Hi All,
first post here , i have just bought a 3.5 V8 90, running on SU carbs.

When i first start the car, I pull the choke right out and turn the key (don't touch the throttle), its not ever not failed to start up, but takes a little while to fire and the gauges on the dash seem to move down (i guess due to the cranking power).

So my question is this normal or do I need to find an issue (battery??), I need it to start and run first thing in the morning so if i need to sort it out then so be it

thx

Its cold at the moment don't forget and turning over a v8 isn't like a 4 cylinder civic or something. Oil is gloopy when cold and to overcome the initial inertia to move the engine can take a lot of cranking power. I reckon your battery wants about 550CCA to give a good go starting on a cold morning for a small v8. Put your foot on the clutch when cranking, this stops the starter from having to turn the gearbox spigot too, just a tiny help to it. Try giving it less choke too as compressing liquid fuel is not easy for an engine.

Test your battery but charging it up fully then leaving it disconnected for 24hrs. it should still be in the 12.5 to 12.6 v region or could be on its way out.

Finally if the car is new to you, take out the plugs, clean and re-gap them. Have a look under the hood at night when cranking to see if the HT leads are arcing, replace the points/condenser as a matter of course, and make sure all the connections are good. Dampness can cause issues and WD40 is good at driving it out of plug leads etc.... It just leaves an oily residue afterwards that can be less than desirable. But will help you out of a spot if needed.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, i will take a look at all suggested, i think its nothing its like you say it just is a bigger lump to turnover, it feels a bit like my TVR which also takes longer on the starter button.
It has all new plugs, points, leads etc less than 200miles ago, and it really runs sweetly

BTW, i have a spare battery from my D3 in the garage all fully charged with I think 900CCA of cranking power, the battery in it at the moment looks very small for such a large engine , would swapping them over be a good upgrade?

Ronsealdeath thanks for the choke suggestion only used 1/2 -2/3 tonight when I got to the station and it started straight away!!! So I guess it does not like too much choke !??

forever said:

Ronsealdeath thanks for the choke suggestion only used 1/2 -2/3 tonight when I got to the station and it started straight away!!! So I guess it does not like too much choke !??

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Sweet. And yes I would put as large a battery as you can physically fit in there! Can do no harm as long as your doing decent length trips so it charges up ok. Would love a tvr