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Topic: Hard to start after sitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

in Forum: C3 Engines

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Hard to start after sitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (1/6)
7/12/09 3:19am

MK's78
Former Member
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Dover, DE - USA

Vette(s):
1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette-White/Red 99% Original

Joined: 1/4/2009
Posts: 65

Hey folks, another quickie from mk's78,

My 78 SA seems to have a bit of a start issue after it sits overnight/or for a few days as it is not my daily driver. It usually takes about 6-8 gas-pedal pushes before it fires off and then it runs great. All of the essentials have been checked or worked....carb...timing.....plugs/wires etc...

OR perhaps "Bubba" says that it is normal for a non daily driver...............

Comments, tips and guidance is always, as usual, muchly appreciated................

mk's78 L48 SA

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Hard to start after sitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (2/6)
7/12/09 6:52am

rick d
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williamston, NC - USA

Vette(s):
1969 coupe, 350, m22 trans, ac, black on black,

Joined: 1/19/2006
Posts: 353

maybe check the accelarator pump in carb,,fuel filter and pump,fuel lines,,sounds like it is starving for gas,,just a thought,,rd

Hard to start after sitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (3/6)
7/12/09 8:19am

tuxblacray

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Greensburg, IN - USA

Vette(s):
Previous: 1984 Silver / Charcoal Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe / 1989 Artic White Coupe / 2001 Speedway White Roadster / Present:1976 Stingray Black / Black, Auto, 350 slightly modified (355 hp) Luxor Wires Redline Tires. / 1989 Roadster Bright Red...

Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5188

Sounds bout normal (whatever normal really is...) to me. My 76 is like that too. After its been started up its fine. I would look into rebuilding the accelrator pump if I were going to mess wit it.

For me I would rather not bother a good thang. I know sure as I start messin wit the ol quadrajet I be jackin around wit it during the time of year I would really like to drive it on occa-shun.

Sooo... my choice is an ol Honda catchphrase..... " If it ain't broke don't mess wit it..."

Gud luck...!

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Hard to start after sitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (4/6)
7/12/09 4:48pm

Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20206

Sounds like a classic case of the fuel bowls leaking. There are two "welch" plugs in the bottom of the fuel bowl that will leak all of the fuel out over night, or if you're lucky, it will take a couple of days.
The only real way to correct the problem is to use JB Weld on the plugs. It does require removal, and partial dis-assembly of the carb to do.
Ken's carb article has excellent info on how to do this. Unfortunately, I had to wipe my hard drive the other day and start over...and I lost all of my bookmarked links in the battle...

I'll get the link again, or you can search for other carb issue threads here...several of them have the link posted in them....

Adams' Apple2009-07-12 16:50:08

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Hard to start after sitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (5/6)
7/12/09 6:18pm

Gunslinger
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Frederick, MD - USA

Vette(s):
1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior

Joined: 9/8/2003
Posts: 3398

It's likely one of the problems already mentioned, but be aware that gasoline today is blended differently from when our cars were built. It's blended for fuel injected cars and will evaporate much more quickly than fuels of years ago. In many carbureted cars the empty fuel bowls take some pumping to fill them after the gas evaporated.

Drive the car regularly and it will start normally...let it sit and the fuel in the bowl evaporates and you have to pump the pedal and have the engine crank a bit before it fires. It's not unusual.

While this may not be the root of your problem, it could be part of it.

Hard to start after sitting!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (6/6)
7/12/09 7:12pm

dskopp
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Oak Creek, WI - USA

Vette(s):
1981 Great White Shark. Red Interior, 350/190 hp. PS, PB (SS), A/C CC, T-Tops. Served three years in Active Duty Army, then Retired Air Force after 34 years! Badger State Vettes Car Club. 175,000 Original miles!! Now own a 1998 C-5!

Joined: 5/21/2008
Posts: 1965

My 81 does the same thing. Let it sit overnight and I gotta pump about four times to get her going, then she idols ruff, but purrrrrrrrrrs on the hyway. Just had carb rebuild cause of other problems in carb and computer control.

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