surfshark

When my 1980 was a daily driver, the carburetor choke was nice to have, although it rarely gets cold enough here in South Carolina to even wear a thick jacket in the winter. Now that my car will be driven occasionally (weekend jaunt here and there/burn rubber) do I really need a choke? I have the electrical wire to have it. Just wondering, thanks.

PhotoVette1

It'll be hard to start at times and it'll run poorly until it warms up.

KenSny

Don't know why people think that a choke is ONLY for cars driven in "cold" weather. A choke is there to control the fuel-to-air ratio for easier starting and until the engine has warmed up.

mandm1200

Difference of opinion here. The car shouldn't have a problem starting. You may have to hit the pedal a time or two more so the accelerator pump shoots more gas into the intake prior to starting. When its cold and the engine is cold it will more than likely not stay idleing without someone giving it gas when it stumbles. You may have to wait a brief period of time before pulling out.

isosceles

I agree with the "no choke needed" opinion. It will take several shots from the accel pump to drive when cold and yes, run a little lousy while it's cold. But if this is not a car you need to jump into, start up, and drive right off to work, what's the harm in letting it idle a minute or 2 to let it warm up?

StickShiftCorvette

I live in Iowa and have not run a choke for over 25 years. I don't drive often in sub zero (degrees F) but have done so a few times over the years. I have been able to start it as low as -10 F, although you need to keep pumping the accelerator to keep it running when it is that cold for the first minute or two. I even milled off the choke horn housing since for a '69 with an LT-1 air cleaner, it restricts airflow on the primary side.

Solid LT1

I used the fast idle solienoid for my LT-1 to rase cold starting throttle position until it warms up (milled choke tower.) I wired up a under dash switch to the solieniod and it has worked well for me.

C3 Stroker

I live in the north (Ohio), and I don't have a choke on my '69. (Mighty Demon 825 carb). But I don't drove it in winter and it is a weekend car in summer, and it only takes a couple minutes or so to warm up. I like the added performance of no choke tower (I scrape for every last horsepower I can get!), and don't miss the choke at all.

Kalway

Meh I like my electric choke, even here in sunny San Diego. It makes it much easier to just go around the corner to a friend's house and such. However, I guess your older vettes don't have that wonderful electric choke...

jcswm

My Choke is in my toolbox
By the time I get out of the driveway my 4-speed Idles just fine!!

Techno

I really don't understand the reasoning?
It don't matter where you live you still need a choke. I live in cold country but we still have summers and the car is much more driveable with a choke than not- in the summer.
Chokes are for cold engines not cold temperatures.

My engine starts instantly and unfortunately is not prone to stalling.
I guess this is a bad thing?
I can't brag how I don't have a choke and have to bubba the gas pedal to start and drive the car.

The choke system does two things. It allows your engine to start easily and it increases idle until the cold engine is hot enough not to need an increased idle.
Also pumping raw fuel into a cold engine isn't a good idea. No harm?
Even if you don't want the choke plate in there why bubba the fast idle system? Is it some kind of bragging rights? Or don't you know how to adjust a choke system?



Bubba

I did take out the mid-range circuit from the carb though. Its not a daily driver and I never drive at mid-range.

cardo0

Heck, just safety wire that thang open for this winter and see if you like it that way. Pull the power wire if it has 1 and insulate it too (fold the wire back and cover with electrical tape). U may want to disconnect the small linkage arm too - depending on type of carb.

cardo0

Yellow73SB

Whats a choke?

SHAKERATTLEROLL

I have no idea what a Choke is ask Techno lol. I live in deep south Texas so the engine is warm all the time. . Never needed one. Besides it is always a good idea to let an engine warm up before you drive it. Oh and it is Engine not Motor a Motor is electric.

Corey_68

I'm running a 850 Double Pumperno choke with ZERO issues what so ever.

surfshark

I've been on a ladder all day fighting mildew to paint my house and I'm finally able to view the Forum. Thanks for your input, it helps with my decision. Sometimes I run across good carb deals/prices w/o chokes. Thanks again.

Richard454

Ask yourself these questions-

Will there be an increase in performance w/o a choke?


-if it's a manual-
Do you have three feet to drive the car when it's cold(engine)?

-if it's auto-
Do you like getting honked at when it stalls at the stoplight?

If your answer was no to the questions- Hook up the choke!!!!

C3 4ME

The Vette has a functioning choke, but my 70C10 truck does not. It's a truck purposes only driver with a 390 Holley. It starts right up so far even down to 30 degrees, I just have to keep my foot on the accelerator for a few minutes before it will run on it's own. The truck only gets driven once every week or 2.

mandm1200

This may only occur to a woman prior to marriage. After marriage, that stuff goes by the wayside.

GDaina

I live in Ohio, drive the vette, middle of April till end of Oct, don't have a choke. No problems starting, no problems driving during warm days, but on cold days, I let it idle a minute, then drive.