I am new to the forum as of today. I have a 63 340hp coupe that always has to have the accelerator pumped a bunch to start. The carb has been rebuilt in the past but the starting problem still exists. I need to know the name of a reputable carb rebuilder to send it to. Anybody know one?

 

Doesn't that engine have a Holley carb?

 

The Carter AFB 3461 carbs are very hard to start if they have been sitting for more then one day. I have had the same problem for years and found the best and fastest solution is to buy a can of QUICK START, remove the cleaner and give it a shot....then start it up...works everytime.... Of course your choke is another problem area because it depends upon the hot air from the exhaust manifold going up into the choke area heating a cooper coil to adjust the carb when it gets warm.... The method I told you works the best....

 

The 63 does NOT have any Holley carbs..

Only the Carter AFBs and WCFB were used...now I hope I have this right: the 250 HP used the WCFB 3501S and Auto WCFB 3500S, the 300HP used AFB 3461S and the Auto AFB 3460S, and the 340 used 3461S....The Holley was not used until 1965 on the 350 HP and above, then by 66 all carbs were Holleys... I HOPE I AM RIGHT....

 

I once owned a 1964 Corvette 327/365 and it had a Holley that came on it right from the factory.
EVERGREEN

 

The 64 365hp/327 had a Holley.

 

According to my little Black Book the '63 340hp man. trans. had a Carter 3461.
According to the book my '64 300hp man. trans. has a Carter 3721,
which it does.
I have to disagree that all all Carters are hard starting after they've sat a while. My car has been in the family since new, in '64, and up until recently it always started first crank after one pump of the throttle.
I used to be able to brag to friends how well it started. But not anymore. Nowadays it's pump, pump, pump, crank, crank, crank, pump, pump, pump, crank, crank, pump, crank, vroooom.
Haven't figured out what's changed but it's all stock and nothing is different other than a home done carb rebuild. I'm thinking accelerator pump or float adjustments.
Good luck, I'll be anxious to see the feedback on this one.

 

We still haven't answered your question about a reputable carb rebuilder have we. Unfortunately I can't help with that one, but my 11 year old son just reminded me that I did have my hard starting problem significantly improved, there for awhile at least. What I had found and since forgot, until my little navigator reminded me, was that the choke was hanging up and staying slightly open. Loosening the three choke housing screws slightly, allowed the choke to operate smoothly and shut properly.
I think I need to recheck that one myself.

 

There are a lot of complaints about the AFB being hard to start after they sit unused for maybe a week or so. The problem apppears that the fuel is evaporating out of the bowl. Carter WCFB's and Holley's don't seem to have as severe a problem with fuel evaporation.

Before you start your car next time after an extended period of non-use, pop the air cleaner and work the throttle. If you see gas squirting, your bowl still has fuel in it and it should start. If you see no fuel squirting, crank your engine over maybe ten times and then hit the throttle. If it squirts fuel, you can assume the fuel is evaporating out of the bowl. If it does not squirt fuel, crank the engine another five revolutions or so and try again. If still no fuel you can assume your carb needs work or your tank needs gas in it.

I have cars with the WCFB, AFB and Holley. The AFB is the worst of the bunch with the hard start symptom. Some say aviation gas doesn't evaporate as fast as road fuel. I don't know. I doubt a rebuild will help any unless you have something mechanically wrong with your carb. An electric fuel pump will band-aid your problem if you desire to go to that much trouble.

 

try Craig Woodruff at 330-799-9479 or Bob Kunz at 314-845-2566

 

Thanks for all the replies. I have owned this 63 coupe since 1975 and have always had the problem with starting. The carb has been rebuilt 3 times by different mechanics mostly for the prevention of gas leaking onto the manifold through the throttle shafts etc. The car has set for some time now and will not start until you physically pour gas down it's throat. I believe that the accelerator pump may be gone and I have always thought that the gas was evaporating out of the bowl. I have drained the gas and put in new av-gas and still have the problem.

 

One word of caution - On at least one instance, the carb kit I bought had an accelerator pump that was slightly too small in diameter, and wouldn't work. After putting the car all together I had the exact problem you describe. Swapped out the new accelerator pump for the old one and the car ran fine. Perhaps I needed to soak the new pump in light oil first as described by plaidside in your other thread.

 

I believe some of the rebuild directions from years ago used to tell you that the accelerator pump "leathers" or whatever they used had to soak up for a short period of time before they were effective.

 

The gasoline has changed. That may be why.

 

If you search under "AFB" you will find considerable discussion on the subject, including two similar threads discussing the same problem in the last few days.

Duke

 

I was thinking of a 1964 and I'm sure the 1964 365hp engine used a Holley.

 

Yup.