67 won't restart after sitting hot for a couple hrs

[Bill K.]

Car info:

67 Roadster
L68 427 3x2
Points ignition
4 speed (if it matters)
Power Brakes
Non AIR

After sitting for about a month decided to take the car out for a drive and get some gas. Car started fine and everything was normal, fast idle until warm etc. Drove the car for about 30 minutes during which I stopped and added 12 gallons of 100 octane LL from the local airport. Temp was about 96F outside. Engine ran fine, nice and cool on the temp gauge. Got home and parked the car nose first on a slight downslope.

Car sat for about 2 hrs. Went to put it back in the garage and the car would not start. It would fire and then die. If I pumped the gas it would sputter and die. Removed air cleaner lid and confirmed the choke was open. Did not confirm fuel squirted in the carb when accelerator was pushed.

Put the car away overnight. Tried to start again in the AM and everything fired up as normal. Didn't drive it, just confirmed it started and idled.

First time this ever happened since I've owned the car. Looked in the archives and saw several references to "heat soak". This seems a bit different as every time I would try to start the car without pressing on the gas it would fire and then die.

What am I missing ?

[Timothy B.]

Re: 67 won't restart after sitting hot for a couple hrs

Bill,

Sounds like vapor lock in the fuel pump from your description but after two hours sitting I would think it cooled some. IMO, if you can replicate the problem and check for fuel present at the carburetor that may help eliminate the cause.

Also keep in mind a ignition coil acts that way when it starts to fail and gets hot.

[Duke W.]

Re: 67 won't restart after sitting hot for a couple hrs

If it fires and then dies when you return the ignition switch to the ON position, good chance it's an electrical problem. The primary culprit is the cowl electrical connectors. Carefully remove them, inspect, clean and reinstall. It's not an uncommon problem.

If it occurs again before you get the chance to check the connectors, turn the ignition switch to ON and check for voltage at the coil + terminal. If none it's the ignition power circuit from the switch that is included in the bundle that goes through the cowl connectors, but it could also be a faulty ignition switch.

In an emergency just wiggling the connectors will often get you home.

Duke

[Leif A.]

Re: 67 won't restart after sitting hot for a couple hrs

"Got home and parked the car nose first on a slight downslope."

I'm not a fuel flow expert but could this have exacerbated an already existing heat soak issue??

[Bill K.]

Re: 67 won't restart after sitting hot for a couple hrs

Thanks for the responses.

Tim, I think it's some form of vapor lock as well. Didn't know if the car being parked on a slope would trigger any thoughts. I will try a different coil as well and see if it makes any difference. If it occurs again I will also confirm that there is good fuel getting into the carbs.

Duke, car actually ran for a bit after the key was returned to the on position. Couple seconds, but I could not detect any correlation to the position of the key. I will confirm the coil voltages. Once the car cooled overnight it started and ran as if the situation never occurred.

[Frank D.]

Re: 67 won't restart after sitting hot for a couple hrs

Its not percolation after sitting for two hours. Coulda been a one-time instance of a float sticking. Carry a plastic handled screwdriver tucked away somewhere. If it happens again give the side of the center carb a sharp rap with the screwdriver handle...see what happens...