Hard Starting 82 rampage

[sfrey56]

I have an 1982 Rampage 2.2l that starts hard with cold engine, it was running fine until this past week when tach would drop down and engine would have power loss, then backfire. I replaced plug wires, dist pickup, coil which solved the running issues. I still have to crank engine a long time pumping gas to start when cold, warm engine starts without touching accelerator. Any suggestions? BTW this is original holley carb and mech fuel pump.

[sfrey56]

Just a little additional information: today when my son was driving it seems to stall (i think fuel issue) when starting after idling and stop light and going up a hill after coasting down a long hill. can a mech fuel pump fail by not keeping bowl full on idle? when you run hard it seems ok! Maybe we just cannot baby it.

[foamermetal]

I got out the shop manual and tried to scan the diagnostic chart and put it up as an attachment. Wouldn't work so Ill try to break down what it says. It's a fishbone chart and under NO START COLD there are three boxes of possible reasons. Block 1 CHOKE VALVE CLOSING Engine Flooding---Choke heater interupt(oil pressure switch not working). ----Choke valve not unloading, choke valve stuck choke improperly adjusted, choke linkage binding, choke vacuum diaphram leaky, leaky foat needle valve or valve seat, improper float level, fuel pump pressure too high. Test fuel pump. Block 2 CHOKE VALVE NOT CLOSING----Binding or stuck choke valve or linkage. Block 3 NO FUEL IN CARBURETOR---Fuel tank emplty, fuel filters plugged binding float or float needle valve stuck in seat, faulty fuel pump, air or fuel leak in fuel lines. There are more charts for engine stall while cold and hot but if you can get it to start properly the stall may be fixed. If not let me know I'll give you some more info out of the book. I would do it all now but thats a lot of info and it can be confusing. Check ebay for the manual if you like. I did and within two weeks I had all the info I could want.

[foamermetal]

Holley 5200 series carb rebuild from NAPA under 50 bucks. Replacement vacuum lines are pretty cheap.