This is getting spooky

[Don Jordan]

The car won't go more than 10 miles. It doesn't overheat. When it runs it purrrs. I took off the gas tank - clean. Replaced the coil - new.

It has dual carburetors .

I was driving down the road and it started sputtering like it was running out of gas. I pulled over checked the coil - was not hot. Put my hand on the gas line - also not hot. Closed the hood - pushed the button and it fired right up.

Would the condenser do that?

The choke is not hooked to any thing - could that be sucked closed?

I'm at my wits end. This week end I'm going to boil out the carbs. What I don't get is it will sit an idle for 30 minutes, it will drive back home without a sputter. But 3 times going less than 10 miles it quit. There's not a lot left to check.

Time for thinking caps.

[Don Coatney]

Is the filler spout on your gas tank vented?

[Jerry Roberts]

If you think that your choke plate might be closing on it's own , take a piece of wire and tie it open .

[Plymouthy Adams]

first off..if you suspect the choke by all means just take the top off the breather and verify its location...a condenser will give you situation vry similar to the one you describe in that not loaded in gear the engine purrs, revs to all limits and very responsive..but load it down..falls on it face, hucks and bucks and spits and sputters, push in the clutch it revs and runs like a sewing machine.

When you suspect a tune up condition ask yourself just how long has it been since a tune up..could very well be the breaker cam on the points ae worn extensively and you do not have enought dwell to saturate the coil for good secondary ignition..

The normal indication of a bad condenser will be the ooints burnt a bright blue looking as it no longr can keep the current from arcing across the contacts..

[JerseyHarold]

Hotwire the ignition to bypass the switch, drive it and see what happens.

[Normspeed]

When it quits, go back right away and remove the gas cap. Do you hear a whoosh of air when you do that?

[Don Coatney]

When it quits, go back right away and remove the gas cap. Do you hear a whoosh of air when you do that?

That is exactly where I was going.

[55 Fargo]

That is exactly where I was going.

Love the new signature Don, anything some of us may have said....................LOL

[wldavis3]

Yeah -- why are you getting grumpier by the day?

[Don Jordan]

This Saturday a friend is coming over and we are going to run the car through all its paces. Check everything - points, plugs, condenser.

First thing is the gas cap. Thank you. I know it's going to be something really easy. It is a new gas cap. What do I look for in a parts store - a no pressure cap?

If this works I will scream so loud that you'll hear it where ever you are.

Thank you gentlemen.

[radioguy7]

That would of been my first suggestion as well, check the gas cap. Remove the cap and take her for a drive, not gonna hurt anything, not like stuff is gonna fly in there going down the road. Well, as long as its not like a dirt or gravel road.

[steveplym]

This Saturday a friend is coming over and we are going to run the car through all its paces. Check everything - points, plugs, condenser.

First thing is the gas cap. Thank you. I know it's going to be something really easy. It is a new gas cap. What do I look for in a parts store - a no pressure cap?

If this works I will scream so loud that you'll hear it where ever you are.

Thank you gentlemen.

It happened to me Don last year. I went to O'reilly's and purchased a new gas cap. Not thinking about it I saw a peculiar plastic piece on the inside of the cap. I put it on and drove it about 10 miles on my way to a car show and it wanted to die at the stop sign. So I pulled over and changed over to my original cap. I kept it with me, as I know how things always work for me.

So when I took off the cap I heard the pressure come off. Knew that was the problem. I took that cap apart and go rid of the part that keeps the pressure. It works good. Just pried it out with a screwdriver. May not be your only problem, but it sure will help.

[Don Jordan]

I will let you all know tomorrow.

Thank you so very much.

[Rodney Bullock]

Hi Don, I want you to enjoy your car. I like driving the old stuff alot. I have had the same problem as you on some of the cars I own. The problem you are having has to do with "load" as you said it will sit and idle for 30 min. However when you drive it after 10 miles it dies. My guess is the fuel pump. After a while the diapham gets weak. The way to test this is drive the car and wait for it to die then pull the line off and turn the car over and see if you have fuel. It's my guess you don't then if you wai a while the pump will work again.

If you have fuel then check the coil after it dies have someone turn it over and see if there is spark at the plug, pull the dis cap and using a wooden stick with the switch on open the points to see if there is a spark there if it is not, then you need to look at the ignition system. good luck

[Don Coatney]

Pressure is not the problem with a non vented gas cap. It is the opposite of pressure. The fuel pump pulls a vacuum on the gas tank and the cap must be vented to allow fuel to flow.

[james curl]

Don,if you bought the cap in Califorina it most likely is not vented because of y'alls emission rules. As Don Coatney stated pressure is not the problem, vacuum is. When the vacuum pressure exceeds the pumping capicity of the fuel pump it can not pull against the vacuum and the engine dies. I am suprised that it will restart until the vacuum is released from the tank. The vacuum may pull the fuel back into the tank but the engine would not run then until the vacuum was low enough that the pump could suck gas again.

[John Mulders]

Is is driveway only car?

[Rodney Bullock]

I went back and read your pervious post and you said that went from a manual pump to a electric pump. You said you checked the tank. I take it you checked that sock or filter also. I had a problem with a truck I own the tank had been sealed and the material came off the sides and covered the hole. after I stooped and the material floated away from the hole in the tank the car would start and drive. I pulled the line and put a gas can in the back of the truck and drove the truck and no problems. I pulled the tank and looked into getting a new one, installed it and no problems since.

[Don Jordan]

I knew it would be something easy - just finding it is hard.

I took the tank off and it was clean inside. It was clean with a visual inspection. I put the tank back on and drove it. After 10 miles it choked for fuel. It's interesting that it always made it back home. Blew air through the fuel line. Took off the line at the carb. Fuel pump was not pumping very much gas. Blew air into the tank. Fuel pump started cranking out gas. That's it. Put it all back together - 10 miles same thing.

Now I'm just up set and fed up. So I took the brand new, rebuilt gas tank off the 47 and put it on the 48. With my friend following me I took it on the freeway for about 35 miles. Purred - my speedo said 55 - 60 but my friend following me said 45 - 50. I don't care IT RUNS.

Thank you all for your sincere input. I tried each suggestion. It was something in the tank - unseen. But now I have a new coil and gas cap. It's okay.

I was able to drive it to the upholsterer so he could fix a few things. Pictures to follow.