I purchased a 85 suburban with a 350 that I plan on restoring, it runs or I should say ran. I haven't owned a carbed engine since high school many years, now I'm hooked again and most likely won't go back to fuel injection. I will need help on this project since its been a while. It seems to have a choke issue and now won't start. It seems like maybe the float is sticking, I do the usual choke procedure with starting it but sometimes I have to hold it to the floor to start. I had started it last night and after about a minute of it running it just died and wouldn't start again. While it was running I pulled out the signal/cruise/wiper lever , it died while this was pulled out. I put it back in not thinking it was the issue and am now going to go outside and start the getting fuel/spark checklist started. If anyone has any ideas besides what I'm going to check that would be great. I'm going to check the fuel filter then pump, after that I'm going to check spark at the wires and check the distributor. Then probably throw a tool in anger

 

Welcome! how long have you been owner and were you able to start/drive when purchased or was this a problem at purchase. Holding pedal to floor to start says to much choke to me; clearing a flooding condition. Manual or electric choke?

 

Just owned for a month. Ran & drove great till last night. Now just won't start. Electric choke.

 

Just a guess but maybe pulling out the lever shorted something related to the ignition switch? I'm just a backyard DYI guy so bear with me. Electric or mechanical fuel pump? I agree time for your check list spark & fuel. Check all fuses?

 

I checked all the fuzes on the under dash panel and my inline choke fuze is good, don't know of any other fuzes that it may affect, when I pulled that signal colum out I didn't disconnect any wires just pulled it out of the slot. Just tried to find the fuel filter and can't find it. It's not between the pump and carb and can't find one to the tank. There was a newer carb put on which makes me think they had a fuel filter on the line from fuel pump to carb but never replaced it when they put on a new line. Going to check the pump and spark next and let you know how it goes

 

The wire going to the distributor to give it power must have been lose or corroded, took it off and put it back on and it fired up. Thanks for the help

 

Good job! Keep us posted on what you are doing, sounds like it will be a fun vehicle to restore.