Engine Dying

[Chuck Watson]

Last Sunday I got my car out for the first time in a couple of weeks. It is a '69 with a 427/400Hp engine. The restoration on it was just finished this past January. I've driven it a few times since the first of the year when weather has been nice and haven't had any problems until this past Sunday. When I drove it to a car show, it would idle rough and at only about 500 rpm and die. It would then start back up with no problem. By the time I got to the car show (about 1 hour away) is was idling fine. When I left about 3 hours later it kept dying at about every stop light. But by the time I was about 3/4 the way home it was idling fine again. I shut the engine off at a friends house on the way home (stayed only 10 min.) and after I left his house it kept dying again. I would like to troubleshoot this myself and learn a little bit more about the car so I would like any help anyone can give me.
Chuck W.

[Jay Hastings]

Re: Engine Dying

The first thing you should do is retorque the intake manifold and all the carbs. being alum. they will need a retorque after driving the car just about every time for a few weeks/months depending on how much you drive the car. had to do this to my 435 hp several times. and the other cars I have had an alum. manifold on. after it has seated I still do it a couple times a year just to check it. (DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN THE CARBS) you may strip out the threds on the manifold. just snug will do.

jay

[Jay Hastings]

Re: Engine Dying

The first thing you should do is retorque the intake manifold and all the carbs. being alum. they will need a retorque after driving the car just about every time for a few weeks/months depending on how much you drive the car. had to do this to my 435 hp several times. and the other cars I have had an alum. manifold on. after it has seated I still do it a couple times a year just to check it. (DO NOT OVER TIGHTEN THE CARBS) you may strip out the threds on the manifold. just snug will do.

jay

[George J.]

Re: Engine Dying

If you can get it to idle rough in the driveway check to see that each plug is firing evenly. Those $30 "engine analyzers" are great at this. I had a similar problem when pulling my car out of storage this year and it turned out that when warmed up and at idle numbers 6 and 8 were misfiring eneough to make the engine want to stall. Good luck George #31887

[George J.]

Re: Engine Dying

If you can get it to idle rough in the driveway check to see that each plug is firing evenly. Those $30 "engine analyzers" are great at this. I had a similar problem when pulling my car out of storage this year and it turned out that when warmed up and at idle numbers 6 and 8 were misfiring eneough to make the engine want to stall. Good luck George #31887

[Wayne C.]

Re: Engine Dying

A couple of more thoughts (and I'm not an expert on your engine, so forgive me if they don't apply):

Perhaps the choke is adjusted such that it is coming off high idle well before the engine has warmed up.

Perhaps the heat riser valve is sticking in the open position.

[Wayne C.]

Re: Engine Dying

A couple of more thoughts (and I'm not an expert on your engine, so forgive me if they don't apply):

Perhaps the choke is adjusted such that it is coming off high idle well before the engine has warmed up.

Perhaps the heat riser valve is sticking in the open position.