rep69

My 1969 427 has been experiencing some electrical issues. It will start but after you drive around for a while and turn the engine off, it will not start. It will drain the battery down. I have had the engine shut down on me on the road. after a jump start it will run again. I have had the alternator overhauled/tested. It is putting out the correct volts. New red top optima battery. Any suggestions? wiring harness?? bad coil? battery cables?

ToolMan71

As far as the hot start goes, it may be the starter. These cars are notorious for the starter getting hot and not staring until it's cooled down. Do you have headers, because that makes the matter even worse as they get closer to the starter than the stock manifolds do. I have the same issue on my 71, will be changing out the starter soon. As a side note, I'm in Portsmouth, maybe I'll see you at Cars and Coffee or other cruise ins.

MelWff

the alternator has to be tested on the car to see if it is actually charging the battery. The battery itself has to be load tested to determine if it has a bad cell. A very common issue is the plug with the two wires has a broken or partially broken wire inside the insulation where it goes into the plug.

rep69

Thanks for the reply. The car has a new mini high torque starter. The alternator was tested on the car with volt meter. The car has factory manifolds.

MelWff

sounds like you have a bad battery, get it load tested

rep69

The battery is new from Autozone. Optima red top. They tested it said it was good.

MelWff

have you checked the ground cable where it attaches to the frame under the battery compartment?
are you testing voltage readings at the battery with the engine running, if so what are they?

BlowAMouse

Yet another idea, Battery drain due to a short.

Hot starts require more current due to the starter getting warm and metal expansion. You state that you "had the engine shut down on me on the road". You think that you had too low of voltage to run the ignition?

Might want to put a volt meter between the disconnected ground cable and the negative side of the battery. With key off you should read lower than 1 volt and 1 amp. This will depend upon how much your radios memory or other electronics are using. Anything above that might be you issue.

just another thing to check / confuse you.....

rep69

Thanks. Not confused. Just trying to get the issue fixed. Very frustrating.

BlackC3vette

With the vette running, what is the battery voltage?
When it won't start, what was the battery voltage?

Points distributor? If it's converted to HEI, the dying could be the ignition module in the distributor.