Only when the engine is fully warmed up. When it is cold it should be (just) completely closed. Is it a mechanical or automatic choke? Mechanical has a pull out **** on the dash to operate it, automatic has a chamber on the carb with a bimetallic spring inside or a pushrod from a covered chamber on the intake manifold to operate it. Inside the chamber will be the bimetal spring. The automatic chamber on the carb type should have a metal heating tube from the manifold to a fitting on the chamber to provide heat.
How about some well lit closeup pix of all sides of the carb if possible it would make it a lot easier if I can see exactly what you are working with.

 

Dang Julie, posting at the same time again!

 

Great minds.............

 

Julie--Wow, that's a days-full of work.

AX--You got it! Give me the rest of today(I'm not near the truck). And it's a manual choke. When we start it, it has to be either all the way shut, or almost shut. But as soon as it starts it has to be opened a little, and gradually through warmup. Sounds normal?
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Is there a chance that the choke plate is not ever supposed to be perfectly vertical? Wide open choke(from the factory) is not completely wide open? Or is all of that B.S.?

Thank you guys/gals so very much!

 

From what you describe the choke is working perfectly. It should need to be from half way to fully closed when you start the engine on cold mornings, then adjusted to run properly (both choke and fast idle). Mine works exactly the same as yours does. When I start my truck, I push the gas pedal to the floor and pull the choke **** out about 3/4 of the way. Then I take my foot off the gas pedal and push the starter button - fires right up. Then I adjust it for smooth running and proper rpm (about 750- 800 cold - youwant a slightly faster idle when cold and the fast idle set screw on teh choke linkages - when adjusted properly, will take care of that. when the choke is all the way in, that fast idle cam and screw should be disengaged).

The choke plate should be 100% vertical when the choke is off. At that point, at idle, your idle mixture makes the truck idle properly until you step on the gas. Then, the venturi action of the carburetor sucks more air and thus more fuel and it runs on that mixture.

Everything you are doing and everything you are seeing is NORMAL for a truck that is out of time, idle not set properly, and idle mixture not set properly.

And that being a fulldays work? Should take about 30 minutes! Are you guys having frosty adult beverages while you are doing this?

Do it tomorrow - you and your dad - take today off! And have a few frosty adult beverages anyway!

 

In retrospect,.everything in this thread is normal...

Any fresh or 'new' engine..on 1st start...has all the above things to consider and be done, set the timing, check for leaks, does the engine have oil pressure?, are there any leaks, what's the temp? ,is it ok>, is it too hot?, are there any leaks ,set the idle, break-in the cam, watch for smoke,what's that noise?? ,is it normal? does it go away?..check for leaks..etc,etc..

Biggest difference is...it "all goes on at the same time"
at an often ." FRANTIC!!!".pace..once the start button is pushed,..for about30 to 60 minutes,..but completely normal..

,..especially the cold frostie at the end of a very rewarding experience!

Congratulations!