stranded,,!!!

[Kim K Kaiser]

while out for a cruise and to a car show, i was heading home, car started sputtering,, would go, then no feel ing of gas, would go a while, then sputter .  i started thinking of quickest way home with out to many stops,  got about 6 blocks and it died.   

it sounded or felt like a car does when you run out of gas, but, that is not possible as I just put gas in it about 2 hours earlier, so i have half a tank, but that is the feeling,,   sputtering, then go, then sputter some more, then go,, then died,

walked home, going back in the truck see if i can get it started with some fuel in carb and sputter it home,

it is not running hot, no other particular symptom.  

would his be most likely fuel pump or blocked fuel filter,, ??

anyway, thought on the above while i go and try to get er home.. I'm just glad i did nt suffer embarrassment of it croaking at the car show as i drove through, but then again,, some one there may have known what it was,, oh well,, 

old cars i guess

[Kim K Kaiser]

wish i had better news!!   changed out the cap and rotor,  reset timing to 5,  in town riding seemed fine, got a little gas, headed out for a 20 mile ride to the lake, and i didnt get one mile  down the road before it really started t sputter and kick  i punched it, and it would sputter and carry on then as well,   so,

i guess back to drawing board,, 

it's odd, really, two days ago,  not one sputter on 30 to 40 miles of driving, and then today, it shows up again,, 

completely random

[2o93f8rdftyzj]

Kim, just book it in with a mechanic who has the gear to diagnose the problem.

This, throwing mud at the wall to see what sticks scenario is just wasting time, money and i'm sure, patience.

Find a mechanic with old car/classic car experience, diagnose it correctly, fit the parts and the jobs done correctly and you can start driving it with confidence.

  

[Kim K Kaiser]

Thanks Kevin,  i have an appt this week with a long time mechanic,  he was going to go on an extended ride, get a feel for how it drives in general, and if the condition happens to show its face while there, he can have a basis,, definitely a strain on the patience, What is worse, i just took it out for about a 40 mile ride, not one sputter,, earlier today, didnt think i would get home, the randomness is very frustrating, one minute you think, fixed!! next minute, worry bout getting home..

thanks for the suggestion,,

[2o93f8rdftyzj]

Tony, the problem back then, had nothing to do with the carb and all to do with gravity.

The car was on such a steep incline, with the front in a dip and on a cock-eyed angle with a full load of fuel on board, and it simply siphoned itself to the lowest point with an opening. It just happened to be the carb, which is why, it put fuel in the cylinders, the oil pan and literally ran out the top of the carb where the accelerator pump plunger is.

It does absolutely 3/4 of 5/8 of sweet F. A. to confirm your theory.

A good mechanic @ $75.00 per hour, to me at least, would seem good value to nail down what's happening.

Being hands on, able to see, hear, drive the car and get a feel for what's happening is going to solve the problem way faster than this thread is.

[Kim K Kaiser]

Im getting there, i parked car, did something else for a while, went back out, and checked all my connections again after the cap replacement,  seems one wire to the distributor was not locked solidly all the way down,, i put it down, checked all the rest, and was off again, no problems,  car seemed to run just fine for about 40 miles,, parked it, went out again, no problems,, parked it, back again for just short errands around town, again, no problem, soooo, I'm thinking/hoping that that spark plug wire not being full locked down may have settled it after the cap change, 

will know tomorrow when i take it back out for rounds and a quick trip out of town for a bout 30 miles out, an see if it sputters...

i am going to need to find a you tube video that shows the way a carb takes in fuel, puts it where it needs to go and where it goes from there,   I understand your explanation, but need some visual backup to fortify the thought.  

My use of the mechanic at this time is to take care out, ride, and feel.   I have been driving diesels for 20 plus years now and other than some occasional modern rentals, have nt been in gas cars, especially a 50+ year of car.  I will ask him questions, and hope to have him go under the hood and i can point out some things that will help me with understanding how things work,  i will pay him for his ride, but i intend on utilizing your experience and everyones as best i can as much as can be conveyed over the net..   i also know that to keep this car, i have to be able to work on it myself, and not carry it in for repairs.. i just need a little show and tell to get me over some of the bumps.

[Kim K Kaiser]

i took the car out again this morning, a ride to the lake, bout 30 miles up , 30 back, not one hiccup,  mostly highway cruising driving.  i am guessing, or hoping, that for now, fully seating that wire to the distributor cap may have been the reason for the acting up after the cap/rotor change.   it really did seem to ride very nicely,  

Im sure the carb rebuild is in my near future,  will continue to take out and use, see if the current situation maintains the status quo of doing ok for now..  will keep informed of any re occurrences.

[Robert Alan Shannon]

 Kim, I sure hope you got it; this is very good news. Much admire your determination and patience with your ride. Much good luck to you!