After letting my car with a Edelbrock 1407 sit for a week i have to do 2-3 cranks of 10 sec for is to start. Is this normal for carburetor car as i have not own one before. Also is there a certain starting procedure to start.

 

Normal starting procedure for a carb'd car is to give the accelerator pedal 1/3-1/2 depression. This does two things: 1) put a squirt of fuel into the intake manifold, and 2) allows the choke butterfly to close and the high idle cam to engage.

This assumes you have an automatic (typically electric) choke. If you have a manual choke, you close it while the accelerator is depressed that 1/3-1/2.

The 1407 comes with a manual choke. Did you hook up a choke cable? Or, did you convert it to automatic electric choke?

 

Yea it is still a manual choke but I have to pump it a lot more than a half press to get it to start should I adjust the floats I don't know if the carb is drying up. Should I pump it while turning it over.

 

If you fully close the choke when first depressing the accelerator, you shouldn't have to pump the accelerator at all.

Oh, should have said, "Depress the accelerator pedal 1/3-1/2 travel, close the choke, and let off of the accelerator."

If that isn't working, you need to determine why. Edelbrock carbs aren't known for losing fuel while sitting (other than from evaporation). You shouldn't change float settings to fix a starting problem.

 

Ok I will try the way you suggest how to start it. But if it does not work what parts of the carburetor should I look at or adjust.

 

I have the same carb and have to do the same exact thing after letting it sit however I have an electric choke. usually I pump the gas 5-6 times and it cranks then dies, then I have to do it again to get it to start while playing with the throttle to keep it running. its not all that unusual from what I've seen.


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Yea I have to do the same. But my friend has a 1406 and pumps it twice and it starts right up. Do you think a rebuild would help my problem or electric choke.

 

An electric choke worn help with that, do you have a mechanical fuel pump? those can leak and cause fuel to drain back out of the carb which is the most likely problem.



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No I have an electric fuel pump. I adjust fuel pressure, timing, new spark plug, and I still have the same problem. So im out of idea's excepted a carb rebuild and insult carb and fuel lines. And buy an electric choke.

 

I am running this same setup on my T/A and I have to do the samething with the starting 2 or 3 times. One of the things on my to do list for this summer is to install an electric choke. My friend has an 86's Monte Carlo SS with the same set up we have PLUS the electric choke and his car always starts up nice.

 

Mine still does it even with the electric choke hooked up, after sitting for a couple of days it plain doesnt like to start. Might be time for a rebuild though for me now that I think about it.

 

Well I'll be rebuilding mine in a week or two I'll tell you if it help out with the starting problem.

 

Well u can add me to the list.. It takes 2 to 3 hits on the pedal to get that bch to start

 

Do you have a mechanical fuel pump?

 

No its a electric fuel an its at 6 psi

 

Yea i got a mechanical fuel pump

 

Same setup, mechanical pump, electric choke. I pump the pedal twice and it literally takes right off at the touch of the starter. Even in rather cold weather. If it sits for a month or so it takes a few revolutions though.

 

I am running a Carter Mechanical pump BRAND NEW running at 7 psi.

 

What Rpm Should the fast idle be set to mine is around 1000 rpm is that normal for fast idle.

 

If you have a mechanical pump and let it sit for a while it can some times take a little extra cranking to prime the carb.

 

I just check my oil today and found out it smells like gas is this a problem from the carburetor. I need help I don't know what it could be.

 

Stuck float bad gasket

Is the carb new?

 

No it not new but not real old what can I do to fix this problem rebuild the carburetor.

 

Also could that be causing the hard start issue that I have.

 

Check your float level. Check the needle and seat. May not be sealing well. Possibly a little piece of crud stuck in it? This would constantly dump gas while its running and let it drain out when it sits. You ever put a gage on the fuel line to verify pressure? Did you change from a mechanical pump that was bad? They will sometimes rupture the diaphragm and leak gas into the block.

 

Yes i check fuel pressure and it is between 5 to 6 psi. It was originally TBI so i have the electric pump from when that was hook up. Maybe it is a float problem because it hard to start and the electric fuel pump should sends fuel up to the carburetor when the key is on.

 

Easy to check. Pull the top of carb, flip it upside down, and a 7/16 drill bit shank between the outter end of float and gasket should just fit in, touching both. Bend the tab at the back that closes the needle valve to make this right if not.
Did you try just watching the vent holes while its running? Fuel will bubble out of them if its set too high.

 

OK I will check the floats over the week end but when it is running I don't see no fuel bubbling out.

 

Four things are the top culprits. Fuel pressure, float setting, bad needle and seat, foreign body holding the needle valve open.

 

Ok so i rebuild the carburetor and i'm still having the same problem. The bowls are not going dry but for it to start i have to pump it 6 plus times. Choke is adjust, new spark plugs, timing is adjusted. What else can it be. THANKS

 

6 times is excessive what happens if you just crack it open then crank. Are you running a spacer?

Hot starting on my 1405 is crank and instant start.

 

I'm not running a spacer but if I do hold pedal all the way down it does start better. What could be the problem also running higher octane gas help at all.

 

Check for vacuum leaks. Sounds like what was happening to me when not all the ports were hooked up/plugged.

 

What areas should I check for vacuum leaked and how.

 

If you still have all your emissions stuff, check all that. Smog pump, egr valve, diverter valves, etc. Vac advance. Pretty much make sure any vac hoses are not disconnected. If they are and they're not supposed to go anywhere, cap them.

 

Aright i check for a vacuum leak and there is none. When it idles its not smooth the RPM moves a little. How much tight should the choke plate close when i close mine i have 3/64 of a inch. Is that correct?

 

My Q-Jet with the factory electric choke, etc. has the exact same problem. It sat for a month and hasn't been the same no matter how much I drive it, chemicals I throw in the tank, or carb cleaner I use. It has about 2,500 miles on it since rebuilding (2,000 interstate and the rest are highway and suburb driving).