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Water in tank ?

70 StangMan

70 StangMan

Well-Known Member
Donator
The other morning it was cold outside and warm in the garage. When I opened the garage door and when outside I saw condensation all over my car ( windows fogged up, chrome covered, floor wet etc., etc.) Wiped the car down and didn't think anymore about it. This weekend went out for a drive and about 3 miles down the road she started stuttering/sputtering so I turned around and headed for the barn. The closer I got to home the worse she ran. Cut out three times getting her in the garage. Went out today and changed the fuel filter and checked over all the connections etc and now it won't stay running at all. Acts like jumped time or something ? Could that morning could have caused moisture to form in my tank ?? Would it cause this sudden running like s*t ? I opened up the carb and the bowl was full of gas and I saw no water at all ?? Thoughts ??
 
Could be condensation in the tank somewhere. Maybe got in through the vented gas cap.

I would check the plugs and see if they are fouled. How much gas is in it. A full tank is less likely to get condensation than a half empty tank. How does it run if you dump good gas down the carb?

Hard to say. If it jumped timing you would hear it through the carb or exhaust.

Mel
 
With no water in the carb, the tank is most likely ok. Could try some additive to remove any possible moisture.

Could just need a tune up.

Could be plug wires/connections.

Don't concentrate on a moisture issue....just go thru things like a normal tune up would take you and look for any issue. Moisture and cold will bring out the little issues on a car that does not see cold to often.
 
"guruatbol" said:
Could be condensation in the tank somewhere. Maybe got in through the vented gas cap.

I would check the plugs and see if they are fouled. How much gas is in it. A full tank is less likely to get condensation than a half empty tank. How does it run if you dump good gas down the carb?


Mel
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Only had a 1/4 tank in it at the time. The vented cap was what had me wondering.
 
If there is a bad wire, it will run just rough. If there is moister in the coil or Dizzy you will have issues as well. Where is your coil mounted? What angle is it mounted?

I am wondering what happens when you dump good gas in the carb and start it?

Mel
 
"guruatbol" said:
If there is moister in the coil or Dizzy you will have issues as well. Where is your coil mounted? What angle is it mounted?
Click to expand...

Front of engine above the water pump. Mounted straight up.
 
Wiping down the top of the coil and distributor cap plus the inside of the cap would disrupt any possible carbon/dirt tracks that the spark could follow.

I have seen the condenser in the distributor fail and cause it to miss. Just replace it to be sure.
 
Yep, I forgot to ask about your dizzy and if you had points. If you have points, replace the condenser, they fail a lot and will not allow it to stay running. The first time I had one fail in the 80s I did all kinds of crap and spent all kinds of money before a friend said to me,"Did you change your condenser?" and when I did, bam it was fixed, with new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, carb rebuild, fuel filter, and gas.

What a mess. We do tend to learn the hard way.

I asked about your coil since it they are mounted like the ones on my two cars, they can leak and go bad just sitting. Facing up is good.

Spray out your cap with WD 40 and wipe clean, then take a pencil eraser to the contacts on the cap and rotor. This should cure any spark jumping around.

Seriously though if you have a condenser, change it out first!

Mel
 
:nwort :nwort :nwort :nwort Well Mel and Pete I owe you both a cold beer ( or 12) :beer. I took your advise and bought a new condenser on the way home today ( the one on there was at most, 7 months old ). Wiped out the dizzy cap with WD and got the pencil eraser out then changed the condenser. Turned the key and Bam !! Back in business. Took it around the block a few times and hit a open stretch where there are no houses and ran just fine. Thank's guy's, I'm no longer giving her dirty looks for not running right. All is well again.
 
I've got a lightly used one in my "breakdown" bag but I'm definitely going to get a extra new one for just in case. Any brand or make better than the other ? I think I'm buying China crap.
 
All you can do is read on the box....now days one never knows where a brand name comes from. Just remember to rotate it when doing your tuneups......or you could go to a Pertronics unit. I really liked that conversion.
 
"AzPete" said:
All you can do is read on the box....now days one never knows where a brand name comes from. Just remember to rotate it when doing your tuneups......or you could go to a Pertronics unit. I really liked that conversion.
Click to expand...
The only thing that concerns me with the Pertronix is when it dies.. it dies. Or so I hear. At least with the condenser I got home. Buuut if it takes a dump every 6 months :dun The one I bought today was a BWD ( Made in Mexico )
 
I still believe it was because you wiped down the dizzy cap. :bow
 
"Midlife" said:
I still believe it was because you wiped down the dizzy cap. :bow
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Sooo...I should put the old one back in and see if she runs the same... right ?
 
"70 StangMan" said:
"AzPete" said:
All you can do is read on the box....now days one never knows where a brand name comes from. Just remember to rotate it when doing your tuneups......or you could go to a Pertronics unit. I really liked that conversion.
Click to expand...
The only thing that concerns me with the Pertronix is when it dies.. it dies. Or so I hear. At least with the condenser I got home. Buuut if it takes a dump every 6 months :dun The one I bought today was a BWD ( Made in Mexico )
Click to expand...
Neen running a pertronix since 93. Over 75000 miles. still going strong.
 
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