]

I notice these Edelbrocks need the choke to start as well, the acelerator pump just doesnt dump enough fuel like holleys or Q-jets do. I never had to choke a holley.

[roadking]

i do have the electric choke which seems to be working fine, i can set the choke with one pump( butterfly in the almost closed position when cold, staight up and down when engines warm) engine starts to fire but only runs for a few seconds.i then have to pump the accelerater a few times to get it to start. sometimes when its warm i have to pump accelerater a few times to start.??

[72MARIO]

I think I am seeing more and mor epeeople agree that these carbs are Junky.

I have a 1406 on my 355 in my 84 and Dads got one on his 73 with a 383. We have been told the fule pressure should be 6 psi max. And some pumps need it stock of not.

Both of our truck suffer from poor starting when they have been sitting for a couple of day and extremely difficult starting when hot about 5-10 minutes after shut down. A insulated carb gasket should correct it but we have not made the time to install it. If I havd the money I would try the pressure regulator.

MArio

[72MARIO]

Oh mine does exactly what you decribed I dont have a clue why but it make me look like I am driving a piece of junk.

[CHEVIBUBBA]

ok.all you guys/gals who think your edelbrocks are junk or just don't want it anymore, please send them to me.i'll give $10 each for your junk carbs & i'll pay shipping.
this offer NOT good for holley's.
for holley's, send me $100 & pay shipping & i might take that junk to the salvage yard for you.
roadking, have you verified your float level?
your new fuel pump could have a pin hole in the diaphragm.

[Cethern]

I had a 1406 on a crate motor that was in my 83K5 and never had a lick of problem out of it. It was on that Motor for 5yrs and still running fine when I sold the K5.

I would try what Cobalt has said. or at lest take a good look at those areas.

[bisquik65]

[QUOTE=72MARIO]I think I am seeing more and mor epeeople agree that these carbs are Junky.

I have them on all of mine,The electric chokes work fine,after 3-4 days sitting you do have to crank the motor a few times to get fuel up,But at least you don't have to change a power valve every other day!!! Every time your motor sneezes No holleys here,I have 4 here sitting on the posch ready to go in the scrap pile...

[tmcgrawlookalike]

i`ll take all your holleys,and i`ll take everyone else`s edelbrocks,hell,i want everyone`s junky carbs,no matter what brand they are.send them to.......

[72MARIO]

Try setting the choke on a day thats -15 then the 2 weeks later go to start it when it's + 10 and the choke does not come on. Not like a Q jet set it and leave it.
Mabe they are good for the deep south but not up here. Set it when it's +15 and it will not come off when it's -10.

I pulled my carb apart and reset the float level. Did not help me.

[bisquik65]

72mario, Man i was kidding about the carbs.... You need injection for those cold temps!!

[Bill72BB]

I've run both a 1406 and now a 1411 on BB and never have had a cold start or a problem after sitting for a long time .
But it never gets below 36 here.

[jamis]

I think injection has spoiled us all.......were just not use to having to deal with the irregularities of carbs, no matter who makes them

[flip66]

Check the float level and the choke also check the fast ideal setting. I did notice when I adjusted my float level it started better I can tape the gas and it will start right up. Make sure the float is set just like the book shows

[68 Stepside]

The Holley/Edelbrock (Carter) debate will NEVER end, I know that much

I've had a 1406 on my 406 for over a year now, and have had 0 problems. My truck hasn't run in a few weeks, and a guarantee I could go out there, pump it twice without choking it, and it would fire right off. The only time I had to choke it was after it sat for 2 months this winter, and even then I only had to pump it a few times. Anyway, it's not worth the time seeing who can piss farther by arguing for or against one carb or another.

Either way, it sounds like there's an air/fuel problem, maybe the carb needs a thorough tuning?

I've heard of people using regulators on these carbs with stock pumps, but I haven't seen the need to with mine anyway.