1966/ 289 automatic coupe - Rosalita! - old family car - this is the car I learned to drive with -garaged and neglected for over 20 years -recently restored in and out- runs well - engine overhauled - new points, plugs, carb adjustment, etc. - engine will not turn over cold unless pedal is depressed 1/4-1/2 down - it then will rev very fast and stall when put into reverse to get out of garage - engine will not go to an even idle even if I try to kick the engine down by giving it some gas - once in drive the engine will calm down and purr as it should - once this happens the car will start as it should - no pedal depress - one turn of the key - and a nice calm engine - I've tried just slightly depressing the pedal prior to startingbut engine will not turn over - should I fully depress the pedal? - I'm afraid thatif I do this I will end up in my neighbor's living room - I would appreciate any help with this.

Thanks!

 

Try this:
1) press the accelerator to the floor twice
2) wate 5 seconds
3) crank over engine (it should fire
4) at the same time it fires give a bit of accelerator and attempt to maintain 1,000 rpm
5) all this is done in park

It should work

If not check your choke by removing air cleaner and moving the accelerator to the floor once and see if the choke plate covers the ventures (about 60 to 70 % restricted)

If not fix choke / or you have manual choke setup (if so follow cable and find out where it goes then apply 60% choke when cold)


-Gun

 

Your choke is restricted or hanging up on something. The stock configuration on the carb, passenger side, usually has heat riser tube from the exhaust to the carb.that tube provides warm air via vacuum, at the carb, is a temp sensitive piston that's controlled by the choke spring. When everything comes up to temp,piston drops, and choke string fully expands, and the choke plate releases,fully openning at the top of the carb. I bet if you pull the air cleaner, and watch the choke plate, it engages but won't release. A good dose of carb cleaner usually works to free up all the linkage and get rid of the gunk.

 

Sounds like a choke issue. When it's working properly, you should just have to push the accelerator to the floor once or twice, then it should fire right up, and it might take a bit of throttle to keep it running for the first few seconds. If you don't push the accelerator all the way down at least once, it may not set the choke properly(if it's electric)

 

Gun Jam

Thanks! - it worked! - 2 presses of the pedal - turn key - slight tap on pedal and she was purring away!
I guess the choke was not setting properly with my partial depression - fuel injectors have spoiled me - but I certaintly like the "feel" of a carb again.

Thanks Again

 

Well it seems like it is moot now, but just to say it for others possible benefit, there should be a wire running from the starter solenoid to the coil/distributor to supply the ignition with a full 12 volts for starting purposes,, this could get overlooked on a restore, and cause hard cold starting.