I'm curious if most Y-blocks have a cold-start problem, or is it just mine? The 312 in my '56 Fairlane is out of a 1957 Ford wagon and it has been completely O-hauled: bored .040 over; "RV" cam; Mummert intake; 600cfm Edelbrock carb.

It runs strong and smooth, but it doesn't like to start when it's been sitting for over a couple hours. The longer it sits, the harder it is to start. If it's been sitting for a week or more, I have to crank, crank and crank to get it started, and then I have to let it warm up quite a bit at fast idle before putting it in gear (C4 automatic), otherwise it will stall immediately. Once it's warmed up, it runs beautifully.

I installed an electric fuel pump, thinking maybe gas was evaporating from the carb after sitting for a few days and that by running the fuel pump for a minute or so before starting, it might fill the carb bowl and solve that problem. It didn't. The compression is good in all 8 cylinders; the timing is spot on; plugs are new; carb is new; ignition is Pertronix.

I'm at a loss at this point. Someone suggested this is a problem common to all Y-blocks because of the "stacked" port design of the heads, but I've not heard of that being an issue. By the way, the motor starts instantly with just a slight tap of the key when the engine is warm and has been sitting for less that 10-15 minutes. If it sits for any longer than that, it begins to have starting problems.

Any ideas will be welcome.

Thank you, Ron
Southern California