If by heat riser, you mean the valve in the exhaust downpipe which directs
exhaust gasses through a crossover passage under the carburetor during
warm-up, you need this function for good cold weather driveability,
regardless of which type of automatic choke you have. Since you live out
here where we don't need to worry about cold weather, it doesn't matter to
you, but if the heat riser valve is stuck in the closed position, you do
need to unblock the exhaust passage by brutalizing the heat riser valve in
some way, else your engine is going to suffer from excessive back pressure.
The choke heater which turns off the choke when the engine is warmed up is
also a function of exhaust passing through this area under the choke
operating bi-metallic spring, so it is true that if you remove the heat
riser valve, you will have the choke staying on somewhat longer than it
would if everything were the way the engineers designed the car, but I doubt
you will notice the difference in South Pasadena! La Crescenta, maybe, but
not South Pass.
If you do, and it bothers you, you can then always convert to electric
choke. But unblock that exhaust pipe before you cause an unnecessary
problem.
Dick Benjamin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brendan Durrett" <bdurrett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <bdurrett@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 3:29 PM
Subject: IML: electric choke conversion? (1962)
>
> Greetings! I am at the beginning stages of reviving my barn-fresh 1962
Lebaron. The heat riser valve is completely frozen solid. My question is,
is it possible to convert the carburetor to having an electric choke? If
so, where would I get the parts?
>
> I once had a 1965 Corvair Corsa turbo that I converted to electric choke.
What an improvement that modifcation made in driveability!
>
> Brendan Durrett
> South Pasadena, CA
> 1962 Lebaron
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