81 fairmont starting

[jakegday]

well its the next day now.... and she is starting just fine. after more and more driving i dont think the new vacuum line is what did it, i think it was a combination of the vacuum line and the choke adjustment. the way i have it set now, before i start the car i press on the gas. when i do this now, it closes the choke all the way, completely shut. (unlike before) she fires up in an instant, that vacuum thing opens the choke a hair, and then it opens all the way with time/heat. the only thing im worried about is going to start it when its still hot, the choke not closing all the way, and it not starting right away....
now another problem, which really isnt much of a problem at all. when i start the car, she idles at the curb speed, then when she gets up to temperature, she idles at the "choke" speed. its reversed...... if this is my biggest problem ive got nothing to worry about, but any input on that??

[rhandwor]

Look at the diagram that came with the carburetor kit I think the linkage may have been installed incorrectly.
You have learned a lot on this job.

[jakegday]

yes i have learned quite a bit. one thing ive learned is to quit posting my results without waiting more then 2 hours. lol. the starting problem, unfortunately, has not been solved. denisond mentioned he had to adjust his choke between summer and winter. well i have to adjust mine between night and day. and even then, sometimes it still doesnt fire up in an acceptable amount of time. a new choke thermostat is $30, i found a new carb on ebay for $55 shipped, (which includes a new choke thermostat) so i bought the new carb. ill post at the end of the week how it performs....

[rhandwor]

Choke thermostats have a nut you can loosen and a place to use a screwdriver to adjust. Then tighten the adjustment nut, its been a while since I done one and I maybe thinking of another car.

[jakegday]

no, thats pretty much exactly how it works....

[jakegday]

alright, ive had the new carburetor on for about 2 days now. it is completely safe to say that it is not the problem. the car still starts like dogsh*t..

any other ideas?

[rhandwor]

At this time is starting the only problem or do you have other problems.
Does this car have a mechanical advance or is the timing computer controlled.
If you have a vacuum advance pull the hose and try to move it by sucking on it or use a vacuum pump. Sometimes they stick and cause hard starting.

[jakegday]

starting is the only problem, once its started, it runs great. no heistation, no stalling. i believe it has a mechanical advance. theres a vacuum hose coming off the distributor. when i connect it to the manifold vacuum connection, it raises the rpms quite a bit.
according to the haynes manual that vacuum line is supposed to go to a "switch" on the coolant hose. when the coolant reaches 128 degrees, something in that switch changes something else. the haynes manual does a poor poor job of explaining all of that (keep in mind im dealing with a melted/rotted vacuum line mess, many connections no longer exist and im not sure where every one of them goes)

so what exactly should be done with that vacuum line on the distributor? ive tried just connecting it to the vacuum source on the manifold, it doesnt make a difference, just raises the rpms once it gets started

[rhandwor]

http://www.ebay.com/ Search 250448220278 Look at picture this is a picture of a vacuum switch. Usually they thread in around the intake or thermostat housing. Hook one end up to engine vacuum and the other end up to the vacuum advance on the distributor.
Use carburetor cleaner and spray around the intake manifold and carburetor base. Any leak you hit will smooth the engine. Work on tracking down all vacuum hoses and connecting them.
Plug the vacuum advance and set base timing then connect as suggested.
Look for a vacuum diagram on the fender well.

[fairmont 1]

help, my fairmont is doing same thing, did any one fig this one out,
[email protected]

[rhandwor]

Try pumping the gas pedal all the way to the floor twice. Then push down 1/2 way and try to start.