15 replies to this topic

[greenmini1275]

I have a Cooper SPI engine that has been converted to a HIF44 carb. I'm fed up with the choke dance every morning, pull it out to start, once it's warmed up put it in a bit, when it starts chugging a bit pull it out again, once it's properly warmed up put it in again. It's like the damned hokie kokie.
Is there a way to get rid of the choke while keeping the carb? I don't want injection.

Paul

[Midas Mk1]

Get it setup, and you won't need to use it after the first few minutes..

[FlyingScot]

Simple answer no.

It's one of the reasons fuel injection cars are popular with the younger crowd who never saw a choke before. My kids won't drive my 1962 Woody but are happy to drive the SPi (twist key and go)
But as Midas Mk1 says maybe it's not set up right?

FS

Edited by FlyingScot, 30 March 2017 - 08:07 PM.

[greenmini1275]

Hmmm bugger. The whole engine needs a rebuild so I'll get it set up when that's done, with the best electric dizzy and other ignition stuff available.

[robminibcy]

I would have it properly setup. As above with mine I can just put the choke in a few minutes into a journey and all is well.

[Dusky]

There S an auto choke conversion for hif44 carbs. Lots of cars had auto chokes back in the day, some successful, others not. :)

[lawrence]

find a strong solenoid and a timer relay. make a bracket. Have power go to the solenoid linked to the starter motor switch. When you start the car the solenoid will push the choke out for a certain time and then relax. problem solved sort of. will not be variable to car temp but technically will be an "auto choke"

[Cooperman]

Having a choke is part of the classic car ownership retro driving experience.

[Spider]

Having a choke is part of the classic car ownership retro driving experience.

 

Absolutely.

 

It is another item that actually puts the Driver in the Driver's seat.

[limby2000]

The Austin princess (the ambassador shape) had a hif 44 with auto choke. Perhaps that can be modded to fit.

[russo]

Having a choke is part of the classic car ownership retro driving experience.

Couldn't agree more.

[Ethel]

Electronic, preferably programmable, ignition will help. As will an exhaust heated air intake. If the fast idle is set something like it shouldn't need much more choke  after a few minutes. Leaving the choke  open on a Hif isn't as bad as with a HS, it has  less effect the more you open the throttle.

[Narrowwater]

The simple answer is to learn how to use a choke, not difficult as my 18yr old son managed no problem.  It did puzzle him for the first couple of weeks but after that, the warmer weather and my getting the engine in a better state fo tune, he is now ok with it.

[Cooperman]

The automatic chokes fitted to the Weber carbs on the Ford 2 litre 'Pinto' engines were so unreliable that there was an after-market kit to revert it to manual. I fitted one to my Cortina 2000GT as I didn't want the unreliability of the auto choke.

 

If you want a classic car, drive it as a classic car was   .

[robminibcy]

I think we really need to go back to step 1 and get the op to have it tuned up correctly! Check timing, points, fueling ect and that should be fine. My car was in a very poor mechanical state when I was driving it everyday in all weathers and yet it fired first turn of the key and performed fine from cold. After a mile or so would run with no choke at all. I can't stress enough that there really is no need to go trying to mask whatever issues it has with auto chokes or mapable ignition ect!

Edited by robminibcy, 31 March 2017 - 10:44 PM.