This is just my opinion--and we all know what opinions are like.
I think those old girls (engines) love a 'choke'. My 235 (46) will fire up with only about 5 turns if she has full choke! That is as long as she hasn't sat for a week and dried out the carb! After it starts, about half choke is quite enough. I can drive away for about one block and then push the choke off and the engine runs like a charm.
Cheers, George
