C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Carburetor help needed, Please !

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 24, 2002 | 09:41 PM
  #1  
killain's Avatar
killain
Thread Starter
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,123
Likes: 673
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Default Carburetor help needed, Please !

I was wondering if someone can hepl me diagnose a carb problem I think I have, If I go to start the Vette after it has been sitting unstarted for about two weeks, it acts flooded and starts hard? Does this mean the carb is getting weak. It was rebuilt about six years ago. Any help appreciated.
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2002 | 12:13 AM
  #2  
RMS73's Avatar
RMS73
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 418
From: Chester Virginia
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (killain)

Please define "starts hard" and "the carb is getting weak".
If the car has sat for two weeks the gasoline will have evaporated from the fuel bowl. The only way to get fuel into the engine is to first fill the fuel bowl and then the engine will 'pull' the gasoline from the carburetor into itself or 'pump the accelerator to add the gasoline. When you start the engine it will take several engine turnovers to replenish the gasoline into the fuel bowl. Then you can 'pump' the accelerator to put gasoline into the intake for starting - like you would for normal start-up procedure. If enough gasoline has evaporated over time fuel additives can be left in the ports in the carburetor restricting the normal fuel flow. This condition will usually be detected by poor performance at idle and acceleration.
Roger
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2002 | 08:07 PM
  #3  
killain's Avatar
killain
Thread Starter
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,123
Likes: 673
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (RMS73)

Even after sitting for two weeks and not been started, the engin floods very easily. I was wondering if the carb isn't leaking fuel down into the engine after I shut it off? Why else would it flood so easily? :confused:
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2002 | 09:14 PM
  #4  
Robert N's Avatar
Robert N
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 0
From: Tucson AZ
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (killain)

Have you checked the choke? Had an old Q-Jet that had a sticking choke. Could cause to rich a mixture and flooding.
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2002 | 10:01 PM
  #5  
killain's Avatar
killain
Thread Starter
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,123
Likes: 673
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (wireless guy)

Yeah, I checked the chock and it's working perfectly.
Reply
Old Apr 25, 2002 | 10:53 PM
  #6  
Vetterodder's Avatar
Vetterodder
Safety Car
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Active Streak: 60 Days
Active Streak: 90 Days
 
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 3,631
Likes: 14
From: Fountain Hills AZ
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (killain)

What is your starting procedure? How many times do you pump the carb? What happens if you pump it once and turn the key?
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2002 | 07:01 PM
  #7  
killain's Avatar
killain
Thread Starter
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,123
Likes: 673
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (Vetterodder)

I first turn the engine over for a few seconds, then hit the gas once and then turn the key again?
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2002 | 07:23 PM
  #8  
RMS73's Avatar
RMS73
Melting Slicks
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
 
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,406
Likes: 418
From: Chester Virginia
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (killain)

Turning the engine over a few turns should fill the float bowl with gas. Pumping the pedal once should not flood the engine. If the engine is flood, strong gas smell, then you may have a gas leak inside the carb. The pressed in caps on the bottom of the carb for the primary and secondary passages have a history of leaking. This leak is from the bottom of the carb bowl directly into the intake. When I was rebuilding my carb I cleaned the caps and surrounding area and epoxied over the surfaces. This is a common practice for Quadrajets.
Roger
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 26, 2002 | 07:34 PM
  #9  
ridged84's Avatar
ridged84
Racer
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 431
Likes: 0
From: ny
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (killain)

You need Lars.
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2002 | 07:48 PM
  #10  
Juliet's Avatar
Juliet
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (ridged84)

Killain, when I start my car after a long period I pump the gas pedal 4 times before turning the engine over. If it doesn't start then, I'll pump once or twice more and then turn it over. It sounds like there might be some sort of other issue going on with regards to the flooding. FWIW, the plugs on my Q-jet have not been epoxied. ~Juliet
Reply
Old Apr 26, 2002 | 07:56 PM
  #11  
xfactor974's Avatar
xfactor974
Pro
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: hamilton square NJ
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (Juliet)

Check your power valve if you have one.
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2002 | 09:20 AM
  #12  
Ganey's Avatar
Ganey
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (Juliet)

You should not be turning over first, nor do you want to set the choke in hot weather. In cold weather 1 pump to the floor sets the choke. In hot weather this can cause a problem & can be fixed by holding choke open to start.

Normally give a little gas & should fire right up. Engine hot, just turn over & should fire right up.

Sounds like there is a possibility both you & Juliet have something wrong like the choke adj.. Choke may be too tight on yours & too loose on Juliet's Vette.

Juliet

Can be started quickly w/o a choke in cold weather by pumping while cranking.
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2002 | 02:06 PM
  #13  
killain's Avatar
killain
Thread Starter
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
Veteran: Navy
St. Jude 20 Year Donor
25 Year Member
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,123
Likes: 673
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (Ganey)

I have a feeling there is some leaking going on inside the carb, I turn the engine over a few times to bring the oil up into the heads and then I hit the gas once. It is a problem that has been coming on for the last few years on and off. :confused:
Reply
Old Apr 27, 2002 | 03:02 PM
  #14  
Mike Rohr's Avatar
Mike Rohr
Advanced
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Kewaunee Wi
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (killain)

You must touch the pedal first to reset the choke, other wise it stays wide open from the last time you ran the engine, also try pumping the accelerater at the carb to see if it is pumping any gas at all . might need a new accelerator pump in carb.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2002 | 12:44 PM
  #15  
Ganey's Avatar
Ganey
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (killain)

If you are saying it will start fine after a week, but not 2 weeks, then any leak is very small & it would not be flooded from that.

Check accel. pump shot, then after sitting so you can see any difference.
Juliet, you too.
Reply
Old Apr 28, 2002 | 12:51 PM
  #16  
Scott78's Avatar
Scott78
Drifting
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,514
Likes: 1
Default Re: Carburetor help needed, Please ! (Ganey)

I'd check the float level and look at the needle and seat.
Scott
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Carburetor help needed, Please !





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:48 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE