Stalling right after start up, and hot starts...what the hell is doing this?

[D-Day]

Okay, couple problems, most likely related. My truck has this issue that right after you start it up, (even choked!) it'll run for 3-5 or so seconds and stall unless you keep the foot on the gas to make sure it maintains a constant flow of fuel. It has done this with both an electric and mechanical fuel pump. I've done all I can think of to fix it. However, when you fire it up the second time, it seems to run fine. It's like it immediately runs out of fuel for a second. I let the electric fuel pump fill the lines, and fill the fuel filter up. Gas is in the lines. I'm beginning to think it's the carburetor.

Second problem, hot starts. Now, I can run over a 100 miles, get it real hot, shut it off, take about 5-7 minutes to shut it off and fill up for gas, I'll hit the key, and there's no problem.

However, if I let it set for 10, 15, or more minutes up to an hour, I'll have to crank it over for like 10-15 seconds before it'll start. Even choked. It's like there's no fuel there, just vapors. It's incredibly annoying. However, after it cools after while, such as when I go to see a movie (hour and a half or more to cool off), it'll start fine usually.

I think it's the carb for some reason. I've tried most other things. It's an Edelbrock 1406 on a 400 V8 with a fully open (top and sides) K&N air filter.

[87rado]

I know mine will give me trouble sometimes if I have the timing set wrong. I have the 1405 I think with manual choke. What happens to me that I think is carb related other than the startup issues because of timing, is when I let off the gas to make a turn after a hard braking, it spits or hesitates when I gas it to continue. It's always done this. Perhaps we can kill two birds with one stone on this. I am using a manual pump on an 84 305. Pretty stock with QJ intake and the Edelbrock adapter and a 1" riser plate. Hei Dist.

[bowtiecb]

have you checked the filter, and also when you cut the truck off you see fumes, does it look like smoke or fumes cause it could be the carb is loading up and dumping excess gas and flooding

[swb85]

Your first problem sounds like it may be electric choke related, not sure. The second one I have an answer for.....it's heat soak. I had the exact same problem you're describing on my 383 with an edelbrock 1407 carb. The edelbrock/carter afb carbs are apparently very prone to heat soak, and fuel will percolate in the bowls after ~15 minutes on a hot motor. I installed a 1" phenolic (plastic) 4 hole spacer under my carb and all of my hot start issues went away.

[D-Day]

Thanks guys. The timing is set right, runs good. No fumes from what I can tell, doesn't seem like excess; just no fuel at all rather than too much. I'll replace the fuel filter too. I also have a manual choke. That heat soak sounds exactly what mine is doing. I think I'll pick up one of those spacers.

I already have an aluminum spacer on there; will plastic do better with the heat? At least I know what the second problem is, I can fix it. Thanks again.

[87rado]

I don't know if plastic will block heat or not. The aluminum does of course, transfer heat rather easily, but cools quickly too. Those phenolic spacers are fairly inexpensive and worth a shot since it has cured this problem before.
Mine seems to run better with the adapter and the 1" spacer, but I think it's due to giving the fuel more room to mix properly on the QJ intake. My spacer is open, but my adapter has 4 holes. Edelbrock says not to use an open spacer, but didn't see that until after this was installed. I had planned on getting the phenolic spacer with 4 holes to see what the difference actually is.

I still use the factory air filter canister that draws air behind the grill. It just barely still fits under the hood with all the risers.