59 vette c4c5

[ken mohr]

A friend has a 59 with two carter AFBs. The chokes are disabled. when it sets for a while he has to crank it for a while (to long)to start. He has poured gas in the carbs and it starts instantly. He asked if he could install an electric fuel pump and still leave the mechanical intact. This vette is not stock and turned 11.9 in the 70s. Any advice will be appreciated.

[bradfordsvettes]

There are diaphrams in the mechanical pump I do not think an electric pump could pump through them but could be wrong . also if an electric pump is installed it should have wiring through an oil switch so the pump will shut off if the motor is not running as in an accident situation they make switches that give the pump a prime signal then once running switches to oil pressure contacts.Even with the electric fuel pump you would have to pump the crap out of it to start cold without a choke set-up just my 2 cents Steve

[ken mohr]

This is what I was afraid of. He is going to find a way to prime it or get the chokes working again.

[LLC5]

Originally Posted by ken mohr

This is what I was afraid of. He is going to find a way to prime it or get the chokes working again.

If the problem is just a cold start condition, with the engine running good when hot, then I would check the accelerator pump in the carb. Make sure the accelerator pump is working properly, it should get the engine started initially, but without the choke working properly it will run poorly until the engine is fully warm. If the vehicle has sat for a long time it is possible that the accelerator pump seals have dried out and no longer function.

[ken mohr]

I think the carbs a re drying out. The pumps are ok. You just have to crank to get gas back in the carbs. I thought of a second line with an ele pump to build the pressure before start atempt. He may have to put an ele on and eliminate the mechanical.

[LLC5]

Are the float bowls empty when you are starting the engine cold? If so, how long does the vehicle sit before the restart, days, months? It is possible that the float bowl is leaking fuel through a crack or a well plug. If you are going to install an electric fuel pump make sure you do bypass the mechanical pump.

[ken mohr]

I do think this is his problem. He starts it aprox 2 months intervals. As much as he runs it he may as well just keep priming it. There is no gas getting to the oil so no harm no foul.

[LLC5]

Originally Posted by ken mohr

I do think this is his problem. He starts it aprox 2 months intervals. As much as he runs it he may as well just keep priming it. There is no gas getting to the oil so no harm no foul.

If the vehicle sits for months before being started then it could also be stale fuel in the float bowls. Small amounts of fuel (float bowls) will go bad faster than larger amounts (fuel tanks), and combined with no choke can result in a serious starting problem when cold. A fuel stabilizer might help if he is not already using it. Just some cheap, easy basics to check. Good luck with it.

[aquaholic]

you could try one of those $10 manual choke cables and mount it in the dash. another thing you could try is just holding you hands over the carbs while he cranks it if the choke butterflys are gone. it sure sounds like the problem is in the carbs to me also and not in the fuel pump. when you pump that gas pedal that should mist the fuel left in the float bowls into the carb throat. if those bowls are empty and draining into the motor its rebuild time on those afb's. you mentioned that there is no gas in the oil. how is he determining that? heres a carb rebuild kit that holley makes for a carter afb.

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

[LLC5]

The manual choke cable would be a good idea if the choke plate is still there, I was thinking that it might have been removed for racing. However, holding your hands over the carb while trying to start the engine is not recommended, a backfire will make you wish you never did it. Don't ask me how I know.