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Finally found my sometimes hard cold start problem. Something about the choke mechanism is sticking? (at times) and preventing it from springing closed after depressing the throttle. Vacuum pull-off works perfectly. Only other problem (on occasion) is that the high idle doesn't always set.
I've previously cleaned the choke/carb with spray cleaner and lightly lubed the linkages. Everything seems to move freely and correctly. Have also adjusted the choke so that (when cold and not sticking?) it springs closed very nicely.
Is my potential fix as simple as removing the cover/spring, cleaning it and inside and replacing? Or should I remove the entire choke so that I can actually get in there to clean the high-idle mechanism which on a '79 seems FAR more difficult to even see (let alone access) than I remember in my first car--a '71 Chevelle.
Cover and spring seemed very clean but just removing them gave me a better view and better access to the mechanisms behind. Used some more choke cleaner and it's working perfectly--at least today