"57 2x4 engine floods easily

[Art B.]

After the '57 sits for several weeks, I need to pump the accelerator several times to get it started quickly. After driving, it will start immediately if it sits only a few hours. After that, it tends to flood easily.
Any suggestions?

[Jack H.]

Re: "57 2x4 engine floods easily

The fuel bowls on carbs are vented, by necessity (have to equalize pressure to atmospheric to achieve proper air/fuel mixture). So, it's no surprize that when a carb based engine sits for a period of time the fuel in the bowl(s) evaporates... With today's FI cars, we tend to forget what it was like driving a classic car with carb based air/fuel system!

Some ease the burden of excessive engine cranking by pre-filling the fuel bowl with gas, via a squirt bottle through the carb's vent stack. Others, adjust their start-up habits by setting the carb/choke in the standard manner (one FULL depression of the accelerator pedal to the floor) then crank ONLY for 5-10 seconds before repeating the process. You ought to get the engine to catch/fire in 2-4 short starting attempts.

It's when you LAY on the starter, cranking for long periods of time with a dry carb and continuously pumping the accelerator that you run the risk of flooding + consider the extra wear you present to the starter motor...

[Richard M.]

Re: "57 2x4 engine floods easily

On my dual-four I only go to 50% pedal a few times on start up. This way no fuel enters the front carb from it's accelerator pump. If it does the fuel will sit above the throttle plates, possibly leaking out the throttle shafts.

On a hot engine......Never go to the floor. If you have a hot restart issue, go to 50% pedal to keep the primary carb throttles open for lots of air until it starts. If fuel enters the secondary front carb on a hot restart, the fuel in it from the pump jets has nowhere to go as you need to get past 50% throttle to open the plates after restart. Of course you can't do WOT until you're moving.

One hot summer day many years ago I floored the pedal to restart a hot engine. Leaving a downhill parking lot, engine caught fire from fuel draining out the front carb shafts onto a hot exhaust manifold. Fortunately my halon in the glovebox saved the day.

Rich