Engine cuts out at cruising speed

The repop fuel pump does not have the glass, I wish it did but could not find one with the glass bulb that also had vacuum port for the wipers. Yes I do use the choke to start it cold. I have not noticed any coolant loss but I do notice it spits wetness out the exhaust when I first start it -- I always assumed it was condensation. I honestly don't think it is coolant but won't swear by it.

Distributor, cap, wires, plugs are all brand new. I have other caps so I will try to swap that out in case the one on it is damaged in some way.

So, my action items are now:

1. Plug the wiper hose to cutoff the vacuum leak to see if that changes anything.
2. Rebuild the carb.
3. Rebuild my original distributor so I can get rid of the Petronix.
4. Check for coolant loss. Maybe do a compression check to see if the head gasket is misbehaving.
5. Check the fuel pressure. Not 100% sure how to do this but I'm sure I can find the info on this site.

I will try those things (not necessarily in that order) and keep you posted.

 

You can buy a combo vacuum/fuelpressure guage for not much money.

Don't even need a T, I just use some hose or an adaptor at the end of the fuel line. Verify adequate volume output TOO. Pressure is one thing, volume under high rpm demand is quite another.

 

Well...head gasket might be the problem. I checked the coolant level and it is down. It does not leak so it must be consuming the coolant. Easy enough to replace, I guess, it's just a pain.

 

:iagree:

Or you can use a sniffer to check for combustion products in the coolant. Compression check is definitely a good idea.

An F-134 head gasket can be replaced and done by lunchtime.

 

I will try those things. I know the head gasket is not a big deal. As usual, I really appreciate all the advice!

 

A friend recently bought a new truck because the one he owned needed a head gasket. "Not worth" the cost of fixing a gasket.
I broke a spark plug off in my pickup and was told it was a $4000 job at the dealer.

Technology has taken a wrong turn somewhere.

 

I agree with you to some extent, Pete, but I think it might be my sense of nostalgia for a time gone by that makes me cherish a lot of old technology. I love my old Lionel's, model steam engines, tube radios and Tesla coils for the same reasons. But driving my old Escape back from the mine last night as I looked at the 160,000 on the odometer and listened to the rattles, I couldn't help but think that my jeep probably would be on its fourth engine, third transmission and clutch and probably as many intermediate shafts. Old can be simple and fun, but not always as dependable.

 

All good points. I'm not advocating 'old' for the sake of it, but for "better new."

What I'd like to see is modern engineering put to use making things simpler, and still effective. Elegant design that is affordable, dependable, and maintainable.

Complexity has become a goal, when actually it is a fault.

Henry Ford knew this, and put America on wheels at a fraction of the cost of his contemporary competitors. In fact I was driving my '25 today - and it fired up instantly on the first cylinder.