I have a 600cfm Edelbrock on my 302. It seems to want to "flood" when I start it up, worse so in the cooler months (we don't get a winter in Texas, so it is currently in the 70s). I have messed with the electric choke, and leaned out the mixture as per the owner manual. I tend to just shoot a blast of starter fluid at the air filter before starting, otherwise it just turns over and smells gassy. It is only about a year old. Any suggestions?
Junk it and get a Holley! Sounds like the floats are too high, or the needle and seat is stuck. Check those out.
Please don't use starting fluid. every time you start your engine. it will wash down your cylinder walls. giving you premature cylinder wear. then you will loose compression and the engine will be hard to start.
I would think with an electric choke....you shouldn't have any problems at all. My station wagon with the same carb just started Monday and it was 3 degrees out....no problem. Choke works great.
I know Holleys are better carbs, but Edelbrock is just so PRETTY! I will check out the needle and floats. Thanks for the help.
Mine does the same thing. Is yours actually flooding or is it just so lean that in the cooler weather it won't start? If you add starting fluid and it fires right up...than it's not flooded, it's just not getting enough fuel. Yes, mine's a junker 600 CFM that I've had as long as Ive had the car, but I am not about to give it up considering I haven't touched it but maybe 4 or 5 times in 3 years. I lean it out by changing rods about May or June when it starts getting hot and put the "rich" rods back in about October when it starts to cool down. Giving up 30+mpg is hard to do! Not to say a Holley won't do the same....but do that AND be as reliable might prove challenging.
I thought you wanted to trade me that carb for a holley I had? You never emailed me back. If your still up for it, let me know.
I assumed it was flooding, since it would not start and I could smell gas coming out of the exhaust. But, now that you mention it, I tend to run a little lean, and when the weather cools is when I get my problem. What is the difference between lean/rich adjustments with the two screws on the front as compared to swapping metering rods? I am using the rods that came with the carb, and actually don't know squat about changing them, which to change to, and where to get them. Any help would be appreciated. What would be the part number for rich rods, and lean rods? What came with the 1406 Edelbrock stock. It runs great in the summer, but slower to start in the winter, and hard to keep running. Until it is warmed up, and even a bit after, I need to keep one foot on the gas at red lights as it wants to stall. I tend to keep the idle low, around 650 or 700 (I like the sound), and this works well in summer. Winter, still idle's well in Park, but when I drop the RPMs while in D and sitting on the brake, it will drop to 350RMM and threaten to stall. Sometimes succeeding. New metering rods? If so, which, and where do I get them? (sorry this "question" got so long, I just wanted to give those more knowledgable some data to work with)
It does sound a bit lean at start up. 1406 is a electric choke carb, right? Have you tried adjusting the choke yet? You can order a kit from Edelbrock that contains a set of rods, jets, step-up springs, and other parts that you may need along the way. Also has an instruction manual with it that gives great information. Edelbrock part #1479. Exactly the same thing I did, just read the manual first and you'll get an idea as to what does what inside the carb. Later on, you'll find a chart that will guide you in selecting rods/jets for your particular application.
No, i was talking to the thread starter not you. He wanted to trade me. I do need a 4 barrel carb tho. The holley's i dont want to use again cuz they are vac secondaries I want a DP or a Edelbrock from my Comet
Thanks for all the help, and no, I am not selling my PRETTY Edel carb. It work great once it warms up, and looks so nice, even the women say "That shur is a purrdy ingin!" (I live in south-east Texas). I will do the metering rod kit and try that out. Seems like it fits the delimma I am in, and should fix it. The last vehicle I owned with a carb was a 1983 Chevy Luv Pickup with a holley 2 barrel (which happens to be a hot drag vehicle down here) and it had none of these problems. I would just crank the choke over in the winter, and back in the summer, and it purred like a kitten. I guess the Edelbrock is a little more finicky and needs more TLC, just like the rest of the car.
nothing wrong with edelbrock is that a new or used carburetor? if you have a new one, it should be trouble free. i live in tennessee, where we do have winters, but its mild compared to other places. ive always ran a manual choke, and ive never had it hooked up or had to use it. i personally dont like electric chokes. my carter AFB with the electric choke could never get right. the edelbrock carburetor is a very good carburetor. you get it dialed in.. it stays dialed in, regardless of weather conditions. ive put that carb on 2 bone stock 302 Mavs, and both worked flawlessly, out of the box. (i personally preferred a 500 cfm) check your floats, make sure that electric choke is functioning properly. if it aint.. just disconnect it. if i dont need it in tennessee... you shouldnt need it in texas. but that edelbrock carb is very easy to work on, compared to holley. You should definitely go to your local speed shop and ask about a "strip kit". got all the jets and metering rods, and springs you'll ever need for your edelbrock carb. i dont want to start a debate of holley vs edelbrock. im just saying that a GOOD edelbrock carb should work flawlessly on your car. dont go buy a holley just cuz you never attempted to figure out what was wrong with your existing carb
Roadrage, Honestly, I would rather have a pretty Edel carb that needs periodic adjustments, than an ugly carb that has universal settings. This thing looks so good... Anyway, I think you might be correct, that it is a choke issue. It is only a year old, and works great, once warmed.
