cold start aids

[shelby987]

I just wanted to see if anyone here had any tips on something I might be able to add to my tank to help cold starts. I just bought my truck, and I am still new to the carb'd lifestyle, but the little 250 doesn't seem to like to fire up in the mornings, checked the plugs they all seem good, every morning I wake up, pull the choke, pump the gas twice, turn the key, it fires, stumbles, and dies......after that, if I don't spray starter fluid down the carb, it won't start......short of rigging up a hose attached to a can of starter fluid directly to the carb, does anyone have any advice to avoid having to pop the hood in the mornings and afternoons when it comes time to leave work the jealousy factor of having one of these trucks decreases quite a bit when people see me having to pop the hood before I leave work.

Thanks

[Canadian72GMC]

Your engine is flooding when you start it. Try this.......Push pedal 3/4 to floor, hold while you pull the choke out. As soon as it fires, you will have to push the choke in a little to keep it running. With the choke out all the way, it can't get any air, and floods until it stalls. Don't pump the pedal twice, that is probably contributing to it stalling. When you push the choke in after it starts, you should be able to find a "happy"spot where the engine will run quite well. If it does stall while doing this, push the choke all the way in before you try to restart it.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Back when my truck was a six I used to give it one shot, turn it over a few times and if it still didnt fire I'd give it another shot and she would kick over and run. The previous owner of my truck ripped out a lot of stuff, the choke being one of 'em so I never used it. This was when I was living in NY and I started it on several minus zero days. It sounds stupid, but try some different combos of gas/turing over to get 'er to fire. Good luck.

[cdowns]

if you still have the points dizzy have you set them lately?? they do need regular maintenance ,how old are the plugs wires points condensor dizzy cap fuel and air filters????not to mention old dryrotted vaccume lines//most people jump right in the carbs B-4 addressing all these normal maintenance issues and make the problem worse

[shelby987]

I have checked the vaccum lines, and the plugs and wires all look new......as for the tune of the points, I haven't checked those just yet....I am planning on transplanting a 250 with an HEI and additional goodies, but I just wanted to see what suggestions people had in the meantime.....any more cold start tips? (I think I will keep the starting fluid just in case.....haven't had a cold morning yet when that wouldn't start the truck......now that I think about it....my first wagon was a carb.....starting fluid did the trick there once or twice too

[StingRay]

With a properly set up carb and choke as well as a complete tune up any vehicle should fire up fine way into the -40's. The only issue i ever have with my small block is that sometimes it dies after firing and I have to crank it again then all is well and she warms right up. For cold weather I reccomend keeping the factory type air cleaner and the heat stove and pipe as well. Oh btw starting fluid is HARD on a gas engine. I would only use it as a method of last resort.

[davidh]

For the most part old 6cyl engines are known to start when nothing else will. I have a 67' 250-6 that sat since may.(almost 4months) For kicks I got in it, amazed the battery was not dead and it fired off aftet the 2nd crank! Why do you think these old farmer's like these engines.. Everyone is different though. Some take a little pumping, some flood easy. You'll get the hang of it when you find what works. David

[PanelDeland]

If you gently push in and pull out the choke you will probably find that sweet spot Canadian mentioned.

[Zonaman]

Zonaman's advice:

1. Fill up your tank
2. Drive to one of Arizona's desert counties
3. Stay there!