1976 Stalling Problem - Please Help

[born2run]

I have a '76 Stingray - 72,000 original miles.. The car was sitting in a garage for approximately 18 years untouched until last winter when I took possession of it. At the time I got the car, I had some work done to it to get it going again (rear bearings, fuel pump, plugs, brakes, calipers, etc..).. I've driven it on and off about 200 miles in the past year - only local driving - no more than 40 mph.. A couple of weeks ago, I had been driving it for approximately 30 minutes when it stalled.. It felt like the car ran out of gas (the tank was 1/2 full) and just died.. It wouldn't start up again - it cranked but wouldn't turn over to start - seemed like it was flooded.. After about 45 minutes - I tried to start the car again and it fired right up - first time.. This has happened to me 3 times in the past 2 weeks - but it only dies after about 45 minutes of driving (at low speeds of no more than 40 mph) - and then it will start again after 30 minutes or so.. My dad told me to change the air filter, breather and gas filter (I know I should have done that last year when I got the car).. I did that today..

Can anyone offer any ideas as to what might be the problem.. Someone told me it may be the ignition module (I'm not sure what that is and how costly it would be to replace).. Another guy (a mechanic) told me that the 70s Vettes had a problem like this and that if I disconnect the tach lead from the distributor, that may solve the problem (this sounds kind of strange to me).. Could it have been simply a dirty fuel filter that was causing this stalling problem?? The filter I pulled out was real dirty and hadn't been changed in over 20 years..

Any suggestions would be appreciated.. Thanks..

 

[kiwi vet]

Hey Borntorun, the only other thing might be to flush the petrol tank and lines.
Had an old 64 Impala that sat for 20 odd years, same problem. Changed all as you have - same problem.
Flushed the tank and all this glue type crap came out, apparently gas seperates over time and with the pump continually sucking it would eventually pull this gunk to the fuel line entry and stop.
After some time it would float back to where ever and the car would start, only to repeat the process again.

If that doesnt work, Im sure the knowledgable people in this site will sort it for you shortly. Good Luck.

Kiwi Vette

 

[MMM]

I think you probably have a plugged gas line or a problem with the liner in the gas tank. I don't know about '76's, but I know '75's were recalled because of a problem with the liner that caused fuel starvation. Perhaps someone with more experience with the liner issue can better explain the original problem and the fix. Other than that, 18 years of sitting will certainly cause rusting in the fuel line and the fuel pick up. You can probably get the car running by blowing air (at a very low pressure) backwards (from the fuel pump end) through the fuel line, after disconnecting it from the tank. However, once rust starts there is no fix other than replacement of the rusting line and replacement/repair of the tank. So cleaning the line is only a temporary fix. Another thought just sprung up, check the rubber part of the fuel line at the tank end. It is possible the line has collapsed internally.
Good Luck,
Mike

 

[Vanity Plate Bob]

My bro bought a rather new, used Chrysler and the tank was rusty. The rust got sucked against a sock type filter and the car would stop. Let it set for awhile and then it would start.Not sure if yours has a tank filter but it could get sucked against the fuel line inlet and stop the gas flow.

 

[goertz]

could be a million things causing it, it sounds like fuel starvation to me. Ignition modules do this too though. About $20 at the local parts store.

why the hell do you only drive the car 40 mph max?