[trenten]

Hello, I recently bought a 1972 Mustang coupe with a 351 cleveland V8 2bbl (new engine, 80,000 miles on it). It drives fine, the only thing is it has trouble starting in cold weather. I do body/interior work, but I know very little about engines. I drive the car on average once a day. I talked to my mechanic, he told me how to start it properly (don't keep pumping the gas, you'll just flood the carbuerator). Plus I just got a new ignition, with the battery churning out 14.7. Alternator is fine, the car starts good in some weather, but why does it struggle in the cold?

 

[Cary]

Choke may not be working.

 

[kinsella]

Those old 2-barrels had "Micky-Mouse" chokes. Sounds like its failing to close and giving you too much cold air. Warm air mixes the fuel better.
Take off the air-cleaner and "goose" the gas one time with the ignition turned on. The choke butterfly should be closed. If not, you found your problem. A great fix is to get an Eddlebrock 4 bbl manifold and 600 carb with electric choke. The Cleveland engine will love it and so will you.

 

[duran]

next time before you start it, remove the top to the air filter housing so that you can look down the carb. tap the gas just once, this should let the choke close, if it does not this sis your problem, either the linkage is binding or severely out of adjustment.