UCF72Cutlass

If its the first time starting my car during the day I need to hold the gas down a little and kinda rev it so it doesnt turn off. If i let go of the gas it will just turn off. After i do this for a couple minutes and turn it off or drive it. Its fine for the rest of the day. Whats the problem?

Rallye469

Does your car have a choke?
How much do you have to rev it to keep it running?

UCF72Cutlass

Not to sure about the choke. Its a 74 350 4bbl quadrajet.

Dont have a tach so not sure on the rpms but just a slight steady pressure on the gas pedal keeps it alive. Let it go and it dies.

joe_padavano

Sounds like either the choke coil is bad or needs to be adjusted. There should be a round housing on the passenger side of the carb with a black plastic cover (about 2" in diameter). Three screws hold the cover to the housing. Loosen the screws and you can rotate the plastic cover. Move it one notch towards rich and see if that helps. Failing that, there is also a fast idle adjusting screw on the carb. This is NOT the regular idle speed screw. If you're going to make these adjustments, you need to get a Chassis Service Manual or Rochester carb book to have all the diagrams in front of you.

Jim's rare 80

Simple test. With the motor cold, pull the breather off and see if the choke is open, or closed. It should be open. Pull the throttle linkage back, and the choke should close. "spring tension". get someone to start the car, and watch the butterfly valve. If it fires, then stalls, and the valve doesn't open, it's your choke pull-off, or the vacumn line to it..
Let us know what you find.

UCF72Cutlass

So i have no other way to describe this but the car had a zip tie around something that controls the choke. i cut the zip tie and now the car starts right up and idles fine. what was the reason for that?

UCF72Cutlass

too bad of description huh. soorrrry

Chumley

I have found that some previous owners of our classics never took auto shop in high school or anywhere else. I have found some very Mickey Mouse setups on the '72 Culass I bought last year. The upper radiator hose is tied to the support with a shoestring. ( I guess that was their budget at the time) I'm still finding little surprises as I go through this car. Joe was right on with the fast idle screw, although apparently that was not the problem with your car. I just recently put on a new Q-jet and had a rough idle as well. A little tweaking of the fast idle screw solved it. The repair manuals are worth the investment. Get an original GM manual if possible.
Chumley