Cold start procedure Rover V8

[Cobrarover]

I have some problems with starting up my carburated RV8 engine after two weeks stand still.
As usual, I used the choke (two times pushing the throttle) and start the engine. I did not start.

Second time start I heard a small explosion on the right side. Tried several times to start the engine. It was coughing and did not ran properly. Also full throttle and longer start did not help as the garage was full with smoke. There was enough spark and petrol and so the engine went drank.

Question : what is the procedure to start up a cold V8 engine with warm weather like today ? Two times pushing the throttle before starting up or without pushing ?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Clive]

In weather like this (Albeit a little cooler in Scotland) I would try without pumping the throttle first. I don't think there is any need for choke at this time of the year.

[zeb]

I think it depends what type of carbs you have. I have edelbrock 4 barrel carbs.

If you give the throttle a good dab, it squirts petrol directly into the barrels. This could make things a bit too rich possibly flooding.

For me, what I do is hit the start and then give the throttle a prod. I feel for when it is going to catch. I have not used the choke much.

I think you just have to feel for it.

I would also think about turning it around next time you park it. I do now. That way the exhaust ends up out side, not in the garage

[Sidecarbod]

My RV8 was a pig to start when I first got my car if it had been left for a couple of weeks. Eventually I sussed out that the fuel in the carb had evaporated, the electric fuel pump would only pump fuel if there was oil pressure as it was wired though a cut out switch. Getting enough oil pressure just off the starter motor was killing the battery!.

I then discovered a small button on the dash, when I pushed it with the ignition on but without the motor running the pump would kick in an re-filled the carb.

It would be worth checking the set that you've got in case your pump is also controlled by oil pressure.

I run an Edelbrock carb and find that once the carb is primed I need to give the motor 2 pumps of the throttle and once its running I need to keep gently prodding the throttle so that the motor can run off the fuel that the accelerator pump is pumping into the manifold. I try not to rev it to more than 1500 RPM whilst doing the prodding. After about 30 seconds it will run on a steady throttle but won't want to tickover for another minute or so.

I do not run a choke but have rigged up the choke assembly (minus the butterfly valve) so that it provides a fast tickover setting of about 1200 rpm. You need a single strand stiff choke cable to do this.

One last thing about Edelbrock carbs (and I suppose others) is that if the pilot mixture is set too lean it will give you alot of grief when the motor is cold.

Regards,

Pete

[David Large]

My 4 litre with Weber 500 and no choke starts reasonably well, let the pump re fill the carb, 2 or 3 throttle pumps, turn the key and it will catch. As above won't idle very well for about 30 secs, then fine.

DL

[427scr]

Carbs are definatly the issue here.

Mine runs on the original SU's, heavily modified to flow like 2"

The car was off the road from May last year till first week in June this year (2007) I did work on the seats, dash and interior, but didn't touch the engine.

With everything back together, yanked out the choke, let the electric pump prime the carbs and pushed the starter button.........Started second push, didn't even need to touch the throttle.

Pressing the throttle before starting SU powered V8's has no effect whatsoever as there is no pump jet. Squeezing the throttle a little on starting will help a bit, but don't floor it as again you will flood the motor.

The electric pump is probably vital here as it primes the float chambers without having to turn over the engine. Also really important is fuel pressure on Su's. Too high and you will overwhealm the floats and flood the engine. SU's like about 2psi.

Can't help you if you have any other carb as I know nothing about them, but I like SU's and have been running them for close on 25 years. Once set and when in good condition, with clean air filters, they never go out of tune and the bits are cheap.

Cheers. Mark.