Hi all, new guy here. I purchased a 66 with a L79 motor, 4-speed, currently stored in a climate controlled private garage in Michigan. Getting ready to have her shipped to my home in NY. Drove out there yesterday to make sure she started which she did, but she ran real rough. After a minute or so I shut her down and lifted the air cleaner. The choke butterfly was still in the vertical position. Prior to starting her I did briskly depress the throttle once but ultimately had to rapidly pump the throttle to get her to start, she had not run since December when the previous owner started her. At that time she ran fine. So on the ride home I began to wonder if 1966 had a manual choke or if I had used the wrong procedure to set the auto choke prior to turning the key. New to the hobby and to C2's. Any advice appreciated.

 

No manual choke (although I've seen them added) from the factory. You'll just have to take some time and go through the cold start setup and see what the issue is.
What carb is on the car ?

 

I believe it is the stock carb so it should be a Holley. Is there anything more to a cold start process other than first depressing the pedal? Does it matter if one presses the gas pedal slow or with a fast jab?

 

Welcome to the Corvette Forum. I believe you will soon find it one of the most useful tools in your tool-box!

The first thing I would do is completely remove the air cleaner assembly and move the throttle lever on the carburetor to wide open and back. If the choke butterfly remains wide open (vertical), there are a couple of things that could cause it.

1) it's just stuck and bliping the throttle lever may release it,
2) someone has adjusted the choke to remain wide open because it was slow warming up.

If after removing the air cleaner assembly and bliping the throttle it closes, it's possible the air cleaner is restricting the movement of the choke linkage.

If possible, post a few pictures of the carb and linkage. With and without the air cleaner installed.

Good luck, and again, welcome to the Corvette Forum... GUSTO

 

Uh...depending on the engine/carb there is a lot going on...

Choke gets set, fast idle is engaged, passenger side exhaust heat riser flapper is closed...

The advice above is some good initial troubleshooting steps...

 

Thanks guy's, want to learn all I can about working on and maintaining her. I am back in NY so getting pictures at this point is not possible without driving back (320 miles each way). She does start so I can either hope the guy from Passport can nurse her into the enclosed carrier or I have to plan another trip out there to attempt to adjust her. Have to chew on that.

 

The choke system basically enriches the mixture and steps up the idle temporarily. Those transport guys (the good ones) know the drill....you pump the snot out of the gas pedal until the car starts, keep feathering the pedal until it warms up a bit and then you can move out.

I don't think its even remotely a problem

 

Thanks Frankie, already feel comfortable on the Forum. I spotted the fire truck in your by your tag info. I run the EMS department at our rural FD.

 

That's great!

The pic was a rare opportunity for a photo.

I pulled up to a Corvette pal's house one morning and he had managed to get into a bit of a bind burning some trash that caught some nearby pine straw alight underneath a stand of trees. Three or four county fire departments responded.

He shall remain nameless...

 

Hi, what often happens with Holley carbs, if the car sits for a long while, there will be no fuel in the bowls. Just turning it over for a few moments before stomping on the gas , will give it time to fill bowls. Then depress pedal to release choke...then pump a few shots of gas with pedal....then turn key and start....if there are no linkage hang ups.

Jack

 

Thanks, Jack

 

Which has nothing to do with the choke being stuck wide open BTW...

 

My process is slightly different:
1. Crank for a few seconds to fill the float bowls
2. Depress accelerator ONCE to set the fast idle
3. Crank with foot off pedal
Works great but you need to have the fast idle and choke properly adjusted.

 

Let me add an additional welcome to the forum. You'll find it's really a tremendous resource for our cars. I learn something new almost every time I check in here.

Here's my '66 coupe with an L79 and yours should look something like this...



With the air cleaner off...



...the flat coil spring that operates the automatic choke is under a cover, seen here slightly below the red arrow and mostly blocked from view by the PVC hose. There are 2 choke linkages, seen by the yellow arrows. Those linkages should operate smoothly with no binding. If your choke is not operating properly, start your trouble shooting there.

When I set my choke, I do not jab the throttle to set it when it's cold, instead I take a rather deliberate movement fully depressing the pedal to the floor and releasing it. That will better ensure that the choke and the fast idle get set.

It might sound goofy and I hope you don't think I'm insulting your intelligence, but since you're new to Corvette ownership, I'd recommend you read the owners manual. If the car is stock, that manual will answer many basic operational questions you'll undoubtedly have about the car. Supplement that with a shop manual and asking questions here and I think you'll find owning a C2 to be a real pleasure. They really are fantastic cars.


You've made a good choice in car carriers. The Passport crew shouldn't have any problem what-so-ever starting and moving your car. Rest easy.

Good luck with it and of course we need pictures of your car!!

Thomas