Am I pumping and cranking too much to start

[AuroraGirl]

I have a edelbrock performer intake and a 1604(1406?) edelbrock carb. The fuel pump is mechanical, likely stock or replaced once in life of truck. Fuel lines are clean and replaced. Fuel tank is good. Fuel filter came with carb.

I notice that if the truck sits for a day or more, typically there is no fuel in the filter or carb, which means pumping the gas to get gas in accelerator pump would be pointless, right? Im guessing it slowly evaporates from the bowl.

In this weather, about 30 degrees, and not starting it for 3 days, I would have to pump it at least 30 times in total to get started. I wised up and realized the filter was empty and started cranking the engine a bit to fill that bad boy up first, then pump the gas which brings that down quite a bit.

My question, is the fuel filter pointing downward toward carb causing gas to go into carb then evaporate versus if It went upward, it might stay in filter for a little bit, allowing the truck to have some gas in it so it doesnt need to crank nearly as long? Or maybe weak fuel pumps? Carb? Ive never had a truly good-working carb on a vehicle before, just stock quadrajet, the old 2 barrel on this truck, and a 2 barrel on my old LTD.

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[AuroraGirl]

Also, my carb idle settings have NOT been adjusted aside from idle, which I turned up from too slow out of the box. I also will turn it up temporarily in REAL cold weather to make it harder to stall when moving snow, but I turn it back to aboit 800 rpm id venture(without a tach)

 

[Turbo4whl]

You need a fuel filter with a check valve. The fact that your steel fuel line is smashed does not help either. A better place to put the inline fuel filter, with the check valve, is in the rubber hose from the frame steel line to the fuel pump.

You can also get a fitting that will fit the inverted seat of the fuel pump and use rubber hose from the pump right to the carburetor. A custom bent steel fuel line from the pump right to the carburetor is best.

 

[AuroraGirl]

The fuel line is not smashed. It is fully secure and leak free. The part where it goes to rubber was cut with a tubbing cutter and a flare placed on with a clamp. However, the check valve does sound like a good idea. HOw does that function and where would I get a good one? I guess the one out of the box with edelbrock is a "works" thing rather than "best" choice thing.

 

[ali_c20]

Have you checked if the choke is nearly closed ? Does the accelerator pump spray fuel into the manifold when you pump ? Is it only hard to start the engine or do you have other issues too?

You pump the carb to get some squirts of gas into the manifold and to close the choke plate so that you get a rich mixture. 2-3 times should be enough. Crank it for a few seconds and if it doesn't fire up again 2 or 3 pumps, crank again. Idle speed doesn't affect the start.
I had the same issue that my edelbrock ran dry after sitting more than 1 day. I had to crank for about 5 sec to get enough fuel from the fuel pump into the carb. No more starting issues with my qjet.
Idle speed should not affect the start.

You should adjust the air fuel mixture, idle and the fast idle, the out of the box settings are just to get the engine running.

 

[ali_c20]

HOw does that function and where would I get a good one

Just google fuel check valve, you can get it at amazon, summit, jegs, autozone.
You install it in your fuel line and it allows fuel only to flow in one direction.

 

[AuroraGirl]

Oh I thought he meant a speciifc filter with it built in, but I can just get a valve. I will put one after the filter. That should help my evaporation of gas so I have some staying in my filter and line. Perhaps I should place it near the fuel inlet as well.

Also, I know how to adjust the two screws on the front(dont know function) but you listed three things. And I know idle speed doesnt affect that, but if its high enough the throttle plate stays open a good amount and that can cause starting to be hard. And Im not sure on choke, I never looked at it. Its electronic. Ill pull air cleaner off and turn key to on and see where it changes it to.

 

[ali_c20]

The choke is electric, you can adjust it when you loosen the screws on the housing and rotate it clockwise or counterclockwise. There are markings on top and the factory settings is midway. Clockwise is richer counterclockwise is leaner if my memory is right. Youtube is a good source for helpful videos, you can find a lot of edelbrock adjustment stuff.

 

[legopnuematic]

I would say you have a bit too much rubber hose in between the pump and filter. The longer the fuel has to travel the longer it can take for fuel to get to the bowl.

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[AuroraGirl]

I guess I figured it was better to cut the tube and clamp on a hose on top of the engine rather than remove the alternator and bracket, cut the tube halfway down the back, and then do the same.

 

[Turbo4whl]

Oh I thought he meant a speciifc filter with it built in, but I can just get a valve. I will put one after the filter. That should help my evaporation of gas so I have some staying in my filter and line. Perhaps I should place it near the fuel inlet as well.

Also, I know how to adjust the two screws on the front(dont know function) but you listed three things. And I know idle speed doesnt affect that, but if its high enough the throttle plate stays open a good amount and that can cause starting to be hard. And Im not sure on choke, I never looked at it. Its electronic. Ill pull air cleaner off and turn key to on and see where it changes it to.

I was referring to a filer with the check valve (anti-siphon valve). The only one I could still find is made by Edelbrock. Both items, an anti-siphon and an inline filter would also work.

The reason to place this before the fuel pump is to keep that from loosing is prime also.

Sorry I thought the steel line was smashed, the picture you posted was deceiving.

 

[78C10BigTen]

My truck never needs more then 1 pump to start no matter the condition.

 

[AuroraGirl]

My truck never needs more then 1 pump to start no matter the condition.

Whats your setup?

 

[78C10BigTen]

Whats your setup?

Original tired 350 from a 76 as i was told when i bought it, eddy 650 carb probly untuned as i just slapped it on, open element air cleaner plastic fuel filter in the same location. I have a pic in my media ill try to attatch soon

 

[AuroraGirl]

After looking at his setup, esp with the same carb, could it be that perhaps my air cleaner(came with carb, free ig.) is too restrictive on airflow(its not dirty by any means, its use is primarily winter and dust was minimal so far). Because the fuel, im sure, is pulled into the carb with vacuum from the intake stroke while also being pushed by the fuel pump with the carb metering the mix. A restrictive air filter would hinder that, I imagine. Also, maybe a wearing out fuel pump that lets too much fuel flow back the line or doesnt pump as efficiently as new? Im not 100% on that theory, but curious if anyone had that and could attest to any. The fuel pump is likely original to what is most likely a 305 from a 80s gm car. When I do alternator Ill check the casting and find out.