78-L82,43000 miles

[1978-L82]

Two things,the first is the car starts fine,runs fine we drive sometimes one or two hours,park and shut off the car,get back in the car will not start,wait an hour or so then it will start,why? The second,at times when we start the car it idles high (17500rpm) we drive for awile and it never idles down when we come to a stop.

[TEXAS-HOTROD]

Does it crank over and not start, or does it not crank at all?
If it doesn't crank over you need to verify voltage at the starter solenoid (the small purple wire) w/the key turned in the start position. If voltage is present, it could be a bad starter/solenoid (get a Delco reman).
If it cranks but doesn't start, my first guess would be a bad ignition module. Any time I replace a module, i usually replace the pick-up coil too.

The high idle? Check the choke linkages and make sure they are clean and dry. Wal Mart's Super Tec carb cleaner works really well. It doesn't leave a residue like other brands that I have tried.
Make sure that the choke fully opens after the engine has run for 5/10 minutes. It could have a choke thermostat going bad.

[supervisor1886]

Yea it needs a new ignition module/pick up coil (usually you can tell by its condition -it should look nice and clean), And check the coil too. The second- the carb has an internal fault or leak (thats why it doent start warm since the plugs go wet). I would rebuild the carb (takes like 2 hours). I dont know what kinda choke you have-that could be a problem too (see if its open when the engine is warm). Also there might be vacuum leaks or your starter/fly wheel going bad.
The good thing is that the parts are cheap.

So get all new ignition peices.
Then buy a fuel pump (its like $20 bucks) or you could upgrade to a perfomance one or electric.
Then replace the intake manifold gaskets
And get a nicely rebuilt carb or a new one since we call it Quadro-Bog not Quadro-jet. (you could find a low mlg 750cfm perfomance carb in a local news paper, but be aware that a poorly rebuilt carb or some after market carbs may screw up your gas mlg very significantly. I suggest getting a proffesionally rebuilt q-jet (custom built and calibrated)