Car won't stay running!

Author Topic: Car won't stay running!  (Read 17072 times)

Offline scf100

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #30 on: March 08, 2010 - 12:25:49 AM »
I am not a carb expert and don't know if this is related but 2 yrs ago my car( Eldo carb too) my car would stall when coming to a stop and then when you put it in drive.....all signs of carb flooding,trash in carb....etc

turned out to be a bad distributor........

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=48434.0

so don't know if this is part of your prob....
1970 Challenger R/T convertible 383…. 4-speed…3.91 suregrip

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Offline Tonefiend

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #31 on: March 08, 2010 - 12:33:01 AM »
I am not a carb expert and don't know if this is related but 2 yrs ago my car( Eldo carb too) my car would stall when coming to a stop and then when you put it in drive.....all signs of carb flooding,trash in carb....etc

turned out to be a bad distributor........

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=48434.0

so don't know if this is part of your prob....


I installed a new cap and rotor.  Interestingly there is some play in the distributor shaft.  I can wiggle it around a bit I would estimate .010 to .020 

*Update* Reading through that thread I notice alot of similarities. 1400 carb, 1972 electronic ignition, and the same symptoms. 
« Last Edit: March 08, 2010 - 01:10:23 AM by tonefiend »

Offline Strawdawg

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #32 on: March 08, 2010 - 10:22:07 AM »


I have 9v on the electric choke lead which is coming off the ballast resistor.  Would that cause this? 

Whether it is the main problem, I doubt, but, the electric choke needs full voltage.  Running it off the ballast resistor is not good as the choke may not open all the way which will make the car very rich.

Two cans of gas dry will not hurt anything.

Offline Tonefiend

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #33 on: March 10, 2010 - 09:58:10 PM »
I couldn't figure it out, so I had it towed to a shop.  Now they can't figure it out either!  We have been talking about possibilities, so hopefully the mechanic will get to the bottom of it tomorrow.   I will keep you all posted. 

Offline scf100

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #34 on: March 12, 2010 - 06:50:11 PM »
let us know what they find out..
1970 Challenger R/T convertible 383…. 4-speed…3.91 suregrip

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Offline Tonefiend

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #35 on: March 12, 2010 - 09:18:13 PM »
I am not a carb expert and don't know if this is related but 2 yrs ago my car( Eldo carb too) my car would stall when coming to a stop and then when you put it in drive.....all signs of carb flooding,trash in carb....etc

turned out to be a bad distributor........

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=48434.0

so don't know if this is part of your prob....


We have a winner!

Turns out it was the distributor.  They just called to let me know they figured it out and fixed it. 

I put a new cap and rotor on and the mechanic told me they were both toast. I am guessing there was so much runout they got messed up.   Funny thing, when I got the car the distributor was loose. I could turn it by hand. 

Thanks I appreciate the help and advice!

Offline Glennster

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #36 on: March 13, 2010 - 06:53:32 AM »
  Ian, don't give up on that 318, that old girl should have a lot of fun left in her. Glad to here you're making progress!

Offline Tonefiend

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #37 on: March 13, 2010 - 01:28:08 PM »
Thanks Glenn, sorry to hear about your motor!

Well I got it back from the shop today.   It runs, but it wants to stall out around corners, and pulses.  Meaning it wants to die in pulses but a blip of the throttle brings it back.  I am at a loss now.  Maybe I'll check the floats... 

Offline scf100

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #38 on: March 13, 2010 - 05:19:07 PM »
so did you replace the distributor?
1970 Challenger R/T convertible 383…. 4-speed…3.91 suregrip

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Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #39 on: March 13, 2010 - 07:39:51 PM »
Idle mix screws & float levels

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Offline Tonefiend

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #40 on: March 13, 2010 - 08:49:24 PM »
Yes new distributor, cap and rotor. 

Cryco I will pull the top off and check the floats and dial in the screws.  I will also check for any vacuum leaks around the intake gasket.

Offline LAA66

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #41 on: March 13, 2010 - 11:50:43 PM »
 Sounds like floats to me, or possibly a loose ignition wire connection.

Offline Tonefiend

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #42 on: March 16, 2010 - 02:31:48 AM »
Hmmm.  I replaced the sending unit. I am wondering if the problem going around corners could be the pickup tube?

Anyway tomorrow I am going to check the intake manifold for leaks, check the floats and dial in the idle screws.  You know it ran much better before the local shop tuned it up, I suspect there is more to tuning up an old mopar than a local tech would know. 
« Last Edit: March 16, 2010 - 02:41:53 AM by tonefiend »

Offline Chryco Psycho

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #43 on: March 16, 2010 - 03:26:31 AM »
typically these cars run far better with creative tuning than  by the book tuning

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Offline Tonefiend

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Re: Car won't stay running!
« Reply #44 on: March 16, 2010 - 03:31:44 AM »
typically these cars run far better with creative tuning than  by the book tuning

Thas what I am thinking. I had a local mopar guru, a young guy, drag racer, tweak it for me and it ran great!