Cold And Hard Start Problems

[JMF]

Haven't had the Charger long so not sure on the history and age of a lot of the parts on the car, but when I first got the car it was starting ok hot and cold but when driving it was backfiring out of the exhausts occasionally and spluttering anything above 3/4 throttle

I had a local garage look at it and it turns out the distributor was seized so the timing couldn't be adjusted, so i've now had that stripped and rebuilt and the timing has been done but now i'm getting the opposite to the problem I was originally having, the car runs great when driving but it's really hard to start hot or cold

Cold starts - Cranks for ages and when it does eventually try and start there is very loud backfiring out of the exhausts, feels like it's flooded, once it's running it's ok

Hot starts - Again feels like it's flooded and occasionally backfired out of the exhausts when it does eventually start, sometimes backfires through the carb also with a bit of smoke etc, again once running it's ok with no problems

My main question apart from suggestions for the above, is that I have an electric fuel pump with a switch on the dash, i'm not familiar with these as most of my old cars have always been mechanical pumps

When starting hot and cold with the electric fuel pump, should I

1) Switch pump on and pump the pedal
2) Switch pump on and not pump the pedal
3) Leave pump switched off and pump the pedal

I assume if i'm pumping the pedal as well as the pump being on that would explain why it feels like i'm flooding it ? But then it's not starting any easier when I don't pump the pedal, usually when I start an old car in the past when hot I press the accelerator about 1/4 way down with a mechanical pump, but like I said i'm not familiar with electric pumps

It's a 68 Charger with a 440, Edelbrock carb, electronic ignition, i've changed the plugs also

Maybe the timing needs adjusting still, does anyone have the spec as to what the timing should be ?

Thanks for any help

[1974dodgecharger]

Tune the carb that's simple.  Tune that accelerator pump, nozzles, etc...

Might be nozzles u need to adjust in size.

[cudaken]

JMF, I don't like Edelbrock carbs but that is just me. When I got my 68 Road Runner 40 years ago from Mom and Dad with the stock Carter I had to pump the shit out of it, say 4 to 6 times and start her.

When I got more Mopars and they all had Holley's same thing. Pump 3 to 5 times and then start them.

70 Cuda with a mild 383, electric fuel pump and 750 Holley. Pump is wired to the key, turn key to run and let the pump run for a few seconds, pump 3 to 4 times and crank her over.

Hot starts - Again feels like it's flooded and occasionally backfired out of the exhausts when it does eventually start, sometimes backfires through the carb also with a bit of smoke etc, again once running it's OK with no problems

Normal operation temperature or hot? If temp is below 180 I would have jetting, choke and timing looked at. When my cars are warmed up and in good tune, half a crank and they start.

These are not modern cars, but I was driving them when they where?  Pump the gas pedal was normal back when I was 16.

Cuda Ken   

[myk]

'OP, on my car all I have to do in the morning is set the choke (press the gas pedal ONCE ONLY), turn the fuel pump on, and then start the car; fires up each and every time. 

It's great that your shop rebuilt the 'dizzy but is it set properly?  There are no more 'specs on timing or much of anything else on these cars, because these cars are far from the condition in which they left the factory.  Timing is pretty much done by "ear," but a rough guideline might be something like........18* BTDC initial and 36* BTDC total at 2500 RPM; that is what my car is set at, and it has worked for me...