Cold Start

I know summer is here and its getting warmer but in the morning it's a cold start for me.
I was wondering what you guys do during the winter and when it's cold out how do you get your vans to start with ease ?
I've come along way with my van and I want to improve on it. I want to have this as my daily driver year round but it's hard to depend on it when it's cold out.
In the morning I give it some gas then try to turn it over. I feed it a little more gas then it starts to turn over after a few times. After a few times of this then it starts up and I have to let it warm up. Once I run it in first gear down the street it sometimes back fires also in second gear. After driving it pass second gear for a minute or two it's smooth sailing. Even if I have dinner at a friends and park it from 4pm to 11pm it starts right back up. Even if it's cold out, but it isn't winter weather.
So, any ideas, help on how to make this wonderful van start up a little easier in the cold mornings or even on those winter days. I know you guys don't want to think about the winter because summer is finally here but I really don't want to be late for work anymore Thanks Vanners

Are you using the manual choke first thing in the morning, my 69 is the same way

I think I would start with an HEI ignition upgrade. Then see about getting the carb tuned in and make sure you do not have any small vacumn leaks at the carb base or intake gasket. There are alot of posts on the HEI ,but Im sure the 6 banger guys can fill in any details.

What Digs and G-man said.
But fist of all, what tempeture is a cold morning to you?

Do you have the I.6?

The HEI is a fantastic upgrade for more reasons then just cold starting.
You probobly need some choke adjustment as well.

M1D

compression=??? Plugs look like=?? Hot spark or weak=?? Dist cap inside=looks like =?? rotor-?? point set=?? Last complete tune up with all these parts changed=?? Look @ all very closely =ALL!! then give us a report?

Yes it's manual choke.

New wire harness
New distributor cap
New Spark plugs
Adjusted points
New Battery
Tune up was over a month ago
Adjusted the timing
Adjusted the idling
New Choke
New Carburetor

M1D, cold can be even at 55 degrees

I'll look into the HEI ignition upgrade. I'll keep at it but I have a feeling it's something with the carburetor. I could be wrong that's why I'm here asking the pros
Thanks for the help guys

Hey Don, Thanks for the heads up. the choke is working fine & it's warmer now. So, the van is starting up a little easier now. What do you have that makes your van start up easier during those cold days? Do you have a HEI ignition upgrade? Because the more I ask around everyone is telling me to get a HEI ignition upgrade. Thanks to everyone here for your help on this matter

Oh, can anyone tell me what is a good HEI ignition upgrade to get ?

Could be a lot of things making it run poorly cold. Certainly, all the above are good pointers. However, I would first check and see if the heat riser valve is frozen. The spring goes bad quick from all the heat and they can freeze in most any position. No manifold heat can make a lot of carb icing from about 55 to 30 degrees F. Also, there is a heat riser lube auto parts places sometimes sell. If it is frozen just about any penetrating lube should free it up over time if you don't mind the smoke and the smell. (Don't use brake clean as heated the fumes can kill or make you wish your were dead--usually from welding).

I hope it figures out easy, happy trails, Mark

I too have cold start issues and this looks like a worthwhile upgrade. Any ideas where to get a good setup? I looked on ebay and they run from $70 to $150. Any certain brands that work best with our engines? How's the install?

Would something like this work in our l6 vans?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CHEVY-STRAIGHT-INLINE-6-CYL-HEI-DISTRIBUTOR-230-250-292-/380361732297?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item588f5370c9#ht_2752wt_941

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevy-Inline-6-HEI-DISTRIBUTOR-194-230-250-292-Wires-/230660910695?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b4762e67#ht_1752wt_941

They seem like a lot of bang for the buck…if they fit. Anyone know for sure?

cculella,
I have both of them. The one from "FatRodder" I never could get to work but both my 66 panel with the 230 and My Jeep (258) have the CRT HEI running in them and they have worked great! The one in the Jeep has been in there for nine years!!

Dan

Thanks Dan, that what I needed to know.

Dan,
What was the difference between the two distributors? What symptoms did you have with the bad dist?
I installed HEI on my 6 cyl (don't know where it came from, it was new in a box of parts to install when I got the van) and I can't hook up my vacuum advance without it dying. It runs great without it..I guess the mechanical advance is enough. I thought I read somewhere someone else had this problem and was able to adjust the vacuum advance in the dist??

i had problems with mine. with vacume connected as per chiltons, it would advance right after i started it, it would run good but hard starting. if i retarded it, it would start great but never run as good as it could. i orderd an adjustable vacume advance and a recurve kit. it is set up to start with 4 degrees and go to 38 degrees around 2000 rpm. i had to find a vacuum port that provided 0 psi at idle. i have about 50 bucks into the above parts and timing tape and a couple hours with a timing light and vacuume gauge. got everything from summit and chevy v-8 hei parts will fit the 6 cyl hei.

Farmer,
Which carb do you have?

Dan

I don't want to steal someone's topic, so we'll start a new one.