Hey Fellas,
I've had my truck for serveral months now and it's AWESOME! I get comments on this truck all the time.

The truck is pretty dependable.

Sometimes it is rough starting when hot. Meaning, after I drive it a while then turn it off for about 15 minutes then try to restart it cranks, cranks and cranks. So then I pull the manual choke, hit the gas and it sputters and pukes out smoke and then starts. It always has started, but really rough starting sometimes. Let me know if you have any ideas as to why sometimes it has trouble starting. Adios.

P.S. Most importantly, my wife rolls her eyes when I tell her "I'm going for a ride, be back later!".

 

Vapor lock is a good possibility, especially if its hot outside. My truck has that problem from time to time. Mine is a 4x4 and sometimes i push the engine and it gets hot. Not over heating, but hotter than if I was driving on road. Im driving slower and it takes a lot more effort to turn the tires in sand.

If it always starts, I wouldn't worry about it. Ive had it to the point where I'm honestly worried I'm going to kill the battery and I'm 10 miles from anything. Im usually not alone, but sometimes I am. Anyway, I carry a can of starting fluid and if its not starting I take the air filter off, let it sit for about 10 minutes and give it a short spray. It seems to help.

I have also found that when starting it, give the peddle half a pump and wait about 5 seconds for the gas to evaporate, then crank it. Mine usually starts in literally half a second of cranking. If it doesn't start after a few seconds, pump the peddle some more. You kinda have to find a balance. You want fuel, but not too much fuel.

Basically what I'm saying is there is nothing wrong with your truck, its an old engine with a carburetor. Sometimes mine back fires SUPER loud and its a touch embarrassing when there are people around. Its as loud as a shotgun.

 

I had to laugh at the entire backfire thing. Good stuff.

But yeah, vapor is the culprit Im betting as well. You can try a plastic carb spacer and checking that your lines are not running too close to the exhaust

 

I would first make sure that the timing is not too far advanced.

Then I would check the plugs, points and wires, and check coil connections.

Then I would rebuild the carburetor, and fit a new float, if it hasn't been done recently.

If none of this solved it I would then live with it, trying to tweak my starting procedure perhaps.