I have a 1985 Econoline converson van, It's a little hard to start
and keeps dying until it gets warmed up. It has a 351

 

I would suspect it's Carberated, and has an electric choke... Sounds like the choke needs to be adjusted and possibly the carb as well.

 

sounds like its time for a carb rebuild in general. I think a look at the choke would be first order. sounds exactly like my 300 that I have the choke wired the whole way open. Takes a little finess to get it started until it warms up a bit.

 

It could be that and/or a vaccum leak or loose vaccum conection also....

 

Yeah, sounds to me like the electric choke, since my 460 does the same thing and we've never gotten the electric choke working right (Holley 4bbl, converted from hand choke).

 

My family had 2 vans with the electric choke... It's a bear to get right, but when you do, it runs like a top. Also it may have a vacuum choke pull-off that made be bad or in need of adjsutment.

 

Thanks I'll check out the choke this week end