chevelle carb question.

Hey can anyone tell me why it is so hard to start my car while the engine is hot. It starts great when cold, even in winter, but takes much effort to start when i have been driving and the engine is at operating temp. The car is a 71 chevelle, 350 motor with edelbrock 600 cfm 4-barrel carb. Any advice would be great. thanks.

Could be a couple of things -- the choke adjustment could be a bit off, more specifically the fast idle, and the choke control mechanism itself (electric, heat stove on manifold, or manual?) -- when the engine is warmed up, it does not need the choke, but if it is engaged on hot start (pressing the gas pedal to the floor before starting?), flooding will likely occur (smell raw fuel?.) When hot and parked for a while, examine the choke plate, it should be fully open, and resist the urge to pump the gas pedal before starting.

You didn't say what kind of hard start you have, but the location of the starter and solenoid, underneath the exahust manifold or headers causes the starter unit to heat soak and become less efficient -- in this case it will turn slower, sometimes not fast enough to start a hot engine -- the same goes for the solenoid which may not have enough power when hot to engauge the starter gear (clicking sound, like a discharged battery?) -- there are factory heat shields, exhaust wraps, and coatings that can help minimize this issue -- often the factory shielding has long since rusted away. Sometimes this is an indication of the starter or solenoid going bad.

Hey thanks for writing back. The carb does have an electric choke, and im using brand new powermaster mini starter. I dont think its a starter issue because that it sounds really good when i attempt to start. It seems to crank at full speed/power. I havent had the car out for a while cause of the snow and cold weather, but i do believe i had been pumping the gas before starting the car which i see may have been the cause. Thanks again.