Summer Blues? The '64 dies without warning!

Hey all-

I've been fighting this problem for 2 weeks now and I'm still not to the bottom of it. My 64 Dodge runs great and has been virtually trouble-free for the year I've had it so far.

I byp***ed the ammeter 5 months ago and installed a voltmeter via these instructions...word for word: http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/amp-gauges.shtml

Since then, the gauge bounces between 16-18 volts and despite replacing the alternator, voltage regulator, and checked the wiring, the needle bounces and it shows with the pulsating headlights. Other than the annoyance, there were no problems. The regulator is working and I even tried a lower amp alternator, but it persists.

Recently, the car's developed a tendency to die randomly, without warning, and for unknown periods of time. In traffic, in motion, stopped...The problem was fuel-related; the carburetor wasn't giving gas, so after replacing the fuel filter, pump, and lines, the carb got rebuilt and works perfect. I'm convinced it's not a fuel-related problem, at least anymore. I replaced the alternator and battery as well.

But the dying still happens. I tried two different coils (tach rpms read variably right before it died most recently), and no change. Starts fine, drives great, can get a few miles then everything is killed. My wiring connections are top-notch and I can't find any blown fuses or burnt wires. The distributor, plugs, and wires, along with the ignition switch are all in good shape...I'm at a a loss for ideas.

Any gurus got a direction for me?

 

Not a whole lot into the Mopar but would the ballast resistor going bad or getting weak cause that?

 

i'm with rich.

 

Ignition Switch or wiring? Coil Wire grounding out on something?

 

Ballast resistors usually either work or don't work at all, not much in between or "going bad".
Except I ran into one that had a broken connection inside and it would loose connection and then make connection again until it ****ped out all together. Put an ohm meter on the terminals on the resistor and wiggle them and see if you loose continuity.

The voltage regulator is most likely the culprit in the voltage spiking. The only other thing I could think of is a loose connection in charging circuit that is letting the wire shake around when there is a bit of vibration when you run down the road. Lately it seems that I have had issues with crimps on wire ends. I've got the market cornered on crimping pliers and some of them don't do a decent crimp on some brands of wire ends.
If the car dies and then restarts after it cools off I'd be su****ious of the coil.
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I second 440roadrunner on the "bulkhead connector". Had an O/T W100 with that problem. Die without warning, push/twist some and it would work again. It would also fail again until I replaced it with better pieces.

 

This is a tough one.

I'm still having troubles with my Dodge. After multiple frustrating afternoons, I'm still at a loss for how to solve this problem. I brought the car into a service shop and after monkey-ing around on it for 5 days, the mechanic told me all components test fine (ie regulator, ballast resistor, coil, alt...) and the new battery I replaced days beforehand had a bad cell and replacing it along with the positive battery cable SHOULD cease the overcharging.

It didn't.

The shop told me the car died only once while in their possession, therefore making solving it difficult. So nothing got solved. Only cost a week of my time. And the car being my daily driver...

The car hasn't died since I initially took it into the shop. My primary concern at this point is the overcharging. I've replaced the battery (again and with a different brand), battery cables, starter relay, and coil. But the overcharging, related or not to the car dying, remains. I even reverted to the original wiring setup, whereby the alternator BAT terminal connects through the instrument harness and back through to the starter relay (not independently connected to the starter relay from the instrument wiring) ...factory original without the ammeter. STILL charges 16-18 volts. I'm running out of parts to replace! And possible solutions.

So should I take the car into another shop, get a set of fresh eyes on it? Maybe just keep driving it and see what happens? I feel like I'm chasing my tail on the matter and cannot and will not bring myself to say "**** it, it's an old car...that's what they do" and live with it.