Block Heater?

[66CHEV]

Just curious as to what some of you guys are using for block heaters to make cold weather starts easier. i have a 250 chevy and was wondering since the intake sets off to the side, would heating the block even help that much? I have seen the magnetic kind that would fasten directly to the intake would that be more useful?

[1963c-10]

gets down in the low teens -20's here and I have never used one.

[66CHEV]

not really all that cold here, we see single digits a few days out of the year, most of winter morning temps in teens to 20's. maybe i just need a good tune up. all i know is that once it gets down around 30 or so outside, the truck will start initially and then die, kind of like its emptying the gas in the carb or the the fuel line. then i have to crank it a few times and pump the accel to get it fired back up. it runs kinda rough for a few minutes till the engine gets good and warm. just tryin to remedy that. any suggestions are welcome.

[11echo]

IF your see temp.s that are below zero, then definitely get a block heater! I lived in Alaska for 5 yr.s, I always plugged in my heater if it was forecasted for the temp.s to get blow zero. Made it easy to start the car and nice to use the heater real quick too! I haven't seen the "magnetic" type, the one I used mounted low on the frame, tied into the thread boss above the starter (V8) and spliced into the heater hose coming out of the manifold. This creates a thermo-siphon effect ...heating cold water at the bottom, hot water raises and pushes cold water down to be heated ...pretty simple actually.

[62 Longbed]

Doesn't really get cold enough here either .. But my truck already had a heating unit mounted on the lower hose .. Plug into electrical unit and off we go ... For me kinda something extra to talk about ...

[1963c-10]

Originally Posted by 66CHEV

not really all that cold here, we see single digits a few days out of the year, most of winter morning temps in teens to 20's. maybe i just need a good tune up. all i know is that once it gets down around 30 or so outside, the truck will start initially and then die, kind of like its emptying the gas in the carb or the the fuel line. then i have to crank it a few times and pump the accel to get it fired back up. it runs kinda rough for a few minutes till the engine gets good and warm. just tryin to remedy that. any suggestions are welcome.

Do you have a manual choke carb or electric choke? I would think that the choke would be the problem...or heat exhaust riser.

[krazy_texan]

mine has electric choke but im not sure it works properly, i have the same issue that when it gets really cold it acts as if there is no fuel in the line i usually have to put a little gas in the carb and then start it and keep it at high throttle for a little bit to re prime the fuel pump but once i do that it idles just fine i am debating weather i think i block heater would be worth it or not but they are only $20 so i will prob install it anyway.