Drives better with the choke up. Why?

[Matches]

I know very little about carburators. I am reading as much as I can but I am really busy right now and leisure reading is at a minimum for another week or so.

Why is my 1970 240z driving so much better with the choke up? What is it doing? L24 block with an E88 head and stock everything else as far as I know. Beyond that I know nothing about this engine.

Thanks. I know that is a super newb question !

[Arne]

Sounds like your carbs are set too lean. Probably time to start from scratch. You are going to want to search the site for posts on carb adjustment, go to www.ztherapy.com and read their stuff, and probably buy their video as well.

Be warned that if your old carbs are in typical condition for their age, you may not be able to get them really right as the throttle shafts will be leaking air into the system. You'll want to plan for ZTherapy or Zedd Findings remanufactured carbs if that is the case.

[theianmonster]

Yeah, you're running too lean, or your idle could be set too low.

[Matches]

Thanks guys.

The idle screw is all the way out, and it idles around 1000rpm ( according to the tach that likes to work at sporadic intervals )

I have several shop manuals that came with the car. Plus this website and the Ztherapy site and I sure I will sort it out in no time.

So its not bad to drive the the choke up?

[76Datsun280z]

[so its not bad to drive the the choke up?/QUOTE]

I'd think you'd foul up your plugs pretty quick driving with the choke up all the time.

[Arne]

So its not bad to drive the the choke up?

If the engine is running so lean that it needs the choke to make it run right, there is no harm in running it that way, other than it is darned difficult to get the mixture 100% correct by using the choke lever. You are only going to get close, at best.

[Matches]

This is most definitely a temporary solution! I have had the car for just days now. This weekend I will have time to try and sort out the running issues.

I am trying to drive the car as little as possible until then. Thanks for all the advice.

[Pir0San]

my carbs did the same thing, until I used a rebuild kit and adjusted the mixture. She needs the choke to warm up, but once it gets there, she runs great from then on.