Here's the setup - 200 with a reman Holley 1946 carb. for a '78 Fairmont application, C4 trans.
This engine is extremely cold-natured if it has sat over night or longer. It takes quite a few cranks to get the engine to start. (I know that the fuel is either boiling out of the bowl or draining back past the pump or, most likely, a combination of both.) I have to pump the accelerator while it's cranking to get it to start, also (again, completely drained carb). When it does start, I have to keep tapping/feathering the accelerator to keep it running. During this "accelerator tapping process," which usually lasts about 15 seconds, I have to keep the RPMs up, or else it will die.
After revving it up by tapping the accelerator as described above, it will idle on its own perfectly - I mean, engine is running as smooth as glass. However, as soon as I put it in gear, it will instantly lug down and die unless I start feathering the accelerator again. If I am able to manage to keep it running after putting it in gear, it is very short lived if I give it any more gas. It will surely lug down if I try to drive off as you normally would. So.... I have 2 options: let it sit at idle for about 5 minutes to warm up or put it in park and rev it up for 30-45 seconds to quickly warm it up. After all that, it runs without any issues.
I know that fuel pump failure is common with the aftermarket pumps for these engines. That's why my first instinct was to convert to an electric pump so that I could always insure that the carb bowl would be full when I start to crank the engine. That would take care of that issue. But it still leaves the lugging down issue when it's in gear at first. What would be causing this? Fuel-related to the carb bowl maybe not having enough fuel yet (but it will let me rev it up in neutral with no problem...) or is it something transmission-related? Like I said, once it's warm, it performs flawlessly.
What do you think?
This engine is extremely cold-natured if it has sat over night or longer. It takes quite a few cranks to get the engine to start. (I know that the fuel is either boiling out of the bowl or draining back past the pump or, most likely, a combination of both.) I have to pump the accelerator while it's cranking to get it to start, also (again, completely drained carb). When it does start, I have to keep tapping/feathering the accelerator to keep it running. During this "accelerator tapping process," which usually lasts about 15 seconds, I have to keep the RPMs up, or else it will die.
After revving it up by tapping the accelerator as described above, it will idle on its own perfectly - I mean, engine is running as smooth as glass. However, as soon as I put it in gear, it will instantly lug down and die unless I start feathering the accelerator again. If I am able to manage to keep it running after putting it in gear, it is very short lived if I give it any more gas. It will surely lug down if I try to drive off as you normally would. So.... I have 2 options: let it sit at idle for about 5 minutes to warm up or put it in park and rev it up for 30-45 seconds to quickly warm it up. After all that, it runs without any issues.
I know that fuel pump failure is common with the aftermarket pumps for these engines. That's why my first instinct was to convert to an electric pump so that I could always insure that the carb bowl would be full when I start to crank the engine. That would take care of that issue. But it still leaves the lugging down issue when it's in gear at first. What would be causing this? Fuel-related to the carb bowl maybe not having enough fuel yet (but it will let me rev it up in neutral with no problem...) or is it something transmission-related? Like I said, once it's warm, it performs flawlessly.
What do you think?
