[FWDLK] Getting choked up

[Dan Morton <morton@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This weekend, the world's slowest auto mechanic finally got around to
checking out why the choke was not opening as quickly as it should.
Thanks to Mike Higgins suggestion, I investigated the tube from the
manifold to the bakelite housing -- it was indeed loose, and apparently
the lack of draw from the manifold resulted in the coil not warming as
it should.  I addressed this, but then I was struck by something else:
I heard a "sucking" sound I hadn't noticed before.  I put my finger at
the base of the choke housing, and could feel suction from a round hole
at the base.  When I capped it with my finger, the choke valve deflected
slightly (I forget which direction now), and this was repeatable.

I dug out my other carburetor from the basement -- this carb had a plug
in this location!  I'm guessing that, when I had the carburetor
currently on the car rebuilt, the guy forgot to plug it -- after all,
the hole is too big to permit unfiltered air to enter the carburetor.
Am I correct in this?  But then, I have another question:  Since my shop
manual indicates there's a piston in the choke assemble that traverses
the cylinder leading to the hole -- wouldn't plugging it interfere with
its operation?  What's the purpose of this piston anyway?  And how come,
when I take the cap off the permatex, I get it all over myself?!  Oops
-- unrelated question.

        adTHANKSvance,
        Dan, TWSAM
        '55 Savoy