Where can I hook up an electric choke on my 73 f250

[manofmerc]

Well fellows where can I wire in an electric choke on my truck ? I don't have a good heat source off the ex manifold it takes way to long for this choke to come off.And I have a set of headers planed for the future so an electric choke will be needed any way.This is a 2bbl. carb also .Thanks to all .Doug

[My427stang]

Ford wired it off the STA post of the alternator.  However, many have successfully wired it to any switched hot source.  Either works most of the time

The difference is, if you sit and listen to the radio, wired to a source that is hot on ACC, the choke gets hot even though the engine is cold.  If you hook it to STA, it only gets power when the engine is running

[HarleyJack17]

You may have looked already, but some of these trucks had a two hole plug just left of center on the engine bay on the cowl. Looks like a two prong trailer plug. Many times it is stuffed in the loom or the plastic/rubber wire support that spans across the middle of the cowl in the engine bay. My 75 had it, after checking I found it to be keyed hot on one side and found a matching plug at TSC and used it for this exact purpose.
Not sure when they started this but a lot is unchanged from 73-75 model F250s. There are other circuits you can tap into with a wire splice connector, you just have to hunt them down.  You definitely want it key activated "hot" so there is no power when key is off etc. Sounds dumb but I have seen a lot of jerry rigging on these old trucks....stuff that really makes one scratch their head.  Also, make sure you have a good engine to ground and body to frame ground etc. as electric chokes ground through the carb body to the engine.

Good luck.

[68fecyclone]

Another source is under the dash, behind the windshield washer switch area. There is a yellow plug that has three holes in it. It is keyed hot and acc hot. Usually only has one wire plugged into it, and is a heavy gauge wire. Makes a good source with out cutting old wiring. Rob

[manofmerc]

I have read before about the STA post hookup .I probably will go with that one but I will look for a two pronged plug that is hot also .This truck had a pretty good running 360 until it burnt a valve .I have a nice 390 I built from a 352 with c8 heads I bowl ported and cleaned up the roof  of the ex ports . And a mild howards camshaft hopefully before summer I will get my headers and exhaust system installed .This choke is just aggravating it takes forever for it to come off . I believe in my carb pile I have an electric choke so I am almost there .Thanks for the information guys !Doug

[Barry_R]

The OEM stator wire choke connection used a different choke heater since it ran on +/- 7.5 volts.
Newer choke heaters run on 12 volts.  If run on a 7.5 volt source they might not work properly.
You may be able to power the choke through a relay if you need to isolate it or run it through a marginal source.

[C6AE]

If you connect it to the acc. side of the switch the choke will not be heating while the engine is cranking.
On my 428 (after sitting a few weeks) if connected to the ign side it may  be already be open by the time it starts running.

[manofmerc]

I will put my volt meter on the sta.post with a little luck maybe I will have 12 volts .I found the two prong plug Harley jack spoke of so I will check that one .Driving around Saturday it was warmer than in the past so my choke come off like it should.This 390 runs so much better than the 360 and doesn't use as much gas .My next question will be about header gaskets .Thanks for the responses .Doug

[manofmerc]

Barry was right .I have 7.5 volts at the sta. post and that two pronged plug on the left side isn't showing any volts .So I am still looking I never would have guessed that sta. post would show 7.5 volts .Thanks for the help !Doug