Wants to die when cold

[rivcokid]

My 1935 fordor with a stock V8 is tempermental when cold. I can start it right up, let it warm up a bit, but when I go to drive it, it dies or comes close to dying in 1st gear. Otherwise, it's fine (driving is fine and 2nd and 3rd are fine). After a little bit of driving, there is no problem no matter what gear. I'm figuring it's something in the carb, but I'd like to hear from the experts since I'm very much a newbie.

Thanks in advance!

[RalphG]

Originally Posted by rivcokid

My 1935 fordor with a stock V8 is tempermental when cold. I can start it right up, let it warm up a bit, but when I go to drive it, it dies or comes close to dying in 1st gear. Otherwise, it's fine (driving is fine and 2nd and 3rd are fine). After a little bit of driving, there is no problem no matter what gear. I'm figuring it's something in the carb, but I'd like to hear from the experts since I'm very much a newbie.

Thanks in advance!

Just speaking for my own fleet of carbureted older vehicles, that sounds pretty much normal behaviour. Especially the Holley on my 52 Merc.

[tubman]

It may be obvious, but in case you don't know it, after it's been running a while, you should push the choke only partially of the way in, not all of the way.

When I first got my '51, I had to learn "the drill".

[rivcokid]

@tubman - I have the choke all the way in after it starts. I'll try that though. When I first got the car, it ran fine cold. It's just now that this has started.

[deuce_roadster]

I hate the cold too, but not quite ready to die.

[Lawson Cox]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Accelerator pump?

[Tinker]

It may be a load issue. Once you get it going it doesn't take much power to keep it going in 2/3 gear.


Could be a lot of things really. But the fact once it warms up it does well is a good sign its not vaperlock. Maybe low fuel or compression not atomizing fuel at low temps. Are you running blockoff plates under the intake fuel risers?


I'd be happy it runs better when heated up, and just pull the choke a little for the time till it doesn't.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by Tinker

It may be a load issue. Once you get it going it doesn't take much power to keep it going in 2/3 gear.


Could be a lot of things really. But the fact once it warms up it does well is a good sign its not vaperlock. Maybe low fuel or compression not atomizing fuel at low temps. Are you running blockoff plates under the intake fuel risers?


I'd be happy it runs better when heated up, and just pull the choke a little for the time till it doesn't.

Vapor lock on a cold engine?

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by tubman

Vapor lock on a cold engine?

Irony is best served cold. But good you caught it. Reading something doesn't always mean you comprehend what is said. I do appreciate your analysis of my post.

[tubman]

I will repeat : Chokes on these engines are not binary devices; they are made to be placed in any position between fully open and fully closed for good reason.

[Tinker]

Well I'll stop using the choke on my lawnmower and snowblower then when starting it cold.

[tubman]

I'll be moving on.

[Tinker]

Articulate your statement. Meaning you can run a car at a quarter choke. Or not..... Maybe re-read what I posted or leave me alone. I didn't say it was a on/off choke thing. But smooth move on you.

You don't have to agree with me, that's okay.


I'm not an adversary. Remember you wrongly called out my post, not me. We have more in common I bet about cars. Being top fordbarn honcho is not is a thing I to aspire too I guess. Lot of guys already have that crown.

[Ford46]

I'm with deuce roadster!!!

[big job]

Calf. and cold? I would have a hard look at that carburetor. Here it could be 10 degrees

I give two pumps no choke instant start. turn heater on go back in house while its idling. Why? cause its correct. And No its not fuel injected lol its correct. Your idle circuit may have dirt the venturies may have dirt. old remedy race it up pull the choke out just till it stalls sometimes the vacuum will suck the dirt. try that. or air cleaner off grab throttle race it up put hand over carb just another way........

[rivcokid]

Wow - thanks all. I didn't know I had more answers because despite subscribing to this thread, it doesn't tell me when new responses are posted after the first 1 or 2. I'll try these and then let you know. In answer to the California and cold query, I mean cold in the sense that it isn't up to operating temp and has just started after several days, not that it's -15 F and I'm trying to start it! Thanks

[rotorwrench]

Automatic chokes hold the choke at a variable rate until the temperature sensitive control spring is heated to operating temperature by the choke stove. A manual choke control is fully controlled by the operator.

The early Ford V8 engines have a provision for exhaust heat to circulate through the intake manifold at the base of the carburetor but it still takes a while to warm things up. Some of the aluminum intakes have problems with deterioration of this passage which can really cause a problem if manifold pressure and exhaust pressure start to intermix or if exhaust starts leaking out the side or top of the manifold.