Is there a benefit to either one? Do they both work about the same?

 

By "mechanical" do you mean "hot air stove", with a tube that sticks down into the exhaust cross-over in the intake manifold? If so, they both work about the same, although the hot air type needs to move air through it via a small vacuum passage. It can get clogged.

The electric is definately simpler, with no high temperature gaskets to deal with. Personally, I prefer electric.

If by "mechanical" you mean a choke operated by the driver via a cable, it is highly not desirable.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car. Rescued w/86 LG4/TH700R with all harnesses, sensors, ECM, etc. 2.73 open. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LB9 w/ZZ3 cam, ported heads, exhaust, paint, etc.).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. Currently 396 .030 over, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & shift kit, 3.08 10-bolt, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

I actually didn't know there were two different mechanical style chokes, but I have heard of both now that I stop to think about it. I just see them listed under the types of carbs you can buy from Jegs. I like the electric choke too, but was just curious. Thanks.

 

If you're looking in Jegs or Summit (or most any other catalog), "mechanical", means cable-type driver-operated choke.

There are two types of "automatic" chokes, electically heated thermostat and hot air heated thermostat. Edelbrock sells a q-jet replacement that has the hot air choke, which is the only new carb with hot air that I know of.

Summary: Mechanical = cable operated by driver; automatic = electric thermostat or hot air thermostat. If there is something else out there, I haven't heard of it.

 

I would definately get a electric choke.

Hook up key 12v and a ground, get in, tap gas ONCE, and go. Its that simple.



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ASE Mechanic/Machinist/Smog Tech

1999 NBM Trans Am
1986 Chevy 3/4 ton pick up
1981 corvette
1995 Kawi ZX6R

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