• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Stalling issue

I don't know if this is directly related but; read the story.
Small block in a Plymouth would run fantastic. Then, while idling at a stop light, would stop like I turned the switch off. Would not start in neutral but would in park. Doesn't make sense, does it?
The problem, we added an aftermarket distributor. You know one of the self contained. At idle, with the added load of brakelights would pull enough voltage to drop out the 12V needed by the distributor. When restarting in neutral, had the foot on the brake. (also part of the problem was a low output alternator with a large pulley)
The cure was to put a relay powered by the car signal for ignition. The power source ran from the battery, through the relay, to the ignition system to provide the full 12v needed. Cured all of the run problems.
 
Flapper in the heat tube stuck allowing hot exhaust to the intake all the time, causing vapor lock?
 
New coil, or not, think I'd try another coil. That would eliminate that part of the puzzle, in the ignition. All wiring/connectors, I take it, are top notch?
 
Sounds like some form of heat soak to me, or float level. I know you said it has a separator, see if that’s working. When it fires back up does it seem rich out the exhaust? Pull some plugs and see what they look like.

Next time it does it I would pull the air cleaner and stick your head in there and see if there’s a bunch of fuel (or lack of) going through the carb.
 
Sounds like some form of heat soak to me, or float level. I know you said it has a separator, see if that’s working. When it fires back up does it seem rich out the exhaust? Pull some plugs and see what they look like.

Next time it does it I would pull the air cleaner and stick your head in there and see if there’s a bunch of fuel (or lack of) going through the carb.


Done that, no fuel leaking. He had an issue with the fuse link wire melting a bit on the bulkhead side a few years ago & I wonder if this might be worth looking at.
 
Well, he pulled out the bulkhead connectors and saw a nice burn on the fuse link wire on the bulkhead side. As you can see, besides being melted, the connector inside the plastic is pretty roached out. A replacement bulkhead connector is on order.


wire.jpg
 
It’s always that goddamed bulkhead.
 
looks like you found the gremlin. now what caused that to happen.
 
Possibly old age? Fewer copper strands trying to do their job?
 
I'm not sure which wire that would be for but my guess it's a high amperage wire. The terminal in the bulkhead is probably not up to the task. I would make that a solid wire eliminating the terminal. Maybe a inline fusable link with the right rating.
 
It makes sense. As the engine warms up, so does everything under the hood. Hot shredded wires cannot hold the current.
 
Dies in the fast lane or burns to the ground. Usually the same source. Bulkhead.
 
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top