I worked at a golf course in Missouri, and during the winter on really cold days the only thing that would fire right up was a 1959 Ford tractor. It was impressive since I was operating it from 1989-1992.
my sister and her husband are DVM..from Colorado State University.. Neither of them have your accute ability of down to earth , factual transmittion, of basic ideas. and..your wife is a keeper..she helps you in every way a wife can be helpful..You are a lucky man.
Finally someone who's knows how to run the auto choke on a carb. Manual chokes run about the same, press pedal to floor, this gives one squirt from accelerator pump, hold on floor, pull choke knob out, release the pedal. This sets the high idle on the carb linkage. Crank engine till it starts. If it don't start right up, a few pumps while cranking should start it. Oh Merry Christmas by the way!
I honestly dropped the ball on some of that explanation - it was too cold to be outside in the wind and give a lengthy walk through. I think chokes are actually something I never made a direct video on - probably should
Knowing how to start a carbed car meant the difference between making it to work and not back in the day. So we learned real quick. Great refresher amd sure brings back memories. Cheers!
I was fortunate to be raised around all of this and even more fortunate to have friends and family provide the places to go to keep out of trouble. Dirt Track racing is in my blood through my Dad(Mechanicus Extraordinarius) and MY chosen dirt was MUD. lol Ya ain't havin' fun iffin ya stayin' clean!! lol From 1 horse power to 3,000 horse power, controlling the horse is the key. 👍👍
When I was young, 40 years ago, I had LTD -67 with 428. Here in Finland, the winter is sometimes like what you just had. I usually did not use it in the winter, but once I was asked to move it a little so that they could remove the snow from the parking lot. I had 20W50 oil in it, it was below 0 F , and the Holley I had had no choke. I thought that there was no chance to get it started, but I tried anyway.Hood open, I watched the fan rotate like second's arm of the watch, and pumping gas pedal (no choke) it started. I heard a strange "pop" but drove it to already cleared parking spot. Then I saw a trail of oil. The oil filter had blown. As it is in easy (=stupid messy place)in Fords, I replaced it when it was warmer again. So, only if the choke is not working, pumpin gas is ok, and in some cases, if the carb has dried, there is very little to pump until the mechanical pump has filled the carb even partially. That i why I replace them with electric ones if the mechanical fails.
I have a small block Chevy with a Q jet, aluminum intake, headers, a 224/230* @ .050 cam and 10:1 compression- it always has to have a little flutter (not jack it to the floor and back) on the pedal to start even in warm weather, and you have to keep that up until a little heat gets in the manifold to keep it idling. Yes it has an electric choke and yes it works. Makes a max of 13" vacuum at 750 rpm idle. I had to teach my wife how to start the thing, she grew up with EFI vehicles that start without setting a choke or needing some accelerator pump action.
Years back I had a banana yellow 70 F100 with a 360/auto and it was the best cold Iowa weather starting vehicle I ever owned. 1 tap on the pedal and set the manual choke and she would pop right off and stay running. It had a set of long tube headers with glass packs and sounded like pure NASCAR (or maybe figure 8) when I had it floored. Rust had taken the front cab mounts so there were pieces of treated 2X4 holding things up. If I took a corner too fast the steering would bind up a bit till things leveled out. Merry Christmas Luke! Looking forward to more content on your channel in '23!
I had a 78 bronco with 351m in it. it was the same way to this day i havent seen a modern fuel injected car that would start quicker i swear it seem like it didnt make a full rotation and it was running.
That's how my old fe starts. Gotta crank a little longer to get fuel in the bowls after a week of sitting, probably 10 15 seconds. Now them Chevrolet owners, well they can keep pumpin the pedal! Merry Christmas uncle Luke!
Hi Luke. I sure remember cranking the wonderful old carburetor cars in the Iowa winter in the early 1970s. I enjoy your videos and seeing the home state . Best wishes for the new year.
Back in the 80s, I went to college at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND. We had a ton of sub zero winters and it was always difficult trying to keep your car running in the sub zero cold. I always had a set of jumper cables and kept the car maintained. I was driving a 1979 Olds Cutlass with the 260 and a Rochester 2bbl carb. And it would start no matter how cold. Sometimes it would fight and complain....the heat riser would make a screeching sound at start up but it would start. Some of the newer, early fuel injected cars needed a jump start or a tow. The irony in all of this? I did a college internship in North Carolina...and I probably jump started more cars there vs at UND...people would leave their lights on if they drove in the fog or rain. Headlamp on reminders weren't a thing quite yet.
Luke.. really like your videos. I had a 1967 mustang with the 289 in highschool in the 1980s. I put electronic ignition, hookers, replaced the autolight with a holly. I loved that car. I put a shift kit in the c 4 . She was quick, and I won alot of around town light offs. I love your vids because they remind me of tinkering with the old small block. I could always get her running, and she never let me down. Like your style, and lost art of tuning ... I was blown away with your lawnmower carb on the Maverick. Not alot of people pushing the envelope like that. Really amazing. You looked like a mad scientist working on the software to run the air fuel ratio. Building the mounting hardware yourself... I caught you on junkyard digs, but have now joined your channel... Thanks Luke... Great content..
Friend of mine had a 78 Chevy blazer. No matter how cold or how long it had set. One pump and she hit right off. My dad had an old 77 Chevy van 305 two barrel same thing one pump and she lit off every time. Some carbs just won't die.
When I was a kid we had an old Impala that had a badly adjusted choke and bad accelerator pump so you had to pump the crap out of it. Once I continued to drive old carbureted vehicles and got them tuned up well...2 pumps and then crank without touching the gas and they would fire up in a few seconds and idle by themselves. If needed "feather" the gas a little like you demonstrated.
You are so correct on these starting procedures! So many folks here on YT do look like complete nut jobs trying to start their engines with the insane amount of pumping! However, I did (way back when) have a 65 Thunderbird with the 390 4V. No matter what, it was the most cold-blooded thing ever. Choke set right, choke pull-off working properly, points and dwell set properly, carb. adjusted properly, timing set right. It would start up quickly and fine. But you had to pump the gas starting out every time until fully warmed up or it would stall. Carb. was rebuilt several times and then I replaced with a rebuilt unit. No changes. Then on the other hand, I had a 72 Country Squire with the 429 4V. Started right up every time, didn't require extended warm up and never tried to stall like the T-Bird. They certainly do have their own personalities.
They do. They can be built identical, but behave differently. You learn how each of them acts and treat them accordingly. Get in sync and they will do anything you ask, otherwise it won't be a fun time.
i owned many old Carbureted cars & trucks, & you showed how to start it the way i was show how. glad you did this video. merry Christmas to you & your wife.
Now if any millennials see this video they're at least know how to start it. Haha But they still won't know how to drive a stick. Thank you so much for showing what you got in trouble for. Some people just suck. Merry Christmas man
I still remember the trick to starting my dad's old 84 bronco in the cold... 1 and only 1 pump to the floor. Hit the key it'll start and die right away. Don't touch the pedal and just hit the key again and it'll start and run on high idle just fine. Any variance to that procedure and good luck Chuck she's flooded and a pain in the ass to get back. Stupid stock motorcraft carb.
Came here to see the old Ford Truck and got rewarded with one of my favorite cars! The Rotsang! Reminds me so much of my 79 Cobra 5.0L. Even the same color combo. Now I have to go home and start it up...
My 66 Valiant has the original manual. Anyway I am the type that reads anything and it instructs 1 pump, to close the choke and hold the pedal 1/2 down while cranking. It always starts! I'm just north of you in Minnesnowta... Merry Christmas!
I was a mechanic in that era. If everything it set up correctly to "factory" specs, and the "original" air cleaner with the heater stove hooked up correctly and working, the engine will start with one push of the gas pedal, and drive away immediately without hesitating or stalling. That choke stove keeps the intake air temp at 100ºF to prevent throttle body frost!
V8s have a exhaust gas heat crossover under the carburettor that heats up the intake manifold plenum chamber as soon as the engine starts to run which helps the fuel entering the manifold from the carburettor to evaporate. Probably the best petrol engine configuration for cold climates. It helps on cold starts to wait,10 seconds or more, the longer the better, after 2 slow full pumps on the accelerator pedal for petrol fumes to build up in the intake manifold before cranking the starter motor.
I love that you made this video and that I'm not alone still driving an old stick Ford as theft deterrent too 🤣 really had me laughing in the "yup!" Sense! Yeah, I cringe watching people pump the gas too and can't help screaming "learn wtf it is and how it works, or give it to someone who does!" 🎄
Ha ha starting a carb vehicle in cold weather Manuel choke cable is mandatory. I always had one and threw away the electronic for the manuel. Merry Christmas Luke love your videos. Whatever happened to the lawnmower carb? Try it on a truck see if it works
@@ThunderHead289 ha ha just in time for my birthday March 11 surprise me for my birthday. Here in Toronto the weather is about -10 C got a little snow but not like down where you are. Keep up the great videos Merry Christmas
Luke .. you been around a long time. I don't understand why you don't have more hits on your channel. Your a tuning beast. I think your one of the original guys on RU-vid.. your an old world guy who can fix anything.. your ancestors probably worked on old steam ships, railroads. When things hit the fan... Luke your the guy. Take care. Tim
Carbueted cold start… Depress accelerator slowly to floor. Release Depress accelerator half way and crank. Been doing it since the 70’s Works every time I’d be interested in seeing a cold start on the maverick with the plastic carburetor. Good luck in your endeavors. Meeey Xmas. Peace.
My Granddad has a 47 Ford V8 and he would pump the gas like a mad man then pull the choke and hammer the foot mounted starter. It was so fun to watch him with all his old stuff, He taught me to cuss but i never took up RedMan tabacco. You guys stay warm and be safe, Dennis
I had an '82 Ford F150 with the 300 six. 5 easy pumps, turn the key, and 8 - 10 seconds later, she started... EVERYTIME. -30 overnight and -15 during the day? No problem - 5 pumps, and she fired up and idled. Wish I never sold it.
I never had a problem starting up my 79 firebird 301 2 barrel in the deep freeze of New England. Just couldn't let it idle on its own until it was fully warmed up. The electric choke was bad and wouldn't work in the cold.
having started driving in the early/mid 80s ive driven 100s of carbed vehicles in Canada so yeah,lots of snow.........snowpocalypse is like an average day in the winter in the 70s and 80s.no big deal,no panic,lots of rwd cars/trucks/no nanny/no abs/no bullshit......people have no idea what the weather used to be like......once to the floor,start and modulate till it will idle
Good video. Good to see you back. I was wondering where you had gone too. I use to run Fords. Lived in Nebraska, and my Fords always started on the coldest days. Point ignition, carburetor and always was reliable. Thanks for sharing. The Mustang side show was great also👍. Take care, Ed.
i had a 78 courier with the mazda pinto 2.2 4 cyl. manual choke. i just pulled the lever and cranked it and she never failed me. didnt even have to touch the gas.
I'm Brazilian. The coldest we get donw here is 40, maybe 35ºF BUT we have more cars running on ethanol than gasoline - and they much harder to start on cold days. Plus most cars here are manual. If you own an 20+ car and don't known how to do this, you don't go work in the morning. Good video! It's nice to see it done on a big old v8. And Merry Christmas !
ah good stuff. Knowing your engine and how to start it. Some like 1 pump, some like 2 and so on. You get to know it, and it will start every time no matter what the conditions are. You just have to work together with that lump of iron instead of expecting to just do what you tell it to do. If you do, you'll have a lot of happy years together and it won't ever let you down.
My old '66 F100 w/ 351 Cleveland is mega cold blooded. 5 pumps pull the manual choke out turn key he fires up then put the choke in and hold accelerator pedal down and keep revs between 1500 and 2000 rpms for 3-5 minutes then he might idle, might.
1986 F250 w/460, the Holley tends to leak down when it sits. Electric choke sucked, so it has manual choke. Turn on key, make sure the oil pressure safety switch bypass I installed is on, so fuel pump starts running. Pull choke, give 8 or 10 pumps, crank with foot lifted. When it fires, keep it going with foot throttle because it won’t want to idle when ice cold. Wish It also had manual throttle like my International. Maybe I’ll install one.
Had to start my 81 Chevy K20 to plow the driveway last Thursday when it was 10 below. 350 with a q-jet. Cranked over slow but started. I've had it for 17 years and its been my most reliable vehicle.
We have an old 69 Ford dump truck with the 360 Fe, the accelerator pump is shot but it still just amazes me how well that thing will start and run so reliably
This is good. I've been doing the method of pumping it repeatedly and wondering why it would have a hard time starting. Did the method you had shown, and mine started up a lot easier
Great info. Now I have a better idea on how to start my carbureted vehicle in the cold weather. Was -29 where I live and the battery on my daily driver froze solid! Took 4 hrs to de-thaw it.
I live in Iowa, I've plowed snow on my property and neighboring properties for the last 22 winters with a 1982 F150 with a carbureted 300 six, I also own a 1986 F150 with a carbureted 351w. They both fire right up with a single pump, I've got a manual choke on both trucks. On stupidly cold days (like that negative 40 wind-chill nonsense we just had last week) I'll typically let them "high idle" with the choke fully engaged for 30 seconds or a minute or so, then they'll usually idle down just fine and stay running after I disengage the choke. They're like goth chicks with daddy issues, just gotta choke em to get em going... 🤣
This year during the cold snap. 🥶 my daily diesel a 2014. Didn't want to start. But my 78 in the profile picture. Well it did. Alot of people forget if they don't drive with a carburetor every day. Crank the engine a few revelutions then hit the pedal to set the choke. Then it should fire right up. As long as the actuator pump works properly.
My 80 f150 with the strait 6 300 I just bought a new choke for it because instructions for starting are: pump the gas until ur right foot is tired, then if it’s below 0f then pump it with ur left foot a bunch of times. It’ll usually start, but I’m so tired of this cause occasionally it won’t start and I have to get a jump from cranking too much. New choke it is!
We had a 79 Bronco with a 351M and that bs variable venturi carb. It would start and -10⁰ with missing a beat. However, anything above 60⁰, and it hated life.
Merry Christmas. Thanks for helping me keep my 1977 F150 XLT 4x4 4-speed completely bone stock on the road. 8-track tapes are really hard to find though nowadays.
If the choke is set correctly and works like it should. Also if the fast idle cam works like it should. That engine should start rising in rpms. Till it warms up, then tap the throttle and the choke should open up and the idle should come down. On a standard I set the idle to around 800 to 900 rpms. Automatic 700 to 800 or so. Base that on how low the rpms go when you drop a Automatic in gear.
I never had a problem starting a carbureted engine in the cold. I would press the throttle to the floor once and then turn the key. As long as the choke was properly adjusted, you were good to go.
Merry Christmas my friend hope you and your family have a Blessed Christmas. God Bless my friend stay warm and stay safe. Hey one of those donuts where in a field how did you get into trouble for that in less it was some one else's field. Have a good one my friend.
The 1984 Mustang car is going to last long time but still you have to change the oil pan gasket with Fel Pro gasket because clean engine will pin point the trouble faster. You would nominal drive the Mustang car every 2 or 3 days otherwise the brake caliper gets corroded with dirty brake fluid Dot 3. It require to replace it with new caliper. That cleaning it with brake fluid and honing the caliper with 3 whetstones connect to drill and new caliper rubbers kit will not help. Factory build is more reliable and guarantee not being error/issue. It must be perfect precision dimension. The valve stem seal gets hardened rubber and wears out and wasted the oil with oil burning.
in the 70s we had some dam cold weather and the 1966, 289 would start right up but would jump around a bit because the engine was so cold. It didn't care how cold it was it just didn't like wet weather. The distributor was right behind the fan and the fan blew water onto the distributor and wires.
