hard to start when warm 1980 flooding

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May 25, 2010 | 05:55 PM

Vettestein

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 21

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From: Saint Marys georgia

hard to start when warm 1980 flooding

I have a 1980 corvette with a rebuilt 350 engine(350 miles on it) bored 30 over with a edlebrock 4 barel caburator and a aluminum intake. I am also running headers that are wraped to keep the heat down. The car starts and runs like a champ, but after driving about 10 or more miles I'll stop and turn it off and when I go to restart it will not want to easily. I am pretty sure it is flooded. I've put a spacer between the carb and intake and no difference. Does anybody have any other ideas on how to stop this problem.

May 25, 2010 | 07:13 PM

sniperdiver37

Burning Brakes

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 825

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From: Hanging out back with the dark horses. Wa.

Could be timing, hot starter, bad carb if it's flooding. A well tuned small block should fire just buy turning the key. start there

May 25, 2010 | 07:35 PM

southern_vette

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Joined: Oct 2007

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From: houston al

sniper is correct those are the two reasons for a hot hard to start condition, one if it is starter heat sink then the motor will drag and not turn over freely, if it is flooding then it will turn over normally but just not crank. Hold the gas petal to the floor while cranking it, that usually will start a flooded motor. One other thing that it could be is timing, if to far advanced it will have hard starts, especially on a hot motor...

May 25, 2010 | 08:30 PM

Vettestein

Thread Starter

Heel & Toe

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 21

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From: Saint Marys georgia

holding the pedal to the floor does help it start. it cranks over at a good pace. how do I get it to stop flooding. can I adjust the floats in the carb. and if so which way do I adjust it. float less or more

May 25, 2010 | 08:43 PM

Vettekid1992

Pro

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 582

Likes: 1

From: Massapequa Park New York

check the needle and seat that its not stuck. run the car witout the air cleaner then after u shut it off look into the carb and see if gas is pooring in

May 26, 2010 | 04:10 PM

southern_vette

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Joined: Oct 2007

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From: houston al

the float needle valve may be not seating correctly, maybe a small piece of junk blocking it or as simple as the floats are set correctly

May 26, 2010 | 08:01 PM

flyinfree

Racer

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 251

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From: Louisville Kentucky

Vapor lock

I tend to lead toward vapor lock. I think the fuel in the line is getting too hot.

May 26, 2010 | 09:26 PM

bozzman3

Racer

Joined: Jan 2005

Posts: 499

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From: Enfield CT

When you shut down the car and its hot I bet the fuel in the carb is boiling out into the manifold, hence flooding the car out.You need a spacer that is made to insulate the carb from the manifold.There are different styles look at Summit Racing.I had the same problem but had no hood clearance so I couldn't use a spacer.I changed my fuel pump back to the original style with a return line and that made a big difference.Do you have a after market fuel pump?What is your spacer made of?

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May 26, 2010 | 09:37 PM

Goody

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2000

Posts: 6,362

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From: Oak Harbor WA

What is the base timing set at?

May 26, 2010 | 10:37 PM

#10

Jack Wood

Instructor

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 208

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From: McDonough GA

Yep, especially with a metal tube fuel line.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyinfree

I tend to lead toward vapor lock. I think the fuel in the line is getting too hot.

Fashion up a braided line and see if it helps.

Jul 8, 2012 | 12:22 AM

#11

tkyterry

Cruising

Joined: Jun 2012

Posts: 13

Likes: 0

Make sure u have the vac line from dist going to tube on carb to timed and not ported. Standing in front of engine it be the carb port on the right side above throttle plates

Jul 8, 2012 | 11:09 AM

#12

Easy Mike

Team Owner

Joined: Jun 2000

Posts: 38,923

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From: Southbound

Cruise-In II Veteran

Is the stock starter heat shield in place? My hunch is your headers are hotting up the solenoid.

Jul 8, 2012 | 11:41 AM

#13

DRIVESHAFT

Drifting

Joined: Aug 2005

Posts: 1,682

Likes: 3

From: League City TX

Edelbrock sells insulating gaskets to help with the problem your most likely having.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-9266/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-9265/

Last edited by DRIVESHAFT; Jul 8, 2012 at 11:52 AM.

Jul 8, 2012 | 11:43 AM

#14

80malibu

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Joined: Aug 2011

Posts: 75

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From: Calgary Alberta

This is my first time driving my '80 in 30°C/86°F+ temps, and my starter drags after a good drive and you try to restart without a cooldown. The OEM heat shield is there and I have stock manifolds.

Jul 8, 2012 | 03:00 PM

#15

biscuitville

Instructor

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 146

Likes: 2

From: Hillsborough NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRIVESHAFT

Edelbrock sells insulating gaskets to help with the problem your most likely having.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-9266/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-9265/

I had the same troubles and found a phenolic spacer to be helpful. Also, I replaced the metal fuel line with a rubber one and then routed it away from the headers as much as possible. Now it will restart within about 5 seconds of cranking (starts right up when cold).

Jul 8, 2012 | 03:38 PM

#16

Greatsteaks

Racer

Joined: Feb 2012

Posts: 333

Likes: 2

From: Aurora Colorado

Read Lars paper on carb spacers. You need a heat shield not a spacer. I have a spacer and on very hot days my carb still boils. Made a heat shield solved the problem. Read this paper midway down. http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/atta...chmentid=62086

Jul 8, 2012 | 04:04 PM

#17

biscuitville

Instructor

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 146

Likes: 2

From: Hillsborough NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greatsteaks

Useful - thanks for the good post. Maybe this plus the spacer will help get the engine firing up immediately.

Jul 8, 2012 | 04:49 PM

#18

BlackC3vette

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jan 2012

Posts: 943

Likes: 73

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greatsteaks

Lars' email address is towards the top of the paper, ask if he has an updated version. He's a great guy and has sent me several updates on Q-Jets.

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