Manual choke with Webers

[356six]

This is probably a stupid question, but I'm in the process of installing a set of Webers on my 2.7 in place of the CIS. Do I need to install a manual choke for cold starts or is that the purpose of the accellerator pump on the carb?

[avendlerdp]

No choke needed. Just a couple of pumps of the gas and then the fast idle lever between the seats. Gotta have that fast idle lever though.

-Alex

[Va914]

How fast?

1000rpm or 2000rpm...

[356six]

My car doesn't have the idle lever. I think they stopped that after 1974. I guess I could add it or just keep my foot on the gas until it's warmed up.

[RoninLB]

you're gonna have to develop a technique for cold starts. In the beginning keep a battery charger close to avoid deeply discharging the battery. The car's alternator does a poor job in general. Maybe keep a can of starting fluid in the car during below 40F cold starts.

Proper spark plug selection is important especially during the winter or you'll never clean off cold start plug carbon.

all above assumes your carbs are dialed in properly.

[Va914]

I get worried about running to high of an RPM from a cold start?? Lack of oil flow.

[dd74]

The choke. If you mean the hand throttle, yes, you'll need it. I need it for mine from the time I start the engine to when I pull out of the driveway. And I live in a realitively warm climate compared to NY.

[76911]

Don't worry about chokes, I have the same setup 76 2.7 with some mods. Mine starts after 3 or 4 pumps. Your going to have to feather the throttle for a few mins but if the carbs a dialed in properly you should have no trouble. Mine will start below 32" and I think you get pretty close to the same temps as us in Mi. Don't use no starting fluid!!! They start on gasoline just fine.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Va914
I get worried about running to high of an RPM from a cold start?? Lack of oil flow.

Just don't drive it away to soon and use proper winter oil. The flow should be a bit constricted due to the tighter main bearing clearance and oil visocity when 30F or below. Otherwise if no engine load then no problem. You could also install a CHT gauge and then watch for 150F for nice early carb combustion.

if I remember correctly you had a cold start situation with carbs a few months ago. What was the outcome ?

My cam has more overlap than CIS cams and needs a lot of pumps to cold start. Different engines need different cold start techniques.

[76911]

Good point RoninLB I failed to say don't run a 20w50w in the cold, I use a 5w30 if I run it below 40F but only if it's sunny out with no salt on the roads! Not a snow car.

[356six]

I don't think I'll have too many cold weather starts. I usually don't take my car out until the end of April or early May. Too much salt and road debris until after the spring rains. So with some fancy footwork on the gas pedal I should be OK.

RoninLB - my start problem last summer was with the stock CIS which is being replaced with the weber setup on a spare rebuilt engine that was going into another car.

[Joe Bob]

it's not really a choke.....it's a hand throttle that was on early cars. A couple of pumps and a 1500=1800 rpms for a minute or two gets it up to normal idle on a properly set up carbs.

The hand throttle is aka the poorman's cruise control....

[Va914]

I did have a cold start issue..I think it was mostly due to how I was starting the car.

I didn't want to rev the car at all during the starting for fear of lack of oil. I was trying to get it to start and idle without any input from my foot. It took quite a few starts to get it to idle.

I think I will try to keep the rpms up during start-up. I am also getting a hand throtle soon (gathering the pieces/parts now). With 2-3 pumps of the throttle it will FIRE right up but die quickly.

Thanks

[Joe Bob]

Remember you have a 12 quart dry sump system.....it's not like a Chebbie or an old VW with 3.5 quarts.....it has a LOT of oil in the system. Just don't bang the rev limiter and you'll be OK.

[Va914]

Thanks...

Seems like it takes some time after dumping money into an engine before you get over the fear of kill'n it