John:
A couple of options, assuming there is nothing else preventing the
vehicle from starting:
Get the battery out, thawed, and recharged. This may be difficult as
most modern batteries seem to hang up when being installed (I pull the
bonnet to remove mine). Then reinstall the battery right before you try
again.
Buy a couple or a bunch of those chemical hot packs (for warming your
hands with), activate them, and place a couple on the carb, away from the
linkage (maybe use some twine to hold them in place). The idea is to
warm the carb so it warms the air entering the carb. Set one on the fuel
line right before it enters the carb. Might toss a couple on top the
battery, too.
Remove your air filter, and get a can of starting fluid. Get the can can
warm, then wrap it in a couple of old towels to hold the heat in (so the
aerosol works).
Crank the engine for about five seconds, wait, then do another five
seconds. This should sorta loosen things up, and distribute oil. Then,
put the car on full choke, shoot a shot of starting fluid in the car and
crank it over. Don't crank for more than 15 seconds at a time. Since
this is a '75, it may not have a mechanical choke, but if you look at the
mechanism, you should be able to figure out what linkage needs to be
tugged on.
When the car begins to fire, feather the gas pedal until it begins to run
well, then hold it to about 1200 until the engine warms itself (2-3
minutes).
As an alternative, you could get a small electric heater with a fan, a
power-inverter, and couple of old blankets. Raise the bonnet, drape the
blankets over the sides to form a 'tent,' and set the heater under the
car at the front. Plug the inverter into your other car, plug the heater
into the inverter, then let the heated air fill the area inside the
'tent.' You could also try a salamander type heater. However, I would
be VERY careful while doing anything like this so as to avoid FIRE.
If your're feeling particularly energetic, you could always drain the oil
and anti-freeze, take it somewhere and heat it, and pour it back in right
before you try start it.
Overall, though, the best bet may be to wait for a warm day, or tow it
someplace where it can warm up. Actually, there's another idea - get
someone to tow you around the parking garage while you attempt to start
if by dumping the clutch.
Hope this helps - Luck,
Rich -- Council Bluffs, Iowa
'74.5 RB MGB "Miss Maggie"
'79 Midget "Miss Molly"
'86 Ford Crown Victoria LTD "BarcaLounger on Wheels"
richard.arnold@juno.com or rdarnold@neonramp.com
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