The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Carb/Distributer HELP 235 Rochester

Hi all,
My 1948 Chevy "Thriftmaster" PU has been in the family since 74 and I restored it in high-school in 1983/84. Recently it refuses to start when cold with-out the use of starting fluid. Once it warms up, it will start right up. The other thing I've noticed is that if it is on a flat idle, warmed up or cold, and you stomp on it, it caoughs and sometimes even back fires and tries to stall, but if you get it up off idle just a tad, and mash it, it revs right up. The only thing I can tell is different is the exh donut is leaking a bit recently. It is a 235 bored .040 over all stock cam, manifolds, and a one-barrel rochester manual choke carb. The vacuum advance seems to be working correctly, and I can't seem to find any vacuum leaks. Please help me figure this out, as she is my alternate daily driver, and just pulled my 66 Datsun with over 3500# of parts spread between the chevy and the datsun from San Diego to Seattle averaging 55-60 mph (except the mountains) getting an average 10mpg and it's all factory brakes etc....
Well thanks in advance for the help!!
Garry

Sounds like time to put a kit in that carb, accelerator pump is probably shot. Look inside the carb while you yank on the throttle, should squirt some gas. May also be time for a complete tune up, go by the book and you'll be in good shape.

I am with JiMerit rebuild the carb and go thru a tune up.

Check your valve adjustment and timing/point dwell and spark plug gap first.

Make sure the vacuum advance moves the distributor when you touch the throttle (engine running). Does the distributor turn easily by hand and does it return to the original spot? (not running).

The first thing I would do is run a compression test on all the cylinders. If they all show good compression then you know it's a tune-up matter.Good luck.

GarryK and THEWRENCH-

Welcome to the Stovebolt. More Washingtonians is good, we gotta stick together!

Garry-I'm with JiMerit on the full tune, suspecting the carb. Other indications are worth the look as you go through the engine. If the truck sits more than runs, the carb can get gummed up pretty easily.

I'm not sure what kind of exhaust you've got there, but if it's Fenton headers and you've no heat supply to the intake, you really need that. It won't help it start easier, but as soon as it is running, it helps a bunch to keep it running.