Engine just quit
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 259
Likes: 70
From: MN
Engine just quit
Had my car out a few days ago and ran fine. This morning I fired it up, sounded good, pulled out of the driveway and made it one house down and it quit running. Not like the key was turned off but like it ran out of fuel. I feathered the pedal but the rpms just slowly went to nothing. Poured some gas down the carb and turned it over and nothing, didnt fire once. Pulled a plug and had good spark, loosened the gas line and it did not spray out but did run all over the manifold so there was fuel. After another 20 minutes of eyeballing the situation and coming up empty decided to push it back to the house and into the garage. Sonny boy said give her a squirt of starting fluid for a last ditch effort.... I did and after he turned it over a few times it started. Drove it around a little and now seems to run fine. Started and stopped the engine numerous time and fired right up. Now Im nervous it will happen again only further this time from home. Anyone have any ideas on what could be the problem? What I should be checking out? Thanks for any input
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,412
Likes: 50
From: Laguna Niguel California
Some HEI modules have a thermal shutdown that can be a problem. I had one from one of the low priced aftermarket suppliers that did that. I replaced it with a quality new GM part and haven't had a problem since.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,231
Likes: 65
From: Seattle WA
St. Jude Donor '14
In my experience HEI pretty much either works or dies - I haven't run into a thermal issue before.
It sounds to me like a fuel issue. I know you saw fuel coming out of the line, so clearly it's getting some...but I would check the fuel filter for sure and then follow-up with checking the output volume by cranking the engine over and collecting the fuel from the pump - a stock pump puts out about 60 GPH, I think...someone correct me
Common causes of insufficient fuel if this turns out to be the case are empty tank
, clogged fuel line, bad pump, flat fuel pump drive lobe on the cam...
It sounds to me like a fuel issue. I know you saw fuel coming out of the line, so clearly it's getting some...but I would check the fuel filter for sure and then follow-up with checking the output volume by cranking the engine over and collecting the fuel from the pump - a stock pump puts out about 60 GPH, I think...someone correct me
Common causes of insufficient fuel if this turns out to be the case are empty tank
, clogged fuel line, bad pump, flat fuel pump drive lobe on the cam...
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Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
Likes: 13
From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
When an ig. module has a problem, it can shut off & then start later.
While I have not seen an Ig. module do what yours did, I advise changing before they fail & carry a spare.
As you said "Poured some gas down the carb and turned it over and nothing, didnt fire once."
Check fuel hose to fuel pump also.
While I have not seen an Ig. module do what yours did, I advise changing before they fail & carry a spare.
Check fuel hose to fuel pump also.