Quadrajet Divorce Choke
#1
Safety Car
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Quadrajet Divorce Choke
When I put the accelerator to the floor when cold, the choke sets like it should. Butterfly closed and on fast idle cam. However, a few seconds after starting, if I touch the accelerator, it cancels all that. It barely runs because it's still cold. It looks to me like it should go to the second step on the cam. Is the choke out of adjustment? How do I adjust it?
#2
Team Owner
What rpm is it idling at cold start before you touch the accelerator?
#3
your profile shows you have a 59 Corvette with a 350 so obviously not stock. When you set the choke by stepping on the pedal and start the car you should see at least 1,500 RPM idle speed. When you touch the gas it should drop down a few hundred rpm and when fully warm drop to normal idle. The speed adjustment screw is on the passenger side of the carburetor.
Last edited by MelWff; 11-03-2015 at 11:37 AM.
#4
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Cold start idle is 1300 RPM, touch the pedal and it drops to 700 but engine still cold. No in- between. I adjusted that screw to obtain the 1300.
#5
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I kicked the throttle and it dropped down to the second step just like its supposed to. Trouble is, the idle is the same as normal idle, 800 RPM.
If I adjust the screw for faster idle on this second step, will it be faster also on the first step?
If I adjust the screw for faster idle on this second step, will it be faster also on the first step?
#6
Melting Slicks
You might want to check your vacuum choke pulloff (to the right of the choke coil in the pic below). Sounds like it is pulling choke off too far.
#7
Burning Brakes
I kicked the throttle and it dropped down to the second step just like its supposed to. Trouble is, the idle is the same as normal idle, 800 RPM.
If I adjust the screw for faster idle on this second step, will it be faster also on the first step?
If I adjust the screw for faster idle on this second step, will it be faster also on the first step?
#8
Safety Car
You have to adjust the choke itself before you adjust the choke idle speed. You didn't say if it's electric or via a choke rod from the choke coil on the intake manifold. If it's electric adjust the housing on the carb to remain on longer. If it's manual like the old divorced choke style from a spring, shorten the rod slightly by bending it where the two factory bends are. Measure the length before and after and use increments of about the thickness of the rod until you get it the way you like it. Once you get the choke itself adjusted then work on the idle speed.
#9
Team Owner
If the title of the thread is correct, it's a divorced choke, not electric. I had a similar problem and the problem was a missing piece of linkage shown by the green arrow. The orange arrow shows where the choke rod from the spring on the intake connects
#10
Team Owner
You simply bend [or straighten] the linkage rod from the divorced choke to the carb, as needed, to keep the choke on for a bit longer time. When adjusted, you may then need to re-adjust your 'fast idle' screw to reset the idle speed for a cold engine.
If you have installed 'block-off' plates over the intake cross-over passages, the choke system will NOT work exactly like a new car would. But, you can still set the choke system and fast-idle for BEST condition with the engine setup you now have.
If you have installed 'block-off' plates over the intake cross-over passages, the choke system will NOT work exactly like a new car would. But, you can still set the choke system and fast-idle for BEST condition with the engine setup you now have.
#11
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Yes, but 1300 on first step is too low. I have good luck with warming the engine up, manually putting it on the first step and then adjusting the high idle speed(adjustment on passenger side of carb) to 1800-2000rpm. I know, sounds kind of high but if you set it anything lower than 1500 you'll likely get a start/stall on very cold mornings.
#12
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You simply bend [or straighten] the linkage rod from the divorced choke to the carb, as needed, to keep the choke on for a bit longer time. When adjusted, you may then need to re-adjust your 'fast idle' screw to reset the idle speed for a cold engine.
If you have installed 'block-off' plates over the intake cross-over passages, the choke system will NOT work exactly like a new car would. But, you can still set the choke system and fast-idle for BEST condition with the engine setup you now have.
If you have installed 'block-off' plates over the intake cross-over passages, the choke system will NOT work exactly like a new car would. But, you can still set the choke system and fast-idle for BEST condition with the engine setup you now have.