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'73 starting problem

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Old Nov 7, 2005 | 08:02 PM
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Default '73 starting problem

I have an L82 4 speed with 53K original miles. It runs great and fast. Here's my problem. After sitting all week in the garage, when I start it, it turns over strong, but does not "start" until 15 seconds of "cranking" pass by. The rest of the day, it fires up immediately. Original fuel pump, new fuel filter. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Fran
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Old Nov 7, 2005 | 08:07 PM
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carb fuel bowls are empty due to gasket leak
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Old Nov 7, 2005 | 08:11 PM
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Thanks - does the repair involve a complete rebuld of the carb? Or can just the gaskets be replaced?
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Old Nov 7, 2005 | 08:31 PM
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probably just gaskets.......try tightning screws first
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Old Nov 11, 2005 | 01:17 PM
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Default '73 starting problem

I tightened the 9 screws (in order according to the service manual) but the problem still persists. I see that there are two gaskets; one at the bottom of the carb (thick) and one about 2/3's up (thin). Are these the gaskets you are referring to?
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Old Nov 11, 2005 | 01:39 PM
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Upper gasket is the one. You can replace without removing the carb from the car.
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Old Nov 11, 2005 | 07:46 PM
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Default '73 starting problem

Any suggestions on where to get one? The corvette parts places (Ecklers, Corvette Central, Corvette Ameraica, Stoudt) that I have looked at only offer the thick base gasket.
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Old Nov 11, 2005 | 11:10 PM
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http://www.carburetion.com/Kits/Kitsbynumber.asp - kits

http://www.carburetion.com/Quads/r4topgasket.asp - individual gaskets

Where I got my rebuild kits. Very reasonable, Delco kits.
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Old Nov 12, 2005 | 07:53 AM
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Originally Posted by David Ey
carb fuel bowls are empty due to gasket leak
I don't want to sound like a smart-aleck, but I would think if the bowls were empty, it "shouldn't" take 15 minutes of cranking to fill the bowls, unless that's an exaggeration time wise. For my own curiousity...do you smell gas under the hood when this happens?? If you were leaking gas, I'd think it would stink bad under the hood. After I set the timing via the Lars method, my car used to take 5 or 6 attempts to start after a long spell sitting, but the chokes weren't connected. Now I have the rear carb choke working and it fires after a couple of turns...I gotta ask...your choke is working properly...YES?
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Old Nov 12, 2005 | 07:58 AM
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Oopps...not enuf coffee yet...reread, 15 seconds not minutes...oh well, that's my story (above)...just a suggestion...
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Old Nov 12, 2005 | 08:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Blue73Shark
I have an L82 4 speed with 53K original miles. It runs great and fast. Here's my problem. After sitting all week in the garage, when I start it, it turns over strong, but does not "start" until 15 seconds of "cranking" pass by. The rest of the day, it fires up immediately. Original fuel pump, new fuel filter. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Fran
Just curious, but when your engine is cold and you are starting it...
Do you give it a couple or sometimes three pumps of the throttle to give the engine a prime and set the choke?
Or are you attempting to start it like a fuel injected car and not touch the throttle at all?
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Old Nov 12, 2005 | 08:40 AM
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The well plugs on the bottom of the carb are leaking slowly. This is a common problem with a Qjet. You are cranking and the fuel pump is filling the carb back up. Once it gets gas in it, you can drive. It will start right back up if you shut it off, right? You can live with it or tear the carb down and epoxy the bottom of the well plugs.

-Mark.
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Old Nov 12, 2005 | 09:33 AM
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Default '73 starting problem

Thanks for all the replies. Mark (stingr69) described what was happening. Before I start it, I pump the accelerator 5 times. This does not seem to help as it still takes 15 seconds to finally fire up. I do not smell gas. I'll have to check the choke. It runs at 1700 RPM after it starts up and stays that way until I kick the accelerator, then it drops down to about 800.

I'll have to live with it until spring (upstate NY) then work on it.
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