Electrical break-up at high RPM

[MFPvette80]

Well, I've fixed my harmonic balancer problem (which I'll cover in a different post) and now there's a new gremlin in my 1980. When running at high RPM (above 3500) or under load, the ignition system seems to stutter. Actually, it's the entire electrical system since the radio and dome light also flicker. Everything looks fine at idle, but when the revs go up or during acceleration, the systems breaks-up. My first assumption is that I have a ground problem since everything goes whacky. Any ideas for a good place to start? I did have the starter motor out over the winter along with the distributor.

 

[MFPvette80]

Found the electrical problem: The battery cable to the starter motor was loose. After thinking about it for a day or two, I went back to the last thing I did concerning the electrical system. That was installing the starter. Always a good place to begin troubleshooting. Don't understand why it only broke up at high RPM, but it's fixed so I guess I'll just let it go.

Well, I've fixed my harmonic balancer problem (which I'll cover in a different post) and now there's a new gremlin in my 1980. When running at high RPM (above 3500) or under load, the ignition system seems to stutter. Actually, it's the entire electrical system since the radio and dome light also flicker. Everything looks fine at idle, but when the revs go up or during acceleration, the systems breaks-up. My first assumption is that I have a ground problem since everything goes whacky. Any ideas for a good place to start? I did have the starter motor out over the winter along with the distributor.

 

[74bigblock]

It was orob arcing or grounding out to an alternate source.... I had that problem with my plug wires grounding out on the steering coulmn. Good to hear you got it running well.

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Good catch!