, sounds like that ,more so than the coil.Also the fuel filter could be getting clogged with larger crap,then settleing back down.
54 issues
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
54 issues
This ones killing me!!! I've got a 54' here and its altogether a nice car, runs beautifully, except when I try to test drive it, about a mile in it just shuts off, well actually it slowly fades out then shuts off. I let it sit for a half hour, and she fires right up and runs great, only to shut down once I get going again. Here is a list of what has been done. Rebuilt mechanical pump, rebuilt carbs, back up electrical pump, new alt (generator has been replaced with a 6v alt.) fresh wiring to and from the alt, bypassing amp gauge. New battery, cap rotor points condensor coil, associated wiring and plugs.
I can run this car all day in the shop, no problems, test drive 'er and she shuts down. I'm getting spark and fuel. Engine temp is fine, batt wiring coil fuel lines, everything stays cool. We thought is was vapor lock, but the cap isn't all that tight and the electric pump should push through it, right?
If anyone has some insight feel free to call Chris at : 978.897.0023
I can run this car all day in the shop, no problems, test drive 'er and she shuts down. I'm getting spark and fuel. Engine temp is fine, batt wiring coil fuel lines, everything stays cool. We thought is was vapor lock, but the cap isn't all that tight and the electric pump should push through it, right?
If anyone has some insight feel free to call Chris at : 978.897.0023
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 7
From: Northeast Ohio
Sounds like fuel to me. You indicate that it runs all day in the shop. I would guess that you are primarily idling it. Low fuel demand. When on the road the 3 carbs consume considerable fuel compared to idle. You've indicated a mechanical pump and a "backup" electrical pump. If the electrical pump is inline with the mechanical pump and does not allow flow bypass are you running it when on the road? The method of shutdown also is indicative of fuel starvation. I'd make sure the electrical pump is either out of the circuit or is running and pumping fuel.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,772
Likes: 694
From: Maryland
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Originally Posted by giftshopduane
This ones killing me!!! I've got a 54' here and its altogether a nice car, runs beautifully, except when I try to test drive it, about a mile in it just shuts off, well actually it slowly fades out then shuts off. I let it sit for a half hour, and she fires right up and runs great, only to shut down once I get going again. Here is a list of what has been done. Rebuilt mechanical pump, rebuilt carbs, back up electrical pump, new alt (generator has been replaced with a 6v alt.) fresh wiring to and from the alt, bypassing amp gauge. New battery, cap rotor points condensor coil, associated wiring and plugs.
I can run this car all day in the shop, no problems, test drive 'er and she shuts down. I'm getting spark and fuel. Engine temp is fine, batt wiring coil fuel lines, everything stays cool. We thought is was vapor lock, but the cap isn't all that tight and the electric pump should push through it, right?
If anyone has some insight feel free to call Chris at : 978.897.0023
I can run this car all day in the shop, no problems, test drive 'er and she shuts down. I'm getting spark and fuel. Engine temp is fine, batt wiring coil fuel lines, everything stays cool. We thought is was vapor lock, but the cap isn't all that tight and the electric pump should push through it, right?
If anyone has some insight feel free to call Chris at : 978.897.0023
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Boerne Texas
sky65 is a genius
got a problem? bring beer.
if nothing else, you'll get to enjoy a cold one.
if you're lucky you'll figure out what is wrong with the car.
my money is riding on a fuel supply problem. no real reason other than your description appears to characterize a starvation thing. but as my wife will tell you, i've been wrong before...and i'll be wrong again.
if nothing else, you'll get to enjoy a cold one.
if you're lucky you'll figure out what is wrong with the car.
my money is riding on a fuel supply problem. no real reason other than your description appears to characterize a starvation thing. but as my wife will tell you, i've been wrong before...and i'll be wrong again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 2
From: Park City to SoCal - according to the map it's all down hill. No bad days in Indian Wells, California
This car is man's best friend. Forces you to not drink and drive. Every once in a while it pulls off to the side of the road and you have to drink a beer while it cools down.
Now why didn't I think of that.
I go with either coil of fuel starve. When carbs call for fuel, there may be such a draw that the pumps can't keep up and cause a bubble (not a technical term) between the pumps.
Now why didn't I think of that.
I go with either coil of fuel starve. When carbs call for fuel, there may be such a draw that the pumps can't keep up and cause a bubble (not a technical term) between the pumps.
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Brett Foote
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 38,897
Likes: 1,926
From: Washington Michigan
If it runs with no problem in the shop (with the hood open) and dies on the road, I'd try a replacement coil first; usually before a coil dies altogether, it dies only when it heats up, and works when it isn't hot. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,210
Likes: 1
From: fighter pilots make movies, bomber pilots make history
The coil is a good first option. Fuel starvation is another; however, you mentioned an electric fuel pump.
I recently had a truck at one of my foreign operations that had originally been an FI set-up. Since it was in a remote Siberian operation they changed it to a carb. when the FI system failed. They installed a carb and it ran fine, but if they ran it a few km out to a rig site, it would slowly die.
The fuel pressure was far too high, they put on a lower pressure fuel electric pump and it runs across the tundra with dependability now. The high fuel pressure slowly flooded it at road cruise.
I recently had a truck at one of my foreign operations that had originally been an FI set-up. Since it was in a remote Siberian operation they changed it to a carb. when the FI system failed. They installed a carb and it ran fine, but if they ran it a few km out to a rig site, it would slowly die.
The fuel pressure was far too high, they put on a lower pressure fuel electric pump and it runs across the tundra with dependability now. The high fuel pressure slowly flooded it at road cruise.
