I am a newbie with my first post looking for advice.

I just took delivery of a 1983 Standard 2WD pickup 5 speed from a friend. It is a totally stock truck with 192,000 miles. It is in decent shape but is hard to start. You have to pump the accelarator pedal like crazy to get it to start anytime. Once started it runs great. A little high on the idle though. My plans are to make this my daily commuter over the winter and I will post pictures as I go. I plan on doing full general maintenance (filters, oil, brakes, ect) this weekend but want to solve hard starting problem too. Thanks in advance forum. Todd

 

Pump the accelerator to get it to start, to get it to stay running?

Only first thing in the morning, or ever after it's been started and driven for the day (but allowed to cool down)?

Any black smoke out the tailpipe when you start it up?

I would do what you're planning on, plus plugs, wires, distributer cap and rotor, adjust the timing and adjust the valves.

If you know how to adjust the carb, look into that.

While you have the old plugs out, check to see how they look.

 

Thanks for quick repley.

I drove it around town doing errands Saturday to get a feel for it. Weather was 55 and sunny. I had to pump the accelarator everytime I parked to to go somewhere. I talked to my friend, the previous owner, and he confirmed it was always very hard starting unless it was inside his heated garage. I'm going to plan for a tune-up too (points, plugs, ect) but I'm also thinking carb ?

 

Carbs can almost always use tuning

I don't know enough to really diagnose what you've got going on...But I wonder if something is allowing the carb to drain when you stop. So every time you park, the fuel isn't staying in the carb, ready to fire up. It's draining out and back toward the tank.

Not sure...seems like if that were the case, pumping the gas wouldn't do anything. It would just need to crank for a while, so the fuel pump could get gas back to the carb.

But if it's truly pumping the gas which is necessary to get it to start, then it's obviously a fuel issue.

 

Typical non functioning choke issue. Poke around the choke...you will find the answer there.

You search enough...you can find a factory service manual online...piratebay hint hint. It goes over carb in detail.

Most people replace this carb with a Weber 32/36. My suggestion if budget allows. Good posts here on installin that as well as a youtube video from 22re performance of install.

Good wrenching!

 

OP is it hard starting when engine is both warm and cold or is it when its cold? If it is hard when cold to start when could check your float bowl in the morning there is a sight glass just underneath the air filter housing pointing towards the front of the engine. The fuel level should be in the middle of the glass. If it is hard to start during whether the engine is hot or cold, you might want to look into getting the carb tuned, adjust timing, check your ignition components.

 

What is the altitude where you are? Is the air thin? That could cause a hard start issue if you don't have a high altitude compensator (HAC). If you don't have emissions, I would recommend a weber and desmog. I had a similar hard start issue - it would always start, but could take 10-15 seconds of cranking and a lot of pedal work. Before I started my resto, I installed a weber and desmogged my engine (at a tired and abused 135,000 miles) and it would start in about 2-3 seconds with couple quick pumps and no choke all summer. In the winter, 3-4 pumps with the choke.

Also, keep in mind that 22R engines have mechanical fuel pumps (unless the previous owner installed an electric pump) so pumping the gas prior to turning the key will dump very little, if any, fuel in the carb.

You would probably benefit from a solid tune-up and replacing some parts - Distributor cap & rotor (22R distributors don't have points), plugs (I've had good luck with NKG and fuel pump would be a good start. If you aren't carb guy, I wouldn't touch that factory Aisin carb - I know carbs pretty well and I've never had such a hard time adjusting a carb as I did on my Toyota.

If you want some desmog help, see my desmog thread in my signature.

Good luck and welcome to YotaTech!

 

Thanks again. Getting a lot of good input.

I live at 5000' here in Cody. I am not sure if this has the high altitude package or not. The vin # does not indicate anything. Is there a way to tell without pulling the jet?

Its always tough to start. Warm or cold does not matter. I am having much better luck today if I pump it a lot first, then turn the ignition key. I plan on checking the butterfly and installing a new fuel filter this weekend.

 

x2 on the weber!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The weather was warm after work last night. I came home popped the hood to check out my weekend parts list for the tune up. Come to find out that the ignition system has been changed from the electronic OEM ignition to points. This might also contribute to the problem. More to come as i get digging deeper.

 

Wow, someone wanted points...

 

Hint hint look on yotatech

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f114...wnload-261385/

 

That altitude isn't super extreme but it may make a difference. The HAC is located on the passenger side fender wall, looks like this:




You jets may be different as well, but determining if your truck has the high altitude package would be a start.