I have a new 1966 389 4bbl automatic which I am just getting used to. It is having a hard time starting in the cold. I need to pump the gas quite a lot - 5-6 times and try turning the motor over 4-5 times before it starts. Sometimes, it will backfire before it starts. Timing is right on at 6, dwell is 31. Once going, it runs fine, and when the weather has been warmer, above 50, it started first time. any suggestions?
Thanks

I have a new 1966 389 4bbl automatic which I am just getting used to. It is having a hard time starting in the cold. I need to pump the gas quite a lot - 5-6 times and try turning the motor over 4-5 times before it starts. Sometimes, it will backfire before it starts. Timing is right on at 6, dwell is 31. Once going, it runs fine, and when the weather has been warmer, above 50, it started first time. any suggestions?
Thanks

If your carburetor needs a rebuild, it could be leaking the fuel out into the intake as it sits. This would require some cranking to re-prime it. The raw fuel that leaked down into the intake might cause the backfire too.

To test for this, let it sit and get cold (overnight?) then remove the aircleaner and look down into the primaries while you open the throttle by hand. Do you then see the accelerator pump squirt fuel into the engine? If not, the fuel had leaked out.

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Does the choke flap close when you floor the throttle,before you start the car?
If it doesn't,that's your problem.

If you havn't filled up the gastank lately & you're just starting it during winter, your gas could be going stale. Put some fuel stabilizer in as per the directions. Likely tho' its your choke. see that all linkage isn't stuck or binding.

First thing to check, as stevep earlier mentioned, is the choke plate. Next time take a few minutes prior to the cold start and check the following before getting into the car: Remove the air cleaner; the choke butterfly should be vertical or almost vertical. Now depress the footfeed all the way to the floor, and release. Now the choke butterfly should be closed (if the ambient temperature is below 68 F.) If the choke plate did not close, determine why and repair. If it is closed, let us know, and we will try again, but this is the first item to check. Jon.

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Good carburetion is fuelish hot air.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I will be working on the car this comming weekend, and will let you know what I find. As to gas, the original owner had run the car only occasionally (3500 miles since a 1990 rebuild of the engine). I have put 1000 miles on it over the last 4 weeks, and run clean 94 octane SUNOCO, with lead additive, as well as a Cheveron dry gas/carb cleaner.