Cold Start Issues

Hello,

I have talked about this car here and there in my restoration thread of my 67 GTS. But this thread is regarding cold starting issues on a 70 charger:

The problem is that if you try and start the car after it has been sitting for awhile, or when the engine is cold, it will not start. It will crank and crank with nothing happening. HOWEVER. If I spray starter fluid down both barrels, the engine wont even go through one full rotation and it will roar to life. Then you have to sit in the car and basically play with the throttle to keep it running until it starts to warm up, at that point it will idle fine on its own. Once the car is warm, restarting is not an issue.



Some background on the car. The car has been under restoration for over 10 years, I finally got it on the road last october and really only put about 100 miles on it since then. It is a mild 440 build with a 727. Both the engine and trans were rebuilt. There were no crazy things done to the transmission, and the engine only got a slight bump in compression (due to pistons, however I dont know how much) and a mild cam. The engine was broken in. All new bearings, rings, oil pump etc. The carb is an AVS. I am not to sure what the carb was off originally, or what the carb numbers are. The initial timing is set at 12-15 deg BTC. The carb was rebuilt by my dad in the past couple years.

I have a couple theories on why this could be happening:
1. The choke is bad and not letting it start. It is coming off to soon hence why I have to keep playing with the throttle until the car is warmed up.
2. The choke unloader is bad (or set wrong). and unloading the choke to soon, causing a similar issue to theory 1. - confession, not to sure if that is even possible.
3. The carb float valve is sticking closed. Not allowing fuel to fill the bowl until the engine starts, and the added vacuum forces it open.
4. There is a leak in the carb somewhere that allows the fuel to vaporize


Am I far off on any of those theories? am I missing anything? Suggestions?