Choke question

[medicman775]

Did a 72 Jimmy come stock with an electric choke? Po put a 1404 edl carb on the 350. Trying to get it all figured out and running right.

[old man jimmy]

Nope, it came with a bi-metal spring type and Q-Jet.

[medicman775]

Ok....so is the normal thing to do when going to an aftermarket carb to buy a manual choke one and just leave the choke closed?

[Scrat]

Originally Posted by medicman775

Ok....so is the normal thing to do when going to an aftermarket carb to buy a manual choke one and just leave the choke closed?

NO No no... you want the choke OPEN.

You can do as you suggest (but wire the choke open), or plumb the manual chole to work manually.
Or you can wire an electric choke to work.

On my blazer I put a new Q-jet with electric choke on it and just adjusted it to be open all the time (where I live in AZ it rarely gets cold enough to really need a choke, but its nice to have the option there if I move north).

[medicman775]

The carb that is on is a manual choke that isn't hooked up and appears to be set up in the closed position. If given a choice wouldn't you want the choke always closed instead of always open? Always closed would make for harder cold starts but always open would make it run very rich? Right?

[Scrat]

Originally Posted by medicman775

The carb that is on is a manual choke that isn't hooked up and appears to be set up in the closed position. If given a choice wouldn't you want the choke always closed instead of always open?

You want your choke to be open. A closed choke will flood the motor.

Originally Posted by medicman775

Always closed would make for harder cold starts but always open would make it run very rich? Right?

When a choke is "closed", it restricts air flow thus increasing the fuel mixture = easier cold start.

Once the engine warms up, the choke opens to allow normal air flow.

If you run with your choke closed you will be running a very rich mixture, waste fuel, foul your plugs and flood your motor.

[medicman775]

OK...I was thinking the choke was doing the opposite. Open...more fuel