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Too cold to start?

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Old 11-26-2010, 09:24 PM
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Too cold to start?

I have an 85Z28 carborated 327. Has no choke. It has started fine untill we got to freezing weather. Now it will just crank over but not fire. I tried starting fluid. It is warmer now ( 40 degrees) but still won't start. Any help would be nice.
Old 11-26-2010, 10:12 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

start with basic checks Fuel spark and air
Old 11-26-2010, 10:14 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

sounds like its not getting spark...because with starting fluid ( and please dont use it again ) it should of fired !!!!
Old 11-26-2010, 10:22 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

With the starting fluid it wanted to start, just would comple the action. I assume a lot of it has to do with no choke. I may also because we had a week of 20ish or lower degree weather I could now have some water in fuel system. Is there a way to rig it to choke. As far as checking spark , the only way I know how is to pull boot of plug and look for spark, but I am doing this all solo. Is there a better or different way?
Old 11-26-2010, 10:24 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

Alsp as I mentioned before it always did start before freezing weather.
Old 11-26-2010, 10:26 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

If you dare you can put your hand over the opening while someone cranks it basically a choke but im not responsible for any harm done to anyone taking my advice but its what i would do.
Old 11-26-2010, 10:40 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

Please excuse my ignorance. I have only had one other carborated vehicle in my life. Do I put hand over front set of openings??
Old 11-26-2010, 10:47 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

Originally Posted by keeslinger31
If you dare you can put your hand over the opening while someone cranks it basically a choke but im not responsible for any harm done to anyone taking my advice but its what i would do.

Lets hope it wont backfire..lol OUCH
Old 11-26-2010, 10:47 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

alright bad advice use something else that isn't flammable or put a glove on Because if it backfires it will hurt and or catch you on fire. Take the air filter off and there will be two or four blades not sure on yours a choke will just be another set of blades that open shut and block air or regulate it so your hand will do the same and hopefully with the right amount of air it will start. The problem with the cold is that the air is more dense and your not getting the right fuel air ratio and covering the intake hole not completely will restrict the air intake and act a a "Choke" nice word right? Anyway try this and have someone crank it. Dumb question, You are pumping the gas before starting surely even in hot weather is usually required.
Old 11-26-2010, 10:48 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

Originally Posted by jchaussee
Please excuse my ignorance. I have only had one other carborated vehicle in my life. Do I put hand over front set of openings??

Can u post a picture of your carb and engine..( with the filter off ) ?!!!

It would help, to see what u have there.
Old 11-26-2010, 10:53 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

I don't know how to post pics, but I do know what carb. It is an 85 qjet 4bll. I guess it should be computer controlled but is not hooked up. It is ontop of a 1968 327 block. .....And yes in hot weather I have to pump it and keep rpms up for a few minutes till it warms up.
Old 11-26-2010, 11:10 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

Originally Posted by jchaussee
I don't know how to post pics, but I do know what carb. It is an 85 qjet 4bll. I guess it should be computer controlled but is not hooked up. It is ontop of a 1968 327 block. .....And yes in hot weather I have to pump it and keep rpms up for a few minutes till it warms up.
There is your problem...the 85 Qjet..lol sorry

the best bet would be to post pics, i cant believe they did not hook it up..it has a choke ( should have ) ...but without seeing it , it is very hard to help u .

POSTING PIX, u go to reply . then advance . then browse and post your pic....sounds easy.. and i bet once u done it it is !!!
Old 11-26-2010, 11:22 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

Well check this thread tommorow. I will try to do pic when it is light out. And yes I heard about this carb . I had another thread " quadrajet a decent carb" and as soon as it was found to be a 85 ccc then tones changed. I will eventualy get and older qjet and attemt to rebuild myself ( I will get a full color book)
Old 11-26-2010, 11:24 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

But other than choke is there any other cold weather start methods I can try? Or does no choke make it really difficult?
Old 11-26-2010, 11:57 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

Originally Posted by jchaussee
But other than choke is there any other cold weather start methods I can try? Or does no choke make it really difficult?

No choke makes it hard, i would buy a 650-750 holley with a choke !!

I think i have one somewhere.....need to look, all u need is to hook up vaccum line and it should work.

I will check it out monday , its the earlyest i can.
Old 11-27-2010, 01:11 AM
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Re: Too cold to start?

Originally Posted by DAREDEVIL 1
No choke makes it hard, i would buy a 650-750 holley with a choke !!

I think i have one somewhere.....need to look, all u need is to hook up vaccum line and it should work.

I will check it out monday , its the earlyest i can.

a 650-750 holley is way too much carb for a 327 even a 30 over 327(331) with fuel heads, forged piston, and .456 lift cam i would run any thing bigger than a 600 single pumper carb. also if your quadra-bomb is labeld as 800cfm it's maybe metered down to 450cfm-550cfm. but forget about the carb right now as i would tend to think ignition....with being a 1968 motor what ignition system are you running???? points with external oil filled coil??? check spark,points and condensor, coil for leaks or swelled, check cap and rotor for moisture, and your wires??? 74-86 hei with internal coil check the previous parts, remove coil and check for corrosion under coil, ignition module for corrosion, and check for cracked pick up magnet??? or if your running the update hei 87-94 with external coil check all the same as previous system but check to see if the center of the coil is loose. yeah i wouldn't use starting fluid again in that motor as the fluid raises the compression of the motor very fast and the 327 where known to have a weak bottom-end unless it was a 327 truck motor that had forged bottom-end. next time plastic cup of gas about 2-4 oz.
Old 11-27-2010, 01:40 AM
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Re: Too cold to start?

use a hair dryer blow warm air into the carb and see what happens... again I am not liable for any umm... adrenaline related clearing of sinuses...
Old 11-27-2010, 02:33 AM
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Re: Too cold to start?

I don't know what ignition. I will have to see tommorow. I do know that is does not have an external coil. That I am familiar with. Points. I don't even know if I have ever seen them. ( I am 33) but I am sure I can figure it out.
Old 11-27-2010, 02:35 AM
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Re: Too cold to start?

I was thinking of hair dryer. Was just going to prop it up while I try to start it from the inside ( I have to do everything solo) .
Old 11-27-2010, 02:37 AM
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Re: Too cold to start?

My and as far as my ignition. All I know right now is that its cap is grey and says AC Delco
Old 11-27-2010, 01:10 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

So I looked at ignition. Has a plug on right which looks stock so I am assuming it is what would come stock on a 85Z28
Old 11-27-2010, 02:22 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

Originally Posted by jchaussee
I don't know what ignition. I will have to see tommorow. I do know that is does not have an external coil. That I am familiar with. Points. I don't even know if I have ever seen them. ( I am 33) but I am sure I can figure it out.

i'm only 30.......but the one thing my grandfather always told me...if you can't fix it you better learn! that's the only we you will save money..and he would never give me any answers to any of my questions..he's reply was look it up or go see a pro in the field of problem...his words pound into me head got me where i'm just check out my photo gallery.
Old 11-27-2010, 02:23 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

Originally Posted by jchaussee
So I looked at ignition. Has a plug on right which looks stock so I am assuming it is what would come stock on a 85Z28
8 ignition wires on cap or 9
Old 11-27-2010, 02:58 PM
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Re: Too cold to start?

8 wires. I finally got it started. I put a bottle of heet iin fuel and poured some gas down carb. Small fire but now is running
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