Technical electrical troubles ( I think)

Had the '28 out (has a sb 350 in it) and it just quit. Wasn't getting fuel so I put a new fuel pump on it (electric)and ran fine - until it got hot. Checked and was still getting fuel and would start for a couple seconds and then quit. UNTIL I let it cool - then would run fine till hot again (it was still OK with fuel).
Has an accel electronic dist on it.

I am thinking change the coil (will try tonight). Also it is mounted on the engine and will move to the firewall.

If not that, prob the module in the dist???

Any ideas?
Thanks
Jim

 

If you have fuel at the carb when it dies then the only thing left is compression or spark. Did you check a plug to see if you are getting spark when it died or dies? Would not be the first new distributor to have issues.

 

Hard to check. Only quits when hot. Then when I try to start it, it runs for a second and quits. Must have spark then.
Then as soon as I turn it over again it runs for a second again.
Will see how the new coil goes tonight.
As a side bar - I can't get the module for the dist anymore so I will be going with a new one if the coil isn't the prob.

thanks
jim

 

I'd think coil or the internals in the distributor it's self. I've seen a coil do just that before. Start ok when cold and quit when it got hot. I didn't have a problem with it until I took a road trip in the truck and it failed on me.

On the distributor. If I had a critical part such as a distributor on any of my rigs that replacement pieces weren't readily available (worse case overnight on the brown truck) that distributor would be out and cleaned up and placed on my "cool old parts" shelf in the garage where my friends could tell me how cool and rare it is. Somethings are great to look at and great for show cars but not too practical for daily or road trip use.

 

Is this a GM HEI distributor? One of the signs of module failure is losing spark when hot but starting and running while cool/cold. If you had the distributor apart did you use the insulating grease between the module and the housing?

 

"when its hot"...

It sounds like you might be vapor locking. Is the base of the carb cold? any sections of fuel line close to the exhaust or block?

If we are still going with electrical, is the coil getting hot? (boiling) and is it correctly ballasted or resisted??

 

Replaced the coil and moved onto the fire wall. Seems to be working now. Got it up to temp and drove it around the driveway. Have to take it on a longer voyage when I get a chance. Replacing the electric fuel pump just in case I had that problem also. (seemed like it when this all started)
Wouldn't be in such a hurry but we are doing a timed rally with the Northeast Rally Club the weekend of the 23rd and have to practice!
Thanks for all the help and suggestions
Jim