So, i just replaced the whole fuel system, new points and condenser, new tires and other little things. I go to drive it up the road and it smelled like something was kind of burning so I get out and look under the hood, all of a sudden the car dies. I dont mean like putter out and die, I mean like it sounds like somone flipped the keys off. Why is this car shutting itself off? stock 1950 chevy sedan, converted to 12 volts. Before this incident I drove the car around town with no problem (this was after I did the fuel system so it aint the fuel system). It idles fine, revs fine, as soon as I put it under load it runs fine for about 50-60 yards then smells like something is burnt, I get out to look and the car dies. this is the second time it has happened, any ideas? p.s.-I checked the "points" under the distributer cap (actually on the cap, not in the distributer) and they were all chipped up, it was a new cap about 3 weeks ago. what could be causing this? Thanks Dudes! C.D.O.!
Hmmm. Burning smell, as in what, exactly? Internal combustion? Ozone (electrical)? Burning plastic? Did you replace the rotor when you replaced the cap? Were the old pieces chipped as well? Is the new rotor chipped? When was it converted to 12 volts? Recently, just now, or some time back? Does it have a lot of running time on the conversion? Is the coil excessively hot when it dies? Will it immediately refire after it dies? Is it backfiring at all? Welcome to the board! BTW, might want to post an intro on the main page under "New to the H.A.M.B.? Introduce yourself here!"...an old tradition on the H.A.M.B., so's we can mercilessly harass ya.
cant tell what the smell is replaced the rotor? yes old pieces checked? have to look new rotor chipped? no for some reason 12 volts for probably about a year now. I've ran the car around but it always seems something else goes wrong right when I start to trust the car again. I'll have to check the coil. It will NOT refire immediately, usually about 15-20 min later No backfiring I was a member but they gave me the almighty boot for making a stupid thread but know I'm back.... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I just ran it, and it died on me again and each time it dies it is in neutral. I dont know how that would have to do with anything.
Do you have a neutral safety switch? Look for a vacuum leak on the manifold, or under the carb. When it was converted to 12V, was a ballast resistor installed? Sounds like it might be cooking the coil with 12V instead of 6, and it won't re-fire until the coil cools down.
This sounds like it, is the coil a 12 volt one? On second thoughts, if it was 6volt it would have fry'd completely.
got a ballast resistor? EDIT: I just read the posts above. oops. keep in mind the ballast resistor and coil should have matching resistance ratings.
When I was looking at the engine today I saw what I though could have been a leak on the carb right were the vaccum connects, but it smelled like water so i thought it was just condensation or something, maybe it wasnt water though now that I think about it.... I'm pretty darn sure the coil is 12v, and if I had a ballast resistor would it be connected to the outside of the coil? if so I have one.
Sounds like you had a shitty(inapropriate) rotor. Probably a parts store error. Not uncommon. I've never heard of points getting chipped when the set up is right. Just my worthless 2 cents.
Silly Question but did Chevrolet like Ford have a Positive ground on the 6 v system??? If they did ? When you changed over to 12v did you change the wires on the coil for the proper polarity ?
if the contacts on the dist cap are chewed up...sounds like the dist has lots of play in it..could be it needs rebuilt or an exchange dist....
Take the cap off and have someone crank the motor. If the shaft is doing a hula dance you've found one issue.
If it smells hot then somewhere there's cooked plastic. Remove the cap, rotor, coil, and ballast resistor from the car. Inspect them free of all bracketry, away from the car in good light. Even if you don't find a burned spot, the smell ought to give it away. The cooked one will have that odor all the time. good luck
first of all thank you all for the responses! I will try all of your remedies. and secondly, its sweet someone else on here is a "way cool jr."!! thanks, C.D.O.!
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