When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Have a 63 unit on my 57 Chev 150 sedan. Just back home in OH after about a month in FL.
This car does not start well after it has sat for a lengthy period. Knowing that I wondered if it would start. Hooked up the battery and it spun over nicely but after trying several times it gave no signs of trying to start.
Often wondered if starting fluid would make a difference in starting after a period of non use, so took a can of brake cleaner and shot some of the spray past the choke butterfly
and throttle plate. PRESTO! Started so quick it was scary…
I’m using an electric choke on this car and it is working ok. Is there something I can do to help this car start without the aid of starting fluids, etc.
The choke is closing against the internal stop pin. Fast idle cam ok, but the unit seems like it won’t pull in any fuel for the initial start up. Generally if the car is started every 3-4 days it will start, but a long break makes for a hard start scenario.
Jerry, you just need to start and drive the car more often. I don't mean for that to sound like a snarky response but it probably does. I'm serious, though. What you've described matches my experience with every FI unit I've let sit for an extended period.
My starting technique for FI units which have been allowed to go dry is to crank for a few seconds and then walk away. Come back, crank for a few seconds and walk away. Rinse and repeat. Eventually the engine lights off. I don't guarantee that this is the best technique but it works for me.
But, really, just drive your fuelie more often. That's the best.
Mine is fresh (restored by Ken Hansen) and it always cranks for awhile before it starts. No big deal, and normal.
Yesterday one of my good friends was here and I hadn't run the car in 3 weeks. Started easily. Remember there is no accelerator pump in a FI system, so one pedal depression just sets the choke and that is all that you need. Crank for a few seconds. Pause. Crank again and it should start in a few revolutions.
We had the easiest winter in 20 years in Chicago so I have been able to get out a few times on dry and salt-free roads. Keeping things moving is really beneficial.
Thank you Jim and Supreme Deluxe and I know both of you are correct. This new 383 Blue Print runs really nice once it fires up. This car has been a total restoration and I work on it as time allows. To be honest it is close to being finished but some more work to do. One obstacle is that I have not had the front alignment done and may not get that done till the weather cooperates here in SEOhio.
But,yes, it needs to be on the road and exercised and it will be this year, I promise! I just thought maybe I was overlooking something simple in the choke system. From your response it sounds sorta normal. I’ll take that as a win for now.
Many, many thanks to you both and all the brethren of CF
Last edited by jwindarwin; 02-28-2023 at 08:32 AM.
what Jim said!! I will crank the car a couple of times, come back later in the day and it fires w/o too much fuss. If it were an everyday driver, the problem would be non existent. Trick is to start it at least once a week and preferably drive it often and the hard start problems go away. Seems about a week of a bit less is about right for a quick start. that's where AV fuel comes in handy.
what Jim said!! I will crank the car a couple of times, come back later in the day and it fires w/o too much fuss. If it were an everyday driver, the problem would be non existent. Trick is to start it at least once a week and preferably drive it often and the hard start problems go away. Seems about a week of a bit less is about right for a quick start. that's where AV fuel comes in handy.
Well, just as a test and doing other work, this car has satin my garage for 7 or 8 days without being started. I tried your suggestions. Tried to start the car and it didn’t even think about starting. Walked away and came back in 1/2 hr or so and it started on the first revolution.
So my question to you guys, what is taking place during the first failed attempt to start and the quick start 1/2 hr later??? Don’t get it; has fuel both times, spark is good. Why does waiting a period of time help these old FI engines fire up after a long hiatus??
Purely my speculation, but I expect once the fuel bowl level has dropped below the hi press gear pump, the pump becomes and remains airbound even after fuel is pumped into the bowl intake. Waiting a bit allows the fuel to slowly push air through past the pump gears.
I have "powered through" this waiting period with a few 20+ second cranking sessions, but i have a hi-torque starter and don't like making a habit of it due to the stress on starter, cables, battery, etc. As Jim said, the obligation of owning a fuelie - drive the car often.
Purely my speculation, but I expect once the fuel bowl level has dropped below the hi press gear pump, the pump becomes and remains airbound even after fuel is pumped into the bowl intake. Waiting a bit allows the fuel to slowly push air through past the pump gears.
I have "powered through" this waiting period with a few 20+ second cranking sessions, but i have a hi-torque starter and don't like making a habit of it due to the stress on starter, cables, battery, etc. As Jim said, the obligation of owning a fuelie - drive the car often.
One data point I can offer: Several pumps which I've disassembled have still had fuel inside. The common trait among these has been that they have been somewhat recently run..... idle for maybe weeks to a few months.
So based on this data point, my belief is that extended cranking may be due to the downstream lines draining during periods of inactivity and needing to be refilled.
I appreciate your insight and as usual your theories are better than anything I could come up with. Whatever is taking place I learned another piece of the never ending idiosyncrasies of the GM Rochester Fuel Injection.
Now if I could just figger out how bumble bees 🐝 actually fly… lol!!
The Bill Thomas modified unit on the 400 in my 56 has to be cranked several times after sitting for an extended period.
I crank it for a few seconds (4-5sec), stop for a few seconds, crank again, stop, crank, and it fires. If it has been started in 1-2 days, it fires right off.
Restart when hot??? Gotta find the sweet spot with the gas pedal.
I know nothing about fuel injection units but would this would be a good place to install a supplemental electric fuel pump to more or less prime the unit after sitting awhile. I would either just use it momentarily or figure some sort of inertial-activated kill device so it wouldn’t run in case of an accident and line rupture.
02-27-2023, 05:28 PM
Another 63 Fuel Inj question-choke adj?
This has been my experience also.
