'60 stuttering - help

[Matt F.]

I continue to have a problem with the car 'stuttering' while cruising, at idle, etc. Today, during a drive of about 25 miles, it briefly hesitated a couple of times at about 45 mph. During a stop, it died completely, then started right back up. Coming home, at about 30 mph, it died, I downshifted, let out the clutch, and it fired back up, and I managed to get home with no other problems.

I just replaced the wiring between the starter/battery/voltage regulator and ammeter/ignition switch. I have a good battery, known good coil, my dwell is good (points & condensor are almost new), and my mixture seems to be good, as evidenced by the appearance of the plugs. I have to think this is an electrical problem, and in the past when the car wouldn't restart, I could see there was no spark at the coil (although this hasn't happened since I replaced the ignition wiring, it now restarts after dying), so that makes me think it's somewhere pre-coil. My thought was to replace the wiring under-dash which includes the fuse block. Does anyone have any other thoughts as to the likely culprit? I'm not a mechanic, and have exhausted the limits of my knowledge.

I should also add that I just recently moved to sea-level from about a 4000' foot elevation, and I changed the metering rods in the carb back to the factory configuration (this is a NOM).

thanks
-Matt

[Dave Sly]

Re: '60 stuttering - help

You can't check a coil, distributor cap/rotor or Ballast resistor unless they have totally failed. Otherwise, heat buildup due to resistance, can cause all of those components to fail intermittently. I would swap them all out (at least temporarily to see if your problem goes away (cheap and easy to do).

If you still have the problem, then you probably have an intermittent fuel pressure problem, caused by a floating restriction in your gas tank (or lines) or a problem with your fuel pump. To test, you'll need to temporarily install an electric fuel pressure tester after your pump (before the carb). Then watch the fuel pressure as you drive when you encounter the problem. If you have 5psi or more during the problem, then you are likely OK there.

Dave

[Dennis C.]

I had this type of problem once... Turned out...

...to be a faulty ignition switch and/or connections. I could reach under the dash and put pressure against the wires at the back of the switch and be back in business. New switch ended the problem. This may have nothing to do with your issue, but thought I'd mention it. Good Luck, Dennis

[Rob Dame]

Re: '60 stuttering - help

I had a similar problem with my 56. Turned out that the filter on the end of the sending unit was 47 years old at the time and very restricted. If you haven't replaced it you could remove the gas cap and line at the fuel pump and blow compressed air back to the tank. This should blow the filter off the sending unit and see if you still experience the same problems. BTW when you replaced the coil did you lift it off the intake??

[Mike M.]

Re: I had this type of problem once... Turned out.

i also seem to recall you stuttering once down south at a regional meet when the # of Jack's consumed exceeded 8. mikie

[Dick W.]

Re: I had this type of problem once... Turned out.

Viva Gentleman Jack!!!

[Dennis C.]

Well, Mike & Dickie, I thought Uncle Jack...

had the answer to everything... Always did for me - at least I thought so...

[Dick W.]

Re: Well, Mike & Dickie, I thought Uncle Jack...

Dip. Mama Hated Diesels Soooo Baaad, and we sounded sooo bad, just ask the Headmaster at that school in Oakville, Ont.

[Matt F.]

Re: '60 stuttering - help

Thanks - the entire fuel system was replaced when I bought the car (I guess they don't run real well on varnish!). I don't have the original 283 in the car right now (and haven't since I've owned it), so I'm not sure what you mean by lifting the coil off the intake...?

-Matt

[Rob Dame]

Re: '60 stuttering - help

If the bottom of the coil is resting on the intake it'll pick up more heat than if it has an inch or so space

[Matt F.]

Re: '60 stuttering - help

Oh, right, gotcha. Yeah, it's at least an inch off of the intake deck, so that's probably OK. I ordered a new coil and dist. cap/rotor, we'll see if that helps. If not, I'll start looking at fuel delivery...

Thanks for your help
-Matt