Stubborn 440 cold start

[oldchevelle541]

Our family has a 1970 Coronet with a 440 cubic inch that has a Holley Avenger carburetor. Double feed with electric choke. I know the Mopars are stubborn waking up and starting after a sit for a few months during storage. It seems with ours that a cold start when temps are below 60F is a no go. We have adjusted the choke from one extreme to another and through the bowl windows we have fuel. Carb does not show signs of a stuck float. This weekend she was stubborn and did not want to start. Accelator pump was working fine. In the afternoon when it got warmer outside around 60F it started up fine and idled pefectly. If anyone has this carb I would appreciate any comments and learn where do you have your choke set on your big block. When I got the car some years back the previous owner had the choke turned just about all the way clockwise. When she starts she runs strong and without hesitation its just when she sits.

BTW - still have the mechanical pump and site windows on the carb show fuel line at half which is what the Holley manual recommends.

 

[Don Frelier]

1. Pull coil wire from the distributor and hold 1/4" away from ground. See if you have a sharp blue/ white spark while cranking. You may have nothing.
If so it's a problem with the bulkhead connection.
(Is it points with the 2 pin ballast resistor?)

2. Does the choke close completely when you press the pedal with a cold engine? It should.

3. Fully charged with good fuel

Following the spark test and choke set fully and high idle cam on the idle screw.

Try this:

2 or 3 pedal shots from the accelerator pump.
Wait about 30 seconds then crank.

 

[Rick62]

Does it depend on how long the car sits? Ten percent ethanol causes starting problems with my old cars after a couple of weeks.

 

[Cranky]

Any old car has a tough time starting after sitting for a while. Even my old Garden tractor has that problem but yet it will finally start up even though it doesn't have a choke. Try what Don said.....and maybe even a couple of extra pumps on the gas pedal might help. After sitting awhile, the fuel can evaporate (especially ethanol crap) some. Check the fuel level plugs on the carb before you hit the key and if they are low. If so, just turn the engine over and let the pump fill the bowls up. I also always take some starting fluid to them when they sit for months. Helps get things going a bit faster and if it fires off right away and then dies, that tells me the spark is good and the fuel isn't there yet.

 

[pnora]

Our family has a 1970 Coronet with a 440 cubic inch that has a Holley Avenger carburetor. Double feed with electric choke. I know the Mopars are stubborn waking up and starting after a sit for a few months during storage. It seems with ours that a cold start when temps are below 60F is a no go. We have adjusted the choke from one extreme to another and through the bowl windows we have fuel. Carb does not show signs of a stuck float. This weekend she was stubborn and did not want to start. Accelator pump was working fine. In the afternoon when it got warmer outside around 60F it started up fine and idled pefectly. If anyone has this carb I would appreciate any comments and learn where do you have your choke set on your big block. When I got the car some years back the previous owner had the choke turned just about all the way clockwise. When she starts she runs strong and without hesitation its just when she sits.

BTW - still have the mechanical pump and site windows on the carb show fuel line at half which is what the Holley manual recommends.

If you got fuel squirting and it does not start you had better start looking for a spark issue. Mopars are no different than any other make when sitting and not getting fuel right away. A carburetor does not know what motor or car its on.

 

[WileE]

Yup. The question is, when you initially attempt the start, do you have fuel in the bowl, does the choke close, and does a step on the pedal squirt fuel in the engine. Check that before you do anything else, because whatever else you do won't matter. This is a common circumstance these days, modern fuels evaporate quickly.

 

[tonysrt]

Electric fuel pumps alleviate the hard starting when cars sit for any period of time. My 318 Duster and 472 Hemi in my 71 Cuda start right up with a tanksinc. tank with pump in the tank. Sometimes they sit for a few months and start right up.

 

[RGC440]

I think 70 was the changeover to electronic dist. If yours doesn't have it it's time to upgrade.

 

[Don Frelier]

I think 70 was the changeover to electronic dist. If yours doesn't have it it's time to upgrade.

No. 1973 was the earliest

 

[tonysrt]

I had a 71 340 and it had a single point distributor, I converted to the electronic ignition and really woke up the motor. I bought the car new in 71.

 

[steve340]

Are you possibly flooding it with too much fuel?????????????

 

[turbine68rt]

Electronic ignition was on all Chrysler V8's starting in June of '72.

OP stated that the accelerator pump is working fine and both bowls are filled halfway up the sight glass, as well as trying different choke positions. Going by that, I would think it's a non fuel related issue, as previously stated.

 

[oldchevelle541]

1. Pull coil wire from the distributor and hold 1/4" away from ground. See if you have a sharp blue/ white spark while cranking. You may have nothing.
If so it's a problem with the bulkhead connection.
(Is it points with the 2 pin ballast resistor?)

2. Does the choke close completely when you press the pedal with a cold engine? It should.

3. Fully charged with good fuel

Following the spark test and choke set fully and high idle cam on the idle screw.

Try this:

2 or 3 pedal shots from the accelerator pump.
Wait about 30 seconds then crank.

Thanks, will recheck everything you suggested.

 

[oldchevelle541]

Are you possibly flooding it with too much fuel?????????????

Our family has a 1970 Coronet with a 440 cubic inch that has a Holley Avenger carburetor. Double feed with electric choke. I know the Mopars are stubborn waking up and starting after a sit for a few months during storage. It seems with ours that a cold start when temps are below 60F is a no go. We have adjusted the choke from one extreme to another and through the bowl windows we have fuel. Carb does not show signs of a stuck float. This weekend she was stubborn and did not want to start. Accelator pump was working fine. In the afternoon when it got warmer outside around 60F it started up fine and idled pefectly. If anyone has this carb I would appreciate any comments and learn where do you have your choke set on your big block. When I got the car some years back the previous owner had the choke turned just about all the way clockwise. When she starts she runs strong and without hesitation its just when she sits.

BTW - still have the mechanical pump and site windows on the carb show fuel line at half which is what the Holley manual recommends.

Thanks Everyone for helpful suggestions. I do have electronic ignition and no doubt it is taking time for those bowls to fill to the proper level. At first you could not see the gas in the small windows. I will check for a strong spark, recheck the chock as it was not peoperly closing (half way at best) and will await 10 secs or so before I turn key.
As a side note does anyone know what timing should be on a 70- 440 with electronic ignition. It does not backfire but could be off a few degress.