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I was driving my 73 Cadillac hearse home and She just cutoff. This is the second time this has happened. The first time was Sun. I was heading back from Ga. on the interstate running about 70-75 mph and She just cutoff. I pulled to the side of the road and turned the key and She spun over, but wouldn't fire. I waited less than a minute and tried again and She fired up and drove the rest of the way no problem. Tonight I was less than a mile from home coming back from a cruise in. I was going about 45 mph and She just cutoff. I tried to crank Her. She spun over, but would not start. I waited for a minute or so and still would not start. Had to pull Her home and poured some gas in the carb, still nothing. Keep trying and finally She started. Does anybody have any suggestions as what the problem could be? No points, have a points eliminator, that was put on a couple years ago.
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I have a HEI in Mine. Coming home from the car show, it died idling in the yard.. Would not start. Had gas in the carb. Next morning started right up. It did not flood and died like the key was turned off, I was standing right next to it. Ignition Guy I know thought it was the module heating up. Rebuilt the whole dist and went to move it, well the tranny is now slipping, worked fine on the way home. Tranny is toast, so the major work starts, engine too while I'm at it. Just wished it would have lasted 1 more week. Missing out on the best time of the year now. Stll drives in low, so I'll find something local for Sunday. -
It definitely sounds like an ignition problem...maybe the coil, or the points eliminator? (whatever that is)
The HEI conversion would be a reasonable option. Every now and then I see a distributor on Ebay for $10, then you would have to add the coil and the tuneup parts. I'm not all that familiar with the 73 model, but it may require removing the AIR rails. If you have the double belt system, one of them may rub the cap a little, but everyone has told me that this is no big deal.Comment
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The points eliminator mounts in the distributor cap. I was having problem with the points. Every year about the same time my hearse would not run. Every time it was the points. I finally had the points eliminator put in and until not haven't had any problem with Her not running. I replaced the coil a couple of years ago, when She still had points.
Here is a picture of the points eliminators,
acc-2020_w.jpgComment
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Is the points eliminator a Pertronix? They suck, they suck, they suck. They are terribly prone to complete and utter fail. I know many people including myself have had problems with them.
Could also be vapor lock.Comment
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I don't think it's a Pertronix, I think it's an Accel. It was put on a couple years ago and I haven't had any problem before now.Originally posted by spastic_chicken View PostComment
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You could throw a set of points in it and see if you're still having the problem. They are cheap.
Is there a spacer between your carb and intake?Comment
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I have had coil that would do that some time also. they get hot and fail. I know it sucks replacing parts to try to fix the problem. But coils are not that expensive and if the other is the problem you can throw it out or keep it in the trunk as a worst case spare.Comment
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I'm going to change the coil, this week.
I have heard of vapor lock, but don't know anything about it. Does it all of the sudden happen. I haven't had any problems, since the points were removed.Comment
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Vapor lock usually occurs when you shut down the engine, and try to start it a few minutes later. It's not all that common during cruise, when there is a steady flow of fuel through the line keeping the fuel liquid. This definitely sounds like an ignition problem.Comment
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I've had a similar thing happen with the '80. I'd stick a phillips head screwdriver into the carb to keep it open and it start up. So I just had the carb replaced with a rebuilt.Comment
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I replaced the ignition coil and drove about 40 miles one way to a cruise in on Friday night. Didn't have any problem. The new coil has a lifetime warranty, so I won't have to buy another one if this one ever needs to be replaced.Comment
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Pertronix!!!!!! REALLY!!!!!! Thats awesome mines on its way. guess i will be sending that backComment
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I have been running a pertronix kit in my '72 for 7 years now with not a minutes worth of trouble. But, that is just my experience.Originally posted by corpses bride View PostComment
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