Starting Troubles

[73Chally]

Okay, this one has me baffled.  I've pretty much never had a problem with the car starting since the engine was done 5 years ago.  Last week the battery was dead, but after charging fired up no problem.  Went to a show this morning, and started up fine.  After about 2 hours after I parked it at the show, I had to pull it up for judging, and it wouldn't start.  Cranked fine but would not fire.  After several frustrating minutes and partial flooding, and hooking up a jump box, a guy held the butterfly plate partially closed on the center carb (6 pack), and after a few coughs it finally fired.  Went through judging, let it run a bit to charge the battery, then parked for another couple hours.  Went to start up to go home, and same problem.  Cranked but no start.  Instead of f****g with it more, I pulled the air cleaner cover and did the same thing with the center carb, and it fired right up again.

Is this an indication that the choke (electric) is tits-up, or does it sound like something else?

[Chryco Psycho]

6 pack doesn't have an electric choke , but it sounds like it is lean if closing the choke helps it start ,, cold the choke should close & come off shortly after starting it

[73Chally]

My bad on the choke. What has me stumped is how this just started happening out of the blue. After running for a bit I can shut it off and it starts right back up, it appears to be only after it sits a while and cools down.

Also, I can smell plenty of gas so I don't think fuel delivery is any issue.

[Strawdawg]

and you looked down the carb to see if gas was percolating/dripping down into the manifold after you turn it off?

[73Chally]

6 pack doesn't have an electric choke , but it sounds like it is lean if closing the choke helps it start ,, cold the choke should close & come off shortly after starting it

Chryco - Please pardon my ignorance, but how does the choke work on the 6 pack if it's not electric or manual?  Is there a thermal sensitive spring or something that would hold it closed on startup, then release as it warms up?

[Chryco Psycho]

if you can small gas it is probably boiling the fuel or possibly the needle & seat si closing it off properly
 the choke is a bi-metal spring that uncoils with heat opening the choke up

[73Chally]

Talked to my friend who built the motor, and it looks like he nailed it just from looking at a picture of the car from the show.  I went out this morning and it fired right up.

It was pretty warm, and the car was parked on a hill nose down.  He figured gas continued to pour out of the bowls and in to the intake, flooding it.  Holding the butterfly plate closed cut the gas off and allowed the gas already in the motor to vaporize and ignite.

Thanks Craig!