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Thread: Extremely hard starting '71 skylark

  1. #1
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    Extremely hard starting '71 skylark

    Old family car 1971 Skylark 350 2 barrel, auto...I use as a back up...
    has manual choke....quite difficult to start after a week or so of not running.
    New battery, cranks just fine, but
    I can't tell if I'm flooding or what....once engine starts and is warmed up, it starts just fine....what's the right drill to get it started without burning out starter? choke engaged, gas pedal depressed? choke engaged, leave gas alone?
    (rarely starts when cold without using manual choke)
    pump gas several times? I can't figure out what's the right combination.
    Fresh points, plugs wires etc., installed. Never had this problem before, because it was a daily driver. I drive it every other weekend to keep everything happening but lately this starting drill has me baffled. No problems if I start it everyday, but if it sits for a week it is very difficult to fire up.
    Any ideas? Thanks for all replies.

  2. #2
    Depending on the carb you may not have fuel for the first couple of cranks. If it has not been rebuilt the older carbs drain off and then have to fill up before being able to start. rebuilding it may help stop this from happening.

  3. #3
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    thanks for your reply....
    this morning it took more than 5 minutes cranking,
    pumping gas pedal and screwing with manual choking
    manuevers, and finally started. Even if the gas had drained from the carb
    should it have taken this long for it to finally start?
    Once it started and warmed up. It fired up promptly with
    a turn of the key.....hmmmm? any other ideas?

  4. #4
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    Just like Robert said, your carburetor bowl is leaking all of the fuel out when it is sitting for any length of time. This is very common, and you can't tune or choke it enough to make any difference.

    short term fix is to just crank it for a little to fill the carb, then pump the pedal to squirt gas in.

    Long term fix, get the carburetor rebuilt, so someone can seal the bowl properly to prevent the leak down.

    That's why it will start easily when it hasn't sat for a long time. Carb still has fuel in it.
    86 GN, all factory options, engine build in progress
    72 Skylark Convertible, 462, TH 400
    72 GSX Clone 464, TH400, 3:42. 10.71 @126mph best

    We build GM carburetors and specialize in custom built Quadrajets

    www.quadrajetpower.com
    mark@quadrajetpower.com

  5. #5
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    Thanks for your reply...I'll have to look into that

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