Author Topic: Electric Choke Carb Question  (Read 1337 times)

Offline Recovering Cuda

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Electric Choke Carb Question
« on: June 24, 2014 - 10:42:43 AM »
Greetings once more Gents.   I just got finished installing a new Manifold and Edl 1806 Carb on my 1973, 340 Cuda.   It has an electric choke.  Now the engine harness (that runs along the top of the right bank) has a "free" blue, female spade connector that comes out of the harness between the coil mount and the carb.   I thought that his was for the original electric choke, but I think I am wrong.   According to the wiring diagrams this blue wire is for the ballast resistor.  Am I right?  See my problem is that the ballast resistor has wires hooked to it already!  I'm dealing with PO's creative work here so I need some help.  I'm in the process of replacing all of the harnesses. (Under dash and rear tail light harness installed) I have the front headlight harness but not yet installed.  The engine harness will be my next purchase.  So with this in mind I have a feeling that something was bypassed and is feeding the ballast resistor.  I have not traced those down yet.  Anyway, the carb came with a wire for the choke.  Any suggestions on the best place to plug it in?  Please give details and/or pics due to my very limited electrical knowledge.  ( I know that you can't see it and it hurts when you touch it.   That is the extent of my electrical back ground.)

One more question while I'm at it,  there is another "free" Brown female spade connector that comes out of the same harness right behind the alternator.   I think this is for the windshield washer motor.  But, my car has the foot pump for the washer fluid on the driver's side, under the dash.  I can't seem to find this on my diagrams.  Could it be that PO has grafted in some harness from another car?

Thanks for any suggestions, hints and advice.

PS Is it just me?  Every time I fix something on this car I find more issues that need fixin'!  I'm not blaming the car, its 40 years old but every time I turn around I find some other "repair" done by somebody that shouldn't be doing repairs.  LOL





Offline burdar

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Re: Electric Choke Carb Question
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2014 - 10:55:39 AM »
The blue wire right next to the carb gets connected to the choke pull-off control switch.  You aren't using the stock style pull-off with the Edelbrock carb.  You can use that wire for your choke.  That blue wire should only have power in the "run" position.  Check it and make sure.

The brown wire is for the electric washers.  On cars with a manual foot pump, the wire was just wrapped around a small clip attached to the alternator.
« Last Edit: June 24, 2014 - 10:59:39 AM by burdar »

Offline burdar

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Re: Electric Choke Carb Question
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2014 - 11:02:42 AM »
Check out this thread about the Edelbrock carbs.  It seems like a lot of them have a problem with the choke opening too fast.  If that's the case with yours, you can add the factory control switch to slow it down. 
 http://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=8185437&an=0&page=0&gonew=1#UNREAD

Offline Recovering Cuda

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Re: Electric Choke Carb Question
« Reply #3 on: June 25, 2014 - 06:27:57 AM »
Hey Burdar,  thanks for the info.....all good to know.  I fired the Cuda up yesterday and all is good.  Except for some dripping hoses all went well.  I will work on that choke thing today.  As for the the choke pulling off to fast, I live in Southeast Texas.  Cold here is anything below 65 degrees.  Hear, you shouldn't need the choke on for very long anyway.  I think Edelbrock is manufactured in S. California so they probably set the choke on the light side too.  Not much snow there.  But to be sure, I can connect the carb choke wire to this blue wire....right?

Thanks for the info on the brown wire.  That was a head scratcher.

Offline burdar

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Re: Electric Choke Carb Question
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2014 - 10:59:41 AM »
The blue wire should only have power with the key in the "run" position.  If you have a test light, it's easy to check.  The electric chokes need continuous power or they will close.  They aren't heated by the intake like the factory design.  As long as that blue wire has power when the engine is running, you are good to go.

Offline Recovering Cuda

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Re: Electric Choke Carb Question
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2014 - 06:32:35 PM »
Thanks again Burdar.