last night i drove down to chicago in the 60 caddy for the "big c". it starts up just fine last night a few times, drove fine. but i went out this morning to go to work, and the fucking thing fires but sounds like shit and i have to floor it to keep it running and it sounded like it was only firing on 2 cylinders. it dies, i crank and crank, with only a few sputters. eventually my battery goes dead and i call my work and let them know that im screwed. so now its 6am(when im sopposed to be at work) and i decided to hit the hay till everything opens. i get a can of starting fluid from the nearist autozoo, and a jump from a kind stranger. NOTHING. no sputter, just nothing. i thought it was just the carb being out of adjustment(which is why i got the starter fluid), but no. the coil has spark, and the plugs dont. its getting gas that i can see from the filter bowl. so anyway, i changed the points a few years ago when i owned the car. is there anyway i can tell if the condensor is bad?? or should i just got spend the 5 dollers and get it??? also, my battery is dead again..... im in lincoln square next to the library. off lincoln ave.
Keeping this on the top.. If it only ran on 2 cylinders I think you may have bigger problems. It almost sounds like a timing issue ??? my 2 cents worth
I thought that too, but for the problem to "just" appear after the nite and driving fine yesterday... the "running on two cylinders" may just be a random misfiring. Occasionally hitting a random cylinder then nothing. May be as simple as moisture in the cap. Hopefully its something simple! Duane
Didn't say what motor is in this car. I know MANY small block chevy motors used a neoprene toothed aluminum cam sproket that was notorious for stripping teeth, especially on startup. The teeth would strip off and fall down the front of the cover, and wind up in the oilpan.
Definitely sounds like ignition. Go after the simple stuff first. remove the cap and rotor, check for moisture and cracks. Check the point gap and for evidence of arcing. If you just repalced the points, I'd put a new condenser on next (I think that is the most likely culprit anyway). If after a condenser change it still doesn't run right, put a timing light on it.
thanks a ton guys, sorry i didnt reply earlier. it was the condensor. i changed it out and gave it the ol "come on baby" and turned the key hoping it would have enuff juice to fire. *VROOM* came to life! so i didnt wanna shut it off so i just left and didnt reply on here cuz i went to work and got a few hours in. again sorry for not letting you guys know sooner, thanks for the offers for sure! have a great weekend! also, for those who asked, its the stock 390.
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