From manual to automatic choke.

[LandonL]

I have a 1967 GMC Pickup thats in pieces at the moment, and I would like to do what I hope is a very simple upgrade converting the Rochester 1 barrel carb that was sitting on the 250 Inline Six. Currently the carb has the manual choke with the cable etc etc.. can it be converted to use a choke thermostat etc, or are there electric kits available for the Rochester 1BBL? Thanks for any help or information on parts.

[LandonL]

Anyone know who may sell a kit, or if this can be done?

[LandonL]

Do you guys think the pull off and thermostat from LMC would work? Is that all I would need?

[beautimus]

Landon,
i was in the same dilema, but in my case it was the old divorced choke (thermostat and vaccuum pull off stuff) that just never worked right.
i checked every where i could think of and i never found an electric choke conversion kit for a monojet.
i finally gave up on the stock carb and bought an electric choke model
monojet.(from the parts board) they came on some late 70's sixes. there were some 4 cyl cars that had them too but they do not work well on a six.
i asked the same question on a lot of forums about how to get the choke working right on my 250 and i didn't get much help. i think it was because not that many people understand how to properly get the choke setup right, and those that do thought i must be a dumb bunny to have to ask.
You might hit the junk yards and look around for late seventies or maybe even early eighties trucks, you might get good deal in one.
i have a hei dizzy, an electric choke carb and i plan to add an electric fuel pump. (just to cure the "dance on the gas pedal before you hit the starter" thing.) the old six should be big time reliable and a lot less fussy on cold starts. best of luck to you, Tony

[raycow]

Originally Posted by LandonL

Do you guys think the pull off and thermostat from LMC would work? Is that all I would need?

I think you would need the complete setup off a car engine. If you compare the two carbs, the linkage that operates the choke and fast idle is completely different. Does your manifold have a place to mount the choke thermostat?

Ray

[68gmsee]

It's not so much that people don't understand how it works as there aren't that many 67-72's out there with automatic monojets.

Mine is a manual choke and have learned to like it. It's really hassle free and in summer, the only time I need it is when I first start it up. Never need it the rest of the day.

Since the winters are fairly mild over here, I don't have any problems with it either.

As the posts above mentioned, I'd try to find a newer vehicle that you can take the parts from if you really want to do a conversion.

[stsalvage]

just ASKING A QUESTION i have a guy that goes to some of the old Auctions and i know he Has some of the factory brand new choke cables i think he have 5-8 of them this is one of his pictures there old stock factory New and there complete

[LandonL]

I don't need a new choke cable. I need an automatic setup

[raycow]

I believe that 67 was the last year for the Rochester model B. If this is what you have, look at a carb for a 63-67 230 or 250 passenger car engine. AFAIK, the trucks in these years all had manual chokes.

That said, unless you have a very specific reason to change to an automatic choke, I have to agree with 68gmsee about keeping the manual setup. They always work, can't get screwed up unless someone does it deliberately, and don't require any finicky adjustments.

Ray

[LandonL]

I saw in a book how the thermostat was hooked up for the L6 engines with a rochester carb. If I can get outside when the storm passed I'll scan the picture. It's out of the book "How to fix your chevrolet" It's pretty old and I picked it up at the local library.

[LandonL]

Here's the photo I was talking about, got it scanned.

[raycow]

Originally Posted by LandonL

Here's the photo I was talking about, got it scanned.

Yes, that's the factory setup on 63-67 passenger cars. You should be able to transfer all of it to a truck, but I don't know if the truck exhaust manifold is made so you can mount the thermostat on it. If it isn't, you will have to swap the exhaust manifold too.

Ray

[LandonL]

The exhaust manifold has the already tapped mounting hole and the indention for it, however the carb doesn't have any mounting holes for the pull off tab..

[raycow]

Originally Posted by LandonL

The exhaust manifold has the already tapped mounting hole and the indention for it, however the carb doesn't have any mounting holes for the pull off tab..

You won't be able to put an automatic choke on a manual choke carb. Besides the pull-off, look at the fast idle linkage. You will need to get a carb which was originally made for an automatic choke.

Ray

[LandonL]

I'll probably just end up keeping the manual choke at this point. I can deal with pulling the choke out when I get in haha, rather than spend upwards of 200$ to install all of this and change the perfectly fine carb.