Turn Key.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Turn Key.
So I was out running the engine in my Vette the other day. Seeing as how it sits most of the time in the cold garage and hasn't moved since fall when it rolled in for brake work. That turned into 'Everything' work, and it's still down until I finish the interior.
Anyway, I start it maybe once every two weeks unless there is a specific reason to start it. I tend the battery once a week and have checked fluids and such but that's it.
I can reach down inside, standing beside the car, turn the key, and start the motor. After a few weeks it turns for a couple seconds...then fires. If it's been less than a week it fires right up like it was fuel injected.
How many of you can do that? Anyone have to pump and pump and wait and pump and wait...?
Anyway, I start it maybe once every two weeks unless there is a specific reason to start it. I tend the battery once a week and have checked fluids and such but that's it.
I can reach down inside, standing beside the car, turn the key, and start the motor. After a few weeks it turns for a couple seconds...then fires. If it's been less than a week it fires right up like it was fuel injected.
How many of you can do that? Anyone have to pump and pump and wait and pump and wait...?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
it comes and goes for me in the summer. some times i can hop right in and it fires up instantly, it doesnt even crank over once before its running. then theres other times im sitting there for 5 mins pumping, waiting, and cranking before it finaly runs.
it winter though... i can very rarly get it started after its sat for awhile without pouring gas down the carb. even then it takes awhile to finaly run.
the biggest shock for me was about 2 years ago. i had just put new plugs, battery, and starter in the car.
the car had sat all day long, i just put the clutch in, turned the key and she fired right up. didnt have to pump it or anything. then when i shut it off about 10 mins later, it actually stopped running as fast as it started. the car actually ran perfectly that day. then about 48hrs later i was ready to take a sledge hammer to it again.
it winter though... i can very rarly get it started after its sat for awhile without pouring gas down the carb. even then it takes awhile to finaly run.
the biggest shock for me was about 2 years ago. i had just put new plugs, battery, and starter in the car.
the car had sat all day long, i just put the clutch in, turned the key and she fired right up. didnt have to pump it or anything. then when i shut it off about 10 mins later, it actually stopped running as fast as it started. the car actually ran perfectly that day. then about 48hrs later i was ready to take a sledge hammer to it again.
Last edited by another-user; Feb 8, 2007 at 03:09 PM.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Pump it a few times and it fires right up.
My electric choke needs some adjusting. Sometimes when the car is hot, it has a very hard time running the first minute.
Megasquirt is on the list somewhere....
My electric choke needs some adjusting. Sometimes when the car is hot, it has a very hard time running the first minute.
Megasquirt is on the list somewhere....
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
If you're going EFI, Kalway is getting ready to do a sweet bolt on system that you should look into. It's pretty amazing.
http://www.rochesterproducts.com/
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 4
oh i have lots of problems... but i hope this spring ill have an excellently running car.
i just picked up hte correct carb for my vette. when i get it im doing a complete tear down and rebuild. then when spring comes around im setting up the ignition system as directed in lars papers, and tuneing the carb the same way.
hopefully after all that ill have a good, dependable, and running car.
between that, the hurst competition plus shifter, and a real stereo, it wont be anything like what the car used to be.
i just picked up hte correct carb for my vette. when i get it im doing a complete tear down and rebuild. then when spring comes around im setting up the ignition system as directed in lars papers, and tuneing the carb the same way.
hopefully after all that ill have a good, dependable, and running car.
between that, the hurst competition plus shifter, and a real stereo, it wont be anything like what the car used to be.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,186
Likes: 45
From: detroit area
you need to shield the distributor or something like that.... my dads 74 was like that.... when it ran, it was hard to restart so you would have to let it cool down a little.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
Saw these carb looking EFI's in the January 07 issue of Hot Rod.
Wish their website was working so I could learn some more...although their prices look stiff. Padle shifts anyone? haha
http://www.retrotekspeed.com/
Wish their website was working so I could learn some more...although their prices look stiff. Padle shifts anyone? haha
http://www.retrotekspeed.com/
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Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Saw these carb looking EFI's in the January 07 issue of Hot Rod.
Wish their website was working so I could learn some more...although their prices look stiff. Padle shifts anyone? haha
http://www.retrotekspeed.com/
Wish their website was working so I could learn some more...although their prices look stiff. Padle shifts anyone? haha
http://www.retrotekspeed.com/
I saw those...they look very interesting...thought they say their pricing will be low and competitive.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,009
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles MO.
i voted for "fires after pumping" but it really depends, if she's been sitting for less than a day or 2 it'll start right up everytime, but after a winter in the garage she takes some pumps to get goin
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 299
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio TX
When it hasn't run for awhile the bowls in the carb go dry and you have to refill them, thus the need to crank a bit for the pump to fill them. If mine hasn't run in 3 or 4 weeks I usually let it crank a few turns, stop. Pump the throttle a couple of times and then crank again and it normally fires right up. Most fuel injected cars take a few turns to start to ensure everything is working, especially oil pressure. Had an oil pressure senor go out on a '92 TBI system I put in a Jag and it was b!+ch to trouble shoot.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
If you're going EFI, Kalway is getting ready to do a sweet bolt on system that you should look into. It's pretty amazing.
http://www.rochesterproducts.com/
http://www.rochesterproducts.com/
Of course, I dont have the time to ever do this.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Thats exactly what my problem is... has to cool down to easily restart. What would shielding the distributor have to do with this? I've got an MSD Pro-Billet.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 2
From: Meriden CT
Well, the starter gets heat soaked, but thats a different issue. I'll get it running, but it idles very rough... seems like the choke is on, then it eases off and idles perfectly.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,366
Likes: 6,348
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Any car with a carburetor and an automatic choke has to be pumped at least once in order to allow the choke to close. Cars with torqued interior screws require less pumping. American cars driven in Europe will not start at all unless their owners buy cheap American beer at inflated European prices. (Hey Twin - how much are you paying for US Budweiser in Holland now?) 
Last edited by lars; Feb 8, 2007 at 07:07 PM.