Choke Question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chevychic · 01-01-2003, 07:30 PM

After about a day of researching what type of choke I have, since I had no wires connected to it and I knew it wasn't manual, I finally found out that I have a hot air choke....and...It's not working. It is open 24/7 and the butterfly will not shut during cold temperatures. Should I start off trying to adjust the tension of the coil?

I'm getting ready to rebuild my carb shortly, hopefully over the weekend. Is a hot air choke junk? Should I keep it or go to electric when I do my rebuild?

J-Spec C10 · 01-01-2003, 09:03 PM

the hot air choke works all right, but is not always accurate. If you can, try to convert it to an electric choke or switch the whole carb when you do the rebuild.

**swervin ervin** · 01-01-2003, 09:22 PM

I agree. Hot air chokes are old school. An electric choke is much better.

You will need to provide 12 volts from the fuse panel to a oil pressure switch, then from the switch to the choke. My switch is mounted in a brass tee beside the distributor, drivers side. There will be two if you have the tee. The big one is the oil pressure sending unit for the gauge, and the small one is the switch.

A junkyard will be a cheap place to find all the pieces you would need.

PHOENIX · 01-02-2003, 01:34 PM

What would happen if you don't have your 12 volt power running through the oil pressure switch? I have mechanical oil pressure and I dont have a wire going to it. I'm not sure where this wire comes from, but it has 12 volts and was right there next to the carb so I hooked it up. No problems so far just curious of what could happen or other possible setups.

J-Spec C10 · 01-02-2003, 05:58 PM

did it have a grey plug on the end of it?

PHOENIX · 01-02-2003, 06:06 PM

There was no plug on the end of it. The previous owner put a manual choke on it. I had to go buy a new plug and its black.

**swervin ervin** · 01-02-2003, 06:07 PM

Eddie,

you are confusing oil pressure switch with oil pressure sending unit. All the switch does is let the current go through. So, as long as the engine has oil pressure, it will continue to let the current go through to the choke, and thus open it when it heats up.

Now, the reason for this is you don't want the choke working unless the engine has oil pressure. Why? Because this way, the choke will only work as long as the engine is running. If not for this, you could turn the key on and supply power to the choke, even with the engine off.

I also have a mechanical oil pressure gauge, but I still have the switch too.

85Silverado · 01-02-2003, 07:45 PM

True, if you just wire the choke to a 12v lead it will be on all the time. But you don't have to run it to the oil switch. Simply wire it into the fuse box to a source that turns on when the key is turn...like the wipers or radio...I spliced into the (i think it was grey) wire on the wipers for the signal to turn the choke on when i turned the key.

PHOENIX · 01-03-2003, 02:05 PM

Ohh damn (<----------- dumb@ss!) My bad I guess I should read a little closer. Do you think that weird switch I described before could be for my electric choke (the one by the oil filter in the block)?

*1FaastC10* · 01-03-2003, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PHOENIX
What would happen if you don't have your 12 volt power running through the oil pressure switch?

nothing, it will work just fine. mine did for 2 years, it was a 4.1 truck, and someone swapped in the 350 before i got it, then i converted from 2bbl/manual choke to 4bbl w/electric choke out of a late 80s Chevy wagon. i had to modify the connector just a little bit, but it worked great. after taking the motor out for another go-through, i found a choke wire zip tied to the frame rail

01-01-2003, 07:30 PM	#1
chevychic Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chanhassen, MN Posts: 1,061	Choke Question After about a day of researching what type of choke I have, since I had no wires connected to it and I knew it wasn't manual, I finally found out that I have a hot air choke....and...It's not working. It is open 24/7 and the butterfly will not shut during cold temperatures. Should I start off trying to adjust the tension of the coil? I'm getting ready to rebuild my carb shortly, hopefully over the weekend. Is a hot air choke junk? Should I keep it or go to electric when I do my rebuild? __________________ *ChevyChic* 86 Chevy K-10 If I can't be a good example, then I'll just have to be a horrible warning. "You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think" - Christopher Robin

01-01-2003, 09:03 PM	#2
J-Spec C10 Whats this wire for?.... Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 378	the hot air choke works all right, but is not always accurate. If you can, try to convert it to an electric choke or switch the whole carb when you do the rebuild. __________________ Kyle CANADIAN CONNECTION '82 C10 Resto-Custom--> * 2 1/4" manifold back dual exhaust with Hooker Aerochambers & High Flow Cats Taylor Ignition Wires Centerline 15" Telstars with 32"x10" mudders

01-01-2003, 09:22 PM	#3
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	I agree. Hot air chokes are old school. An electric choke is much better. You will need to provide 12 volts from the fuse panel to a oil pressure switch, then from the switch to the choke. My switch is mounted in a brass tee beside the distributor, drivers side. There will be two if you have the tee. The big one is the oil pressure sending unit for the gauge, and the small one is the switch. A junkyard will be a cheap place to find all the pieces you would need. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

01-02-2003, 01:34 PM	#4
PHOENIX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 4,703	What would happen if you don't have your 12 volt power running through the oil pressure switch? I have mechanical oil pressure and I dont have a wire going to it. I'm not sure where this wire comes from, but it has 12 volts and was right there next to the carb so I hooked it up. No problems so far just curious of what could happen or other possible setups. __________________ * AVOID: LOPER'S PERMORANCE / LOPERSPEED.COM OF PHOENIX, AZ & COTTMAN TRANSMISSION *

01-02-2003, 05:58 PM	#5
J-Spec C10 Whats this wire for?.... Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Barrie, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 378	did it have a grey plug on the end of it? __________________ Kyle CANADIAN CONNECTION '82 C10 Resto-Custom--> * 2 1/4" manifold back dual exhaust with Hooker Aerochambers & High Flow Cats Taylor Ignition Wires Centerline 15" Telstars with 32"x10" mudders

01-02-2003, 06:06 PM	#6
PHOENIX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 4,703	There was no plug on the end of it. The previous owner put a manual choke on it. I had to go buy a new plug and its black. __________________ * AVOID: LOPER'S PERMORANCE / LOPERSPEED.COM OF PHOENIX, AZ & COTTMAN TRANSMISSION *

01-02-2003, 06:07 PM	#7
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Eddie, you are confusing oil pressure switch with oil pressure sending unit. All the switch does is let the current go through. So, as long as the engine has oil pressure, it will continue to let the current go through to the choke, and thus open it when it heats up. Now, the reason for this is you don't want the choke working unless the engine has oil pressure. Why? Because this way, the choke will only work as long as the engine is running. If not for this, you could turn the key on and supply power to the choke, even with the engine off. I also have a mechanical oil pressure gauge, but I still have the switch too. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

01-02-2003, 07:45 PM	#8
85Silverado Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 198	True, if you just wire the choke to a 12v lead it will be on all the time. But you don't have to run it to the oil switch. Simply wire it into the fuse box to a source that turns on when the key is turn...like the wipers or radio...I spliced into the (i think it was grey) wire on the wipers for the signal to turn the choke on when i turned the key. __________________ Paul D. '78 C20 Scottsdale 350ci 3 speed with granny gear 14 bolt rearend My trucks are "Car-Guy safe".......which pretty much means death trap in the hands of a normal civilian.

01-03-2003, 02:05 PM	#9
PHOENIX Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 4,703	Ohh damn (<----------- dumb@ss!) My bad I guess I should read a little closer. Do you think that weird switch I described before could be for my electric choke (the one by the oil filter in the block)? __________________ * AVOID: LOPER'S PERMORANCE / LOPERSPEED.COM OF PHOENIX, AZ & COTTMAN TRANSMISSION *



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