So I thought I knew the procedure to start my tripower BUT maybe not. Last week on a hot day drove the 68 to the store. Started fine cold(pushed gas pedal down couple of times and always starts fine). Was in store for 10 minutes, pushed pedal once or twice and it just cranked and never fired. Ended up draining the OLD battery which didn't take long. Got it jumped and it finally started.
How do you all start your cars without flooding them when hot?
Thanks,
Jim

 

When cold, pressing the pedal to the floor sets the choke and squirts fuel into the intake. If you do that hot...you are likely flooding it. Try cranking first and then add a little fuel until it fires.

 

Did this just start happening or has it always been this way?

Keep in mind mines a ZZ4 350 with a Q-jet.
Cold - Pump gas 4 times, this sets the choke and squirt some gas. Fires right up (unless it sits for a week or so then once it fires I have to feather the gas to keep it running until the fuel pump to float bowl line primes back up.....leaky check valve in the pump).
Hot - Just crank it. I don't touch the gas at all. It usually fires right up. If it's real hot after cranking and it doesn't fire up I give it one pump of the gas. That usually does it.
If you pump you gas more than that while hot then you'll flood it and I think in your case it's probably magnified being a tri-power setup.

 

On a Tri-power, the engine operates on 1 center 2 bbl carb only until the 2 other 2 BBl's are needed under load....Basically a 2 BBl carbed engine at startup

 

So if you pump the gas (to the floor) it dosen't squirt out of all BBL's?

 

As others have stated, cold engine hit pedal a couple of times to set choke and fuel into intake. Fires right up. Hot as in just a quick stop for gas after driving 5-10 miles, just hit the key, fires right up. If it sits for 30 minutes or more, but engine is warm, I'll hold pedal 1/4 to 1/2 way down and fires right up.

 

No, that is my understanding of the outer 2 carbs...vacuum operated, much a like on a 4 BBL carb that has vacuum secondaries like on my 78 Holley. The secondaries only open once there is a sufficient vacuum drop to move the vacuum lever on the secondaries (the outer 2 carbs have vacuum diaphrams on the 3X2 tripower) and sufficient air flow through the carb.

 

One time is all it takes!

 

Only 10 min in store no need to push gas pedal. Just hit the key.

 

Thanks all, I think my problem was that I was pumping gas and not even thinking about it. I'll report back soon, waiting on Holley gaskets to fix the float needle/seats.

 

Starting a carbureted vehicle

 

Thanks Kid..

 

My 406 has no choke, pretty much a race cam, and locked out timing...All the wrong things for a street engine.

Cold,....about four pumps of the gas, and once it fires feather the gas for maybe 30 seconds. Shift and go. I do need to feather the gas for a short bit till the carb warms, but I'd say less than a mile.

Hot....turn the key and it fires like EFI.

 

On mine with stock Quadrajet, cold, 1/2 pump to set choke, crank till it starts. If it's been run within the last 8 hrs, just touch key and it's running.

 

This stuff,, pump once, pump 3 times , don't pump if hot, hold half when warm,,, that is the main reason I switched to EFI,,the best thing I have ever done to a carburetor, throw it away, I love the EFI, it works just like a new EFI car, just turn the key and starts right up no mater what the eng temp or the outside temp, I never touch the gas unless I want to GO FAST!!! At least think about it, many have converted, , , just my 2 cents, ,,,,,,teddy

 

Send me some money and I'll gladly join you........I'll need a little more then 2 cents.

 

,,,,, My all in cost was under $1300.00,,,, did it all by using many ideas on corvette forum,, you guys and gals are great, thanks to you I went ahead and did the conversion, I posted my build, hope others can benifet also, , , , I'll help all I can,

 

Not sure I can get rid of my tripowers, they look too nice. But I totally agree with 60 SHARK about the reliability of EFI if you can justify the cost.

 

DO NOT GET RID OF YOUR TRI-POWER...those carbs are legendary.

Yes, a carb is infinitely more finicky than Fuel injection and definitely more problematic at times, and can be more unreliable. I just had to rebuild my Holley 4175 after it started starving the engine for fuel and almost got me stranded after flooding out the engine. Turned out to be a sticky needle and seat.

What all that said, I love the 60/70's character of my 78, the raw simplistic power, sound of the motor, feel of the car, smells of the exhaust, ease of working on the platform etc. If I want EFI and the modern frills of today's cars, I drive my 10 C6Z06 and to be honest, not as much fun as the 78 in many ways...................

As other have stated now many times, the start procedure for a carbed V8 is really pretty simple:

1. Cold-1/2-1 pump sets the choke...a few turns of the motor and it should fire
2. Warm-Just turn the key and mine will fire after less than a 1/2 turn of the motor with no gas
3. Very hot motor and warm day, might take a few pumps of the gas after the engine fires immediately to smooth the engine out after lighting with key only.

EFI is great but I can think of a lot of other things I would do to my 78 with the $1,300 before I would consider the EFI. I would take that money and a lot more for EFI, R&P steering, Wilwood brakes versus the OEM calipers for the street, electric fans, etc and go with a 5/6 speed Tremac way before some of those other mods......just me

Pretty simple!

 

Its not rocket science

Thought about EFI just dont want it on an old car love the feel of the double pumper its raw and gives more feel. If one cant stand the smell go buy a new car