66 327/350 stumbles/ cuts out

[Rich G.]

66 327/350

Latest problem. Looking for ideas. Car stumbles infrequently, maybe once every 2 or 3 miles otherwise runs smooth with good power. When left at idle it almost quits about every minute or so but recovers before the fire goes out. once in a while on the road it quits long enough that I start to pull over, then it goes back to running normally.

The carb is a few years old after market holly with an electric choke. Problem happens whether the choke is on or off. Fuel pump and filter are a year or so old. Coil is not new. Points were changed out for electronic module about 9 years ago. The fuel filter is clear so I can see gas in it all the time. Dist cap and wires look good.

I plan to dive into it tomorrow. Last time I had similar symptoms it was the fuel pump but that was easy because gas was pouring out of it

All ideas appreciated.

Rich

[Edward J.]

Re: 66 327/350 stumbles/ cuts out

Rich do a inpection of the wiring at the coil, ballast res., ignition switch, fire wall, make sure your not loosing power to coil. Sometimes wiggling the wire harness and there connections help.make sure that none of the wires on coil towers are grounding out against top sheild.

[Bob H.]

Re: 66 327/350 stumbles/ cuts out

Rich:

Edward covered a lot of common problem areas. I experienced the same symtoms and had a bad connection on the ignition switch. Couldn't find it for a long time and eventually as it happened more frequently, I put a meter on the coil and caught it losing power.

I know the electronic modules are pretty reliable but you may put some points back in it to eliminate it as a source of the problem.

Years ago I also had a ballast resistor when hot would break and fuse back together when cooling off. I only found that problem after replacing it.

Keep us informed.

Bob

[Domenic T.]

Re: 66 327/350 stumbles/ cuts out

Rich,

Just another place to look.

I just had similar problems in a piece of equipment I have and when I went to tow it back the same thing happened to the one doing the towing.
Thats how things were going that day.

It was water in the fuel, did you wash the vette just before it happened?

You might be able to see water or bad gas in your fuel filter.

Both of my problems were caused by rain and I wasn't able to see it in my filter but found water in the tanks.

We have vented gas caps that sit low with a drain that might not be able to drain fast enough during a wash.

DOM

[Anthony S.]

Re: 66 327/350 stumbles/ cuts out

Rich,
I had experienced these same symptoms and found that Gas that had dried in the carb was giving off small particles that were intermittently clogging the works giving the intermittent behavior that you describe. This was caused by old gas, even with sta-bil added. Looks like you are doing a good job of tracking down possible causes (like any blockage in the fuel lines, filters etc., distributor cap. etc.). Best Tony

[Rich G.]

Re: 66 327/350 stumbles/ cuts out

Thanks guys. I will let you know what we find.

Anthony, that is interesting. I do drive this car a lot and didn't think it could be a dirt situation, but somebody local here related the same story when he had a similar problem a few years ago.

Rich

[Rich G.]

Re: 66 327/350 stumbles/ cuts out

Well........

So today I go to my friends shop. He owns a number of mid years and has done most of the work on mine to keep it running. I brought him to my house and followed him while he drove my car the 4 miles or so to his place. He said he had no problems. We let it idle a while then I drove it about ten miles with no problem. Then I decided to take it home and the ensuing trips to get all the cars and people added another 25 miles. No problem. The car runs great.

Previously I could experience the problem in less than a 2 mile drive.

So, at this point it is wait and see, I guess. We tugged on a bunch of wires and harnesses so maybe that fixed something temporarily.

More to come, probably.

Rich

[Domenic T.]

Re: 66 327/350 stumbles/ cuts out

Well........

So today I go to my friends shop. He owns a number of mid years and has done most of the work on mine to keep it running. I brought him to my house and followed him while he drove my car the 4 miles or so to his place. He said he had no problems. We let it idle a while then I drove it about ten miles with no problem. Then I decided to take it home and the ensuing trips to get all the cars and people added another 25 miles. No problem. The car runs great.

Previously I could experience the problem in less than a 2 mile drive.

So, at this point it is wait and see, I guess. We tugged on a bunch of wires and harnesses so maybe that fixed something temporarily.

More to come, probably.

Rich

Rich,
That sounds like water not wires, wires stop ignition and you usually get a backfire when it returns.

But water or light dirt, eventually get thru the fuel system.

I asked in my other post if you washed your car?

you can get water at the pumps also.

We have water drains aircraft tanks that we get water out of especially after a wash or rain.

The fuel trucks have to sump 1 gal of fuel each morning here but that is not done at gas stations.

DOM

DOM

[Rich G.]

Re: 66 327/350 stumbles/ cuts out

Hi Dom

No washing and the car is indoors all the time. Could still be water I guess. I am aware of the dangers of water in the gas as I am a flight instructor and have been flying since 1968. Wish there was an easy way to sump the tank on the corvette :-)

Rich

[Edward J.]

Re: 66 327/350 stumbles/ cuts out

Hi Dom

No washing and the car is indoors all the time. Could still be water I guess. I am aware of the dangers of water in the gas as I am a flight instructor and have been flying since 1968. Wish there was an easy way to sump the tank on the corvette :-)

Rich

Rich, just take the cap off the back and look in with a flash light, if theres water you should see it at the lowest point of tank ( rear of tank).