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Engine cuts out and stalls while driving.

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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 10:19 PM
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Default Engine cuts out and stalls while driving.

Blown 383 SBC, Annular Mighty Demon 750 Carb with an MSD HEI.

Car idles ok, but as the RPM builds, the motor cuts out completely and stalls. Seems to be independent of throttle position, and only RPM related. Car restarts after stalling.

What is the cause?
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 10:51 PM
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is the fuel pump putting out? is the carb tuned properly?
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 10:53 PM
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Maybe fuel starvation. Does your fuel pump have a high enough flow rate? Even without stomping on the throttle, at a continuous 5000 RPM maybe the pump just can't handle the required flow.
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 11:01 PM
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Fuel bowls not filling up completely?

Fuel filter clogged up?

What do the spark plugs look like? They probably look leaned out.

How much fuel pressure are you getting at the carb?
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 11:19 PM
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Originally Posted by c3corvette77
is the fuel pump putting out? is the carb tuned properly?
Bowls are full, up to the top line in the sight glass window after stalling. Fuel pressure guage reads 7psi at atmospheric level, increases 1psi per lb of boost. Carb is tuned at 12.5:1 under boost and 14.5:1 light load low rpm cruise.
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 11:20 PM
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Originally Posted by FlyViper
Maybe fuel starvation. Does your fuel pump have a high enough flow rate? Even without stomping on the throttle, at a continuous 5000 RPM maybe the pump just can't handle the required flow.
Motor is cutting out at around 2K-3K, light throttle. Fuel pump has kept up in the past with WOT 13lbs of boost runs.
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Goody
Fuel bowls not filling up completely?

Fuel filter clogged up?

What do the spark plugs look like? They probably look leaned out.

How much fuel pressure are you getting at the carb?
Fuel filter is relatively new. Spark plugs are burning perfectly tan.
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 11:43 PM
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A coil can get hot, copper expands and open circuits, but that normally takes a few minutes to cool off for a restart and it probably wouldn't necessarily cut out at the same rpm every time.

And i've not seen a module have a failure mode like that either. Mostly once they fail they're done.

Last edited by turtlevette; Feb 4, 2010 at 11:46 PM.
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Old Feb 4, 2010 | 11:52 PM
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Originally Posted by turtlevette
A coil can get hot, copper expands and open circuits, but that normally takes a few minutes to cool off for a restart and it probably wouldn't necessarily cut out at the same rpm every time.

And i've not seen a module have a failure mode like that either. Mostly once they fail they're done.
It will cut out when the motor is still cold, restarts immediately. I'm thinking ignition too though, doesn't sound like a fuel issue to me. What should I check?

Last edited by enkeivette; Feb 5, 2010 at 12:02 AM.
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Old Feb 5, 2010 | 12:00 AM
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Can you cause it to act up in Park/Neutral, or do you need to be moving?
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Old Feb 5, 2010 | 12:01 AM
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Originally Posted by DRIVESHAFT
Can you cause it to act up in Park/Neutral, or do you need to be moving?
Only seems to happen under load. But it feels like there is a slight misfire in neutral.
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Old Feb 5, 2010 | 12:29 AM
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i notice someone is telling you to replace the whole dizzy on the other site.

You can get a module for $20 at autozone to test your MSD unit. If that's not it, you have a spare to carry with.
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Old Feb 5, 2010 | 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by enkeivette
Motor is cutting out at around 2K-3K, light throttle. Fuel pump has kept up in the past with WOT 13lbs of boost runs.
It could be a boost issue. That's right about where a centrifugal blower starts building pressure. But you know that. I'd be helpful if you'd look at the boost gauge and tell us if that has some relationship. The pressure is probably preventing gas from entering the bowls because you have a loose feedback hose on your regulator to signal a boost in pressure as the boost increases.
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Old Feb 5, 2010 | 10:55 AM
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Originally Posted by turtlevette
It could be a boost issue. That's right about where a centrifugal blower starts building pressure. But you know that. I'd be helpful if you'd look at the boost gauge and tell us if that has some relationship. The pressure is probably preventing gas from entering the bowls because you have a loose feedback hose on your regulator to signal a boost in pressure as the boost increases.
Wouldn't that cause the engine to sputter and stumble like MAD, quit firing and then catch as the rpm's fell?? kinda like pulling 1/2 the injectors offline...??

how about the rev limiter resistor?? they got a plug in for those later model MSD units I have never owned/messed with one, except very casually, so wonder what happens if the programming resistor is left out??

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Old Feb 5, 2010 | 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by mrvette
Wouldn't that cause the engine to sputter and stumble like MAD, quit firing and then catch as the rpm's fell?? kinda like pulling 1/2 the injectors offline...??

how about the rev limiter resistor?? they got a plug in for those later model MSD units I have never owned/messed with one, except very casually, so wonder what happens if the programming resistor is left out??

Yea, i thought about that too. It depends on the recovery time ie, how fast can the fuel bowls fill and start providing fuel again. Is the engine in coast mode and still turning to restart or is he clutching or shifting to neutral after the stall? He's not giving us the full story. He knows what the answer is and is doing this as a test to see which site has the "smarter" guys.

He has an MSD HEI which is just like a GM HEI with MSD module and coil. The digital module does have a rev limiter. The analog one like i have doesn't.
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Old Feb 5, 2010 | 04:05 PM
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Originally Posted by turtlevette
It could be a boost issue. That's right about where a centrifugal blower starts building pressure. But you know that. I'd be helpful if you'd look at the boost gauge and tell us if that has some relationship. The pressure is probably preventing gas from entering the bowls because you have a loose feedback hose on your regulator to signal a boost in pressure as the boost increases.
If the problem is independent of throttle position, then it wouldn't be a boost issue. Under light acceleration (vacuum) the BOV is open bleeding boost.

Last edited by enkeivette; Feb 6, 2010 at 05:39 AM.
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Old Feb 5, 2010 | 04:29 PM
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Also check that the gas tank is venting adequately by removing the cap.
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Old Feb 5, 2010 | 04:31 PM
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Issue-> spark plug melted on header, caused short.

Last edited by enkeivette; Feb 6, 2010 at 04:34 AM.
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Old Feb 5, 2010 | 05:08 PM
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Nobody on either site guessed that a plug wire being grounded to the header caused the problem.
And truthfully, if thats all you found, I would be really surprised if that was what caused it.
One shorted wire causes a dead cylinder, not total shut down.
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Old Feb 5, 2010 | 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by DRIVESHAFT
Nobody on either site guessed that a plug wire being grounded to the header caused the problem.
And truthfully, if thats all you found, I would be really surprised if that was what caused it.
One shorted wire causes a dead cylinder, not total shut down.
Assuming that one wire was not the external coil wire, but he did say it was a 'standard HEI'....

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