psycho dad

I went for a drive last night and my Vette shut off on me 200 yards short of my driveway. I was able to coast to the driveway and into the garage. When I went to look at it today I expected to find there was no spark and check the coil. To my surprise I was getting a spark, so now I'm not sure where to look next. The engine just shut off suddenly, it turns over easily and there was a strong gasoline smell (Worse than usual).
Any ideas where to start?
Thanks!
- Jay

BFI6603

I am far from being an expert and I am sure the real experts will chime in soon but my first thought is a faulty fuel pump-Pete

johnt365

If you have some starting fluid, I would use that and see if it kicks off. That would confirm that your spark is good. Then see if you are getting fuel to the carb. If yes, the carb is suspect. Perhaps filter at qjet inlet?

johnt365

Wait, strong gas smell could be flooded. What if some debris is keeping the needle and seat open?

...Roger...

Timing chain ?

psycho dad

I sure hope not!

johnmb

Pull the air cleaner, work the carb linkage while you look down the carb throats...do you see gas shooting into the intake ?

Is there gas sitting on the intake?

psycho dad

Thank you so much for all the input guys...turns out I was out of gas.
I knew it was low, but I KNOW my gas guage has been lower than it was last night. Since I started playing around with the ignition timing my fuel economy has dropped well below 10mpg Sorry I jumped the gun and made this post before checking the most basic stuff.
Oh well, another happy ending

Mike Ward

You live in the wrong house. Move to the one where your car died.

psycho dad

funny guy

scottyp99

My suggestion is to put some gas in the gas tank, should start right up after a little cranking.

Seriously, tho, you are playing with the timing and getting worse gas mileage? What are you doing, retarding the timing? Typically, advancing timing will improve gas mileage.


Scott

psycho dad

I have'nt bought a timing light with a dial yet, the one I use is probably older than the car. Its at 11 before now, up from 6 before (stock?).
I adjusted the carb with a vaccuum guage, opened both screws 1 1/2 turns, slowly increased each intil the vacuum stopped rising. It runs great, but mpg is still down.

scottyp99

Timing lights usually only get used every once in awhile, if it hasn't been left out in the rain, or something equally crazy, it's probably still just fine, although I have heard that the dial back feature is pretty nice. I just installed a tape on the dampener and use an old sears timing light that belonged to my Dad. (I'm not sentimental, just cheap)

I'm assuming it's a Q-jet? Is it the original carb? How many turns out did you get to where it is now? Is your vacuum advance functional? Are you disconnecting the vacuum advance when you measure the timing? Is the advance curve quickened up so it comes in at 2500-3000 rpm?

11* shouldn't even be close to where you would have issues, my 1980 L48 has 16* at idle with no vacuum advance, 32* with it connected, and it runs awesome. I get 15-17 mpg with a Holley squarebore carb, and that's about 50/50 highway and city driving. (I will admit that that's with me taking it nice and easy, but still getting on it at least once every time I drive it) No overdrive, either. (yet.....)


Scott

psycho dad

stock q-jet, maybe 2 1/2 - 3 turns total each screw. I think 11 is about the last mark so I thought I should stop there. You're at 16?
I don't know how to get to 32 total without a dial back light.

scottyp99

I just got one of these tapes and installed it, cheaper than a new timing light.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-161588/


Scott

larryg3

Glad it was something as simple as no fuel in the tank!

psycho dad

I wonder if that tape comes with instructions.
Thanks Scott

...Roger...

Many guys just measure and put a paint stripe at 32 or 36 , wherever they decide.
Then just time to the paint mark.

69 Chevy

Here's the instructions for applying a Mr. Gasket timing tape:

psycho dad

Okay.. you line up the 32 (or whatever) on the balancer with the zero on the scale. that makes sense. I think I'll go ahead and order the tape.
Thanks guys