-2F and the old girl wouldn't start - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Tynee · 01-16-2009, 09:17 AM

Jumped in the '70 this morning, and everything went fine all the way up until it never would fire. Hopefully -2 is just too cold for her. With any luck it will warm up into the teens this afternoon like they are saying it will, and she'll start this afternoon when I get home from work.

Had to drive the wife's jeep instead.

**special-K** · 01-16-2009, 09:29 AM

Prolly not chokin`too well or off tune a bit.These motors are cold natured once started,yet take all the temperature (or lack of) you can throw at them.

Tynee · 01-16-2009, 10:07 AM

Yeah, its a manual choke, and I pulled it as tight as I could, then backed it down to about half choke, never could get even the slightest HINT of wanting to fire. If it won't do it this afternoon, I MAY advance the timing just a little more. We'll have to see where its at right now before I do anything else. Another 20* or so on the thermometer wouldn't hurt anything either...

Shyguy · 01-16-2009, 10:34 AM

Sorry to hear that your truck would not start.

Hopefully it will when it warms up some.

It only got down to 3 degrees in Southeast Missouri. Even at that temperature it was pretty uncomfortable when I took the dogs out at 0400. No wind to make it worse though.

Danny

**special-K** · 01-16-2009, 10:40 AM

You just need a longer choke cable you can pull out to the steering wheel.

It coul be accumulated moisture freezing up in the filter or somewhere.These extreme temps bring out stuff like that which may not matter usually.

Castiron9 · 01-16-2009, 10:45 AM

-2F.................WoW........it was in the mid 30's here in Seattle yesterday morning....I'll stop my complaining..............LOL

TP from Cntl PA · 01-16-2009, 11:57 AM

Minus 5 here and mine fired right up?

Fuel injection was by far the best money I spent putting that truck together!

mrein3 · 01-16-2009, 01:28 PM

-32F on the Mercury stuck to the side of my house this morning. The wireless electronic thermometer cut out at -22F the last two nights.

One thing I learned in temps like this is if you don't expect to be attempting to start it or you don't need it, just leave it. When it warms back up if it starts you're good to go.

I hope all you folks that don't normally see 0 or below 0 tested your antifreeze this fall. Blocks crack when it gets this cold and you're running around on a sub-par anti-freeze mix. In St. Paul where I grew up the bench mark was -40. If your antifreeze was good to -40 you're ok. Anything else is asking for it.

It never got that cold in the Cities but I noticed a few -40s up north this morning on the weather map.

**Palf70Step** · 01-16-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tynee

Hopefully -2 is just too cold for her.

I have been in Mississippi since 1985, and my ole Yankee butt won't start now at -2 either.

Probably have to call out the Marines to save Krue if it got -2 here.

**chev-obsession** · 01-16-2009, 05:28 PM

that same thing happened to mine, only it was like 10 degrees above here, but my rochester is always hard starting

Tynee · 01-16-2009, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by special-K

Prolly not chokin`too well or off tune a bit.These motors are cold natured once started,yet take all the temperature (or lack of) you can throw at them.

Dr. Special K, you diagnosis was spot-on. Went home, tried the choke again, couldn't pull it any further than this morning, so I got out and closed it by hand, jumped in and fired that mother up....I may wind up replacing my choke cable, its been hard to pull snice I got the truck.

**special-K** · 01-17-2009, 08:51 AM

Hey! I got lucky.I`m glad it was that simple.I`m sure you are,too.What`s next with a stiff cable is a broken one,if lubing can`t help it.They get kinked sometimes.Good move on replacing.

Old Chevy Mech · 01-17-2009, 09:47 AM

-5, 3 pumps, no choke, fired right up! Some times full choke is bad.

Try 2-3 pumps and crack the throttle open 1/3. It could be flooded.

Frank

PanelDeland · 01-17-2009, 09:51 AM

You may be able to take it out and lube it well.I put heater cables in a parts washer and cleaned them good then layed them in a drain pan with old oil in it for a couple of days.They were completely frozen up when I started but by doing this I loosened them up and have been using them for about 10 years.I do squirt a little graphite lube in the ends once or twice a year.
You may also want to check the adjustment and make sure it fully opens and closes so it does what it's supposed to.

*chevy29267truck* · 01-17-2009, 09:50 PM

well if i was living back up north i would have a barn with a wood,stove in the barn too keep ever thing warm like the truck and i would have a engine warmer on the engine too

mr48chev · 01-17-2009, 10:26 PM

I have a magnetic block heater that keeps the engine warm enough to start a bit easier. A side use is to thaw out pipes or a pump with it.
On the 71 I have a well worn 650 spread bore double pumper that usually gets the truck to start with about three pumps of the pedal.
The best help starting the 71 was the installation of the HEI distributor.

01-16-2009, 09:17 AM	#1
Tynee I miss this truck. Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lexington, KY U.S.A. Posts: 2,863	-2F and the old girl wouldn't start Jumped in the '70 this morning, and everything went fine all the way up until it never would fire. Hopefully -2 is just too cold for her. With any luck it will warm up into the teens this afternoon like they are saying it will, and she'll start this afternoon when I get home from work. Had to drive the wife's jeep instead. __________________ '07 GMC Acadia SLT. Sweet ride. '08 Crew Cab Z-71 short bed. Really like this truck A LOT.

01-16-2009, 09:29 AM	#2
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start Prolly not chokin`too well or off tune a bit.These motors are cold natured once started,yet take all the temperature (or lack of) you can throw at them. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-16-2009, 10:07 AM	#3
Tynee I miss this truck. Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Lexington, KY U.S.A. Posts: 2,863	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start Yeah, its a manual choke, and I pulled it as tight as I could, then backed it down to about half choke, never could get even the slightest HINT of wanting to fire. If it won't do it this afternoon, I MAY advance the timing just a little more. We'll have to see where its at right now before I do anything else. Another 20* or so on the thermometer wouldn't hurt anything either... __________________ '07 GMC Acadia SLT. Sweet ride. '08 Crew Cab Z-71 short bed. Really like this truck A LOT.

01-16-2009, 10:34 AM	#4
Shyguy Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeast Missouri Posts: 2,436	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start Sorry to hear that your truck would not start. Hopefully it will when it warms up some. It only got down to 3 degrees in Southeast Missouri. Even at that temperature it was pretty uncomfortable when I took the dogs out at 0400. No wind to make it worse though. Danny __________________ '67 Chevy C-20 short stepper - build complete, 454/SM-465. '75 C-30 Single Cab DRW-350 small block/NP-435. '77 GMC-6500 Dump Truck, 427 Tall Deck. '92 GMC K-3500 Duallie, 454/4L80E.

01-16-2009, 10:40 AM	#5
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start You just need a longer choke cable you can pull out to the steering wheel. It coul be accumulated moisture freezing up in the filter or somewhere.These extreme temps bring out stuff like that which may not matter usually. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-16-2009, 10:45 AM	#6
Castiron9 72 LONGHORN OWNER Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Seattle Wash. Posts: 963	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start -2F.................WoW........it was in the mid 30's here in Seattle yesterday morning....I'll stop my complaining..............LOL __________________ 72-SUPER CHEYENNE/20 LONGHORN 70-C/30 DUALLY

01-16-2009, 11:57 AM	#7
TP from Cntl PA Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Central PA....In the Berg of Nisbet Posts: 790	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start Minus 5 here and mine fired right up? Fuel injection was by far the best money I spent putting that truck together! __________________ '72 K-20 EFI'ed 250 Inline/4spd stake body, Farm Truck '71 C-20 Cummins Diesel Powered, In storage thanks to $5.00 diesel! '69 3500 GMC 305V-6/4spd, Still under reconstruction.......... Inlines Rule! 6 soldiers standing is better than 8 laying down!!!!!!!!

01-16-2009, 01:28 PM	#8
mrein3 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Center City, MN, USA Posts: 3,253	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start -32F on the Mercury stuck to the side of my house this morning. The wireless electronic thermometer cut out at -22F the last two nights. One thing I learned in temps like this is if you don't expect to be attempting to start it or you don't need it, just leave it. When it warms back up if it starts you're good to go. I hope all you folks that don't normally see 0 or below 0 tested your antifreeze this fall. Blocks crack when it gets this cold and you're running around on a sub-par anti-freeze mix. In St. Paul where I grew up the bench mark was -40. If your antifreeze was good to -40 you're ok. Anything else is asking for it. It never got that cold in the Cities but I noticed a few -40s up north this morning on the weather map. __________________ '70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN

01-16-2009, 05:28 PM	#10
chev-obsession Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: kennewick, WA Posts: 1,469	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start that same thing happened to mine, only it was like 10 degrees above here, but my rochester is always hard starting

01-17-2009, 08:51 AM	#12
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,863	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start Hey! I got lucky.I`m glad it was that simple.I`m sure you are,too.What`s next with a stiff cable is a broken one,if lubing can`t help it.They get kinked sometimes.Good move on replacing. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-17-2009, 09:47 AM	#13
Old Chevy Mech Keepin it runnin! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Deep River, CT Posts: 1,036	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start -5, 3 pumps, no choke, fired right up! Some times full choke is bad. Try 2-3 pumps and crack the throttle open 1/3. It could be flooded. Frank __________________ 1970 K-5 4X4 Blazer 1970 K-20 4X4 Long Bed "Liberty Means Responsibility, that is why most men dread it"

01-17-2009, 09:51 AM	#14
PanelDeland I am a Referee of life. Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro N.C. Posts: 13,993	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start You may be able to take it out and lube it well.I put heater cables in a parts washer and cleaned them good then layed them in a drain pan with old oil in it for a couple of days.They were completely frozen up when I started but by doing this I loosened them up and have been using them for about 10 years.I do squirt a little graphite lube in the ends once or twice a year. You may also want to check the adjustment and make sure it fully opens and closes so it does what it's supposed to. __________________ The 47-present Chevrolet and GMC Truck Message Board Network,it's owners,moderators,members,and associates of any type should not be held responsible for my opinion. You can't fix stupid,not even with duct tape. "My appearance is due to the fact that "GOD" does punish you for having too much fun!" Barrett-Jackson has perfected alchemy,they make rust into gold! "You can lead a horse to water but you can't saddle a duck" "Cleverly disguised as a 'Responsible Adult' "Sometimes your Knight in shining armor is just a retard in tinfoil"

01-17-2009, 09:50 PM	#15
chevy29267truck Account Suspended Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Alva Florida Posts: 668	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start well if i was living back up north i would have a barn with a wood,stove in the barn too keep ever thing warm like the truck and i would have a engine warmer on the engine too

01-17-2009, 10:26 PM	#16
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,307	Re: -2F and the old girl wouldn't start I have a magnetic block heater that keeps the engine warm enough to start a bit easier. A side use is to thaw out pipes or a pump with it. On the 71 I have a well worn 650 spread bore double pumper that usually gets the truck to start with about three pumps of the pedal. The best help starting the 71 was the installation of the HEI distributor. Last edited by mr48chev; 01-17-2009 at 10:27 PM.



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