Yesterday, was the third X in three drives (4 weeks) that my '67 4.2 has died while driving at slow/moderate speed (25-30 mph). Ambient T° was 95 or so. Humid, no rain (Houston). 15-25 minutes into drive and, with neither warning nor fanfare, stops running. Doesn’t sputter or run poorly, just quietly coasts to a stop. (You can feel a loss of power, as RPMs fall) Car was well warmed up and ALWAYS starts from cold on first turn of the key and runs like a bat. Once it’s dead, cranks but won’t fire, and no hint it once to start. 3 tows ain’t that much fun…and my wife is about to kill me. The car is new to me, having purchased it in April, and installing new points, rotor, and condenser.
The first time it was towed home, I replaced the coil, and also installed a new high voltage coil to distributor ignition wire, prior to which, I sprayed starter aeresol into the carbs and it didn’t make a difference. Problem seemed solved with a new coil (SNG Barratt/generic unmarked coil)…car started perfectly and then promptly died after 20 minutes of driving.
After getting home from the second disaster, and a cool engine, I could that the coil negative to distributor wire was off the coil’s negative male connector. Once connected, she fired up, first turn of the key, as usual. Home free, now…not so fast big boy…
Same story yesterday, car died but couldn’t be re-started, even w/starter fluid (can’t blame a boy for trying) Towed and arrived home about 2 hours later. Unloaded from tow truck, fired up on first turn of the key. Ditto this AM: started easily.
Tried this little experiment this AM: car idling in my garage, heated the coil with heat gun…it continued to run fine. The heat from the gun (about 10 minutes)…no effect,
I ordered a new Lucas Sports coil but am a bit gun-shy now. Your thoughts?
thanx steve