Weird. I ran a stromberg carbed 164 for years in Riverside California where it gets to be 110 for weeks at a time. Never had any hot starting problems with mine.

When I first got the car I took the carbs apart, as you say, and found that the diaphrams were intact and all the moving parts were operating well but the 2 springs in the carbs were totally different and 100% funky. I think in a fit of madness I took the spiral "springs" out of a pair spiral bound notebooks and put those into both carbs.

Also, I took out the little valve thingy on the side (the bimetalic thingy) and adjusted them both so they both opened and closed about the same amount when in both hot and almost boiling water.

That car ran like a champ. I foolishly pulled the strombergs and put on SUs instead -- not a mistake I'd make again. It ran fine with the SUs but was down on power and got worse mileage.


My guess is either terribly broken carbs or ignition problems. Only one of my dual SU volvos ever had starting problems *not* related to the points or other ignition problem. (that was terribly poorly balanced SUs on a 122)