Stalls out and hard to restart when warm?

Hi,

That is an interesting one. When it happens, will it restart with starting fluid? I'm questioning if you have a vapor lock in the fuel system.

Try to see if it starts with starting fluid. If it does and then stalls, we know its fuel related. If there is no change, then check to see if there is spark to the plugs. If there isn't, I need to know if this still has the original points and condenser ignition system or if someone has changed it. Also, the coil itself may fail when heated.

Let me know.

Joe

It has fuel, the glass inline filter is full. When it will not start even when turning over after it gets warm, I have put the spark tester light on it, and it has spark. I have replaced the mech ignition and coil with a ProComp Magnetic trigger ignition with vacuum advance. New mech fuel pump and a new replacement voltage regulator or surge protector as Ford called it also, I have rerouted the fuel line from pump to carburetor away from the engine. It runs up the fender and across the firewall to keep from vapor locking. It has to be a "BLANK" failure. Caused by heat and still not consistent. Could be 5 minutes or the longest I have made it was 20 minutes idle or 15-minute drive.

When driving it is like it gets bogged. I can hear the carburetor sucking air and felt the engine slowing the car as if it had an engine brake. Then bam sucker is back in action... Or if I can't catch it soon after it shuts off, she will not start for an hour or so. No matter what I do.

The video is after it idled for about 10 minutes. The tick you hear Is an exhaust leak. Pease tune it out, lol.

Hi,

If it still has spark, then it has to be fuel related. Will it start with starting fluid? Have you had the carburetor apart to make sure the float is properly set, and the needle valve is clean and functional?

Let me know.

Joe

I rebuilt the carburetor, it had sat for about 3 years, and we had the great Texas freeze during that time as well. At the moment I have the gas tank in the garage, doing a bit of electrolysis rust removal. I will check the carburetor again this afternoon.

Hi,

Sounds like a plan, and I hope everything is going well in TX. Let me know what you find.

Joe

Well not the response I would like to give, but TX is always great just getting my butt kicked with the Ragweed, I think. A little summer cold as they like to call it. But the car Is still here, and I will get back on it ASAP. Keep the conversation alive until the problem is solved!

Hi,

It sounds like a plan. Take care and I will watch for your reply.

Joe

Alright Joe. So, while I have the gas tank off and doing a round or electrolysis therapy, I throw a 2gal can in the trunk and hit a lap (turn around on the frontage road, I live by I-35) just to see if it was the sending unit that was shot. Still acted up. Yesterday the can bypassed the entire line and hooked into the fuel pump. Ran like a champ right until it died a block from home. Now today I fired her up and just sat and watched. After about 10 mins at idle I start to see what I can only call smoke (but more like dense vapors) coming from small ports on each side of the carburetor. And the idle gets rough right before she shuts off. I will attach a pic of the carburetor. Experiment #2 I let her run and I pulled the hose out of the tank to see how it acted when out of fuel. It did not sputter only when it was out it was off like a switch. In the pic the ports are the holes beside the little brass plates. It's an Eldibrock 1406. What at the holes and why would it "smoke"?

These, lol.

These lol

Hi,

Take the carburetor off and check the float drop and the needle and seat. Make sure the needle and seat are sealing fuel off when needed. Also, make sure the float drop is correct. It's getting too much fuel. Think about it. If it ran good with the fuel disconnected until it ran out of fuel, that leads me to say if fuel was available, it would have pumped too much.

Let me know.

Joe

I will pull it apart again when I get home. I know it is a lot to take in and I appreciate your help. Sometime a second set of ears helps a lot. Would too much fuel make it sound like.... Well, doing 55 MPH I feel it start to bog down and when I give it the pedal, I hear the sounds of a giant sucking a straw in a cup of ice. If you can imagine that sound. I thought it was starving, but couple It be flooding?

Hi,

When you hear that sound, does the engine bog down? In other words, does it lose power? That would indicate it is starved for fuel.

Let me know.

Joe

Okay, so to update I guess so that we can continue the conversation I'm not a goober head lol! I'm pretty knowledgeable in the mechanics field although you probably get that a lot anyway. I just got done with coating the inside of my gas tank and I was listening to a random YouTube video that came on after one I was watching. And it was talking about vapor fuel separator filters and then I realized my engine and system ran dead. So, I decided to not install my gas tank instead I am running a return line with the vapor separator after the fuel pump before the carburetor. Maybe I'll be done by Sunday evening. And with any luck and a little grace from the Lord that's going to help wait not help That's going to solve the issue keep your fingers crossed and I won't stop this conversation until it's done thank you for your help!

In the pictures we have I believe if I picked it right a picture of the old rusted inside, one of after I electricized and coated it, and one of the paint job (with spray paint) lol.

Red kotes.

Redneck paint job... But if we ever have to hide from pterodactyls laying under there somebody's going to be like, darn that's a cool tank.

Pterodactyls? Good lord, I hope that never happens. LOL And you're right about the questions I ask. I have had a lot of people that have no idea what is what which is why they ask for help. My favorite was the heading saying, "My Hooter Fell Off and I can't get it to stay on." LOL I was nearly in tears. I was going to suggest a doctor but wasn't sure if the hooter was OEM. LOL It was actually the horn button.

Regardless, the tank looks great.

Joe

Alright Joe, tank up and holding gas. 1/4" double walled zinc coated copper braised fuel return line installed from tank to about 8 inches from carburetor (bends suck after I dropped my bender). Seams to be no leaks with it still dead headed, but I will be waiting at the end of the drive for the UP-X man in whatever Penske Budget rental truck they got to lug my filter across the.... Well, sorry tomorrow I get the filter and run her until hopefully sunset. And then table the Issue that has plagued me since I bought the car on the 4th of July.

Hi,

Well, I haven't heard from you, so I hope you are out driving without issue. LOL

Let me know how things turn out for you.

Joe

Well, still no good!!! Guess it is back to the drawing board. Got any suggestions?

Okay, so, she left me sitting on the side of the road yesterday afternoon. I pulled the plugs evidence of way rich fuel mix. Today I returned the carburetor and hooked up to vacuum gauge. While I was playing with it, I was also listening to a video I heard something that made me curious so a little more research.... The port on the left which everyone says is vacuum advance, is vacuum advance for admission control cars. Be port on the right or driver side is vacuum advance to distributor for non-admissions. I tune it I swap my vacuum line and now listen to the video.

Hi,

That sounds great!!! How does it drive? Based on what I'm hearing, I would think it drives excellent.

Let me know.

Joe

Will tell you tomorrow didn't have the time to get stranded today, lol.

Okay, yesterday I took my wife for a lap... No problem at all, I even drove a couple side streets. Stop signs turns blah blah all went great. Which I'm grateful for because she has not had a successful ride yet, lol. Got home told her we're going to come back out in about 15 minutes and started up. You know about the time it takes to get milk or bread or well we'll leave it at milk and bread... Told the boy let's go she fired up ran great until the final turn. Had to start it but it started. Today I'm going to drive several laps and see how she does.

Well, how about this question Mr Joe, where would the PVC be on a 1964 390 FE Thunderbird? Every other vehicle I've ever played with has it coming out of the valve cover. These valve covers have nothing. Is there a different spot where the PVC is?

Hi,

Wow, that's a tough one. In 1964, I don't believe they used a traditional PCV valve. Instead, I believe they had a breather cap at the front of each valve cover. Could you take a pic and upload it for me to see the valve covers?

Let me know.

Joe

Well, I was going to take a pic last night for you, but I got wrapped up in a brain bomb of what the... Can it be now. Dang thing would not fire up. Nothing but starter... So, I started with the what did I do yesterdays... Tuned carb bumped timing had a couple beers.... Beer is a key because I don't drink when mad, so the car was good. I turned it off with the key. Anyway, fuel good, 12.3at distributor... So, I started checking plugs all look good!!! The new "Speed Master" ProComp 6000 I just got from Summit is not throwing spark. So, there is the update and this learning think board email is looking like a vent chat room, lol. Is there anything I can help you with Mr Joe.... Hahaha there the update for now let me wait patiently for Summit to reply.

Hi,

I was just wondering if you heard anything from Summit. I'm interested in knowing.

Joe

The distributor will be here on Wednesday. Just got shipping confirmation at 10:14pm. So, I will start the timing and running over and maybe it was the Dis all along.

Hi,

Sounds good. If you have a chance, let me know how things turn out for you. I'm interested in knowing. Also, let me know if there is anything I can do to help.

Take care,

Joe

Well, Joe, as part of the deal from the first message. You answer the question and I stay in communication until it is resolved. I hope you plan on being around for a while!! I might be chatting about this question until the cows get back from the beer store. I will shoot a pic of the valve covers tomorrow as well.

LOL No problem. Let me know if I can help.

Take care,

Joe

Alright Joe, I just dropped the distributor in and it was like a different world. I bumped it to the side and it like rolled itself into place. Pulled it to get the wires where I wanted and sat it back in like butter. Never in my life would I have expected her to bust off on the 1/2 roll of the starter (8°+ to start with). Got the longest drive yet at 15mins and about five miles after it was already hot. Tomorrow, we go for a Walmart run!!! There's the update! Here is a pic of the valve cover. Also, not sure who was live, but I told him to tell you she was running strong. It was a bit funny when he read it and his face was like ummm WTH.

I am having trouble loading the replies from you. Trying to see if sending 1 will reload the page.

Hi,

That is great news. Hopefully, the Walmart trip goes as well. As far as the valve is concerned, they don't look factory. I believe the OEM covers had breathers.

Did you replace the covers or were they like this when you got the vehicle?

Joe

The drive went awesome! After I got over the thought of burning it to the ground!! Who it starts, pull it to the stop sign to make the long drive, I said better bus small lap just to make sure. As I round the first corner it shuts off and it won't crank as we are rolling towards a Valero. Instead of pulling over in front of the state trooper I turn into the Valero! Remember it's not inspected or registered yet. I get out looking in the hood after trying to crank it a few times and realize there's no fuel in the filter. I'll start to think Umm gasoline when I put gasoline!? To the burner to the ground feeling comes after I put gas in, and the bitch won't start. The wife comes with a jumper cable finally after about 15 minutes she starts up and then. It was great. I believe tomorrow I'll try to be inspection shop and try to hit the DMV. And by the way valve covers on another 64 no vents or holes they were solid believe they were gold, and some chrome. Raised letters Thunderbird. There is a ton of after-market that have breathers thought. Here is a better pic and also 1 of a port on the intake that I believe to be PCV.

Hi,

I'm glad to hear it is running good. As far as the valve covers, there should be a breather at some point.

It sounds like you have the same luck as me. It has been a rough week. LOL

Regardless, for some reason, the pics didn't upload. If you have a chance, send the pics again. I would like to see them.

Take care,

Joe