VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Mechanical - Engine, Trans, etc 67 Nova 283 2bbl hesitates or dies..

I have had this car for 3 years and it has been very reliable. I have put 3000 miles on it cruising weekends. Recently it has started hesitating when I'm cruising at 30mph. It doesn't do it very often and when it does it just bucks a couple of times and then it's seems fine. A couple of times the engine died, GEN light came on and I just turned the key and it just happily restarted while it was rolling down the road.
Does it sound like a fuel or coil problem?

Thanks
Mike

My thinking is not the coil if the coil was overheated it wouldn't restart
That fast you would have to wait for it to cool down next time it does it feel
Coil to see if it's overheated

First suspect is the points. The can stick or not make good contact for a short time and then function again. If it is the points it will get worse, maybe quickly maybe slowly. Not likely the coil. They can overheat (I have one on my '28 that on long slow climbs can internally short. Short drench of water and it is good to go again). Just be aware that they all get hot. Hotter at slow engine speeds.

If it happens at the same speed and not others then I would check the mechanical advance. Might not be moving like it should.

Forgot to mention, the engine does not have points, the previous owner had a mechanic install a Perceptronix electronic ignition module in place of the points. It starts up immediately cold or warm no issue there. The car is only driven on weekends so is it possible there maybe water in the fuel?
Mike

Knowing that will probably spark Chipper's interest :)
...Joe

I think you answered your question

can a coil drop out like this or do coils basically just die? It's got an original delco-remy coil in it so anything new to replace it with will be garbage. I guess I can just keep driving it to see if it goes away which would suggest water in the fuel..

I have a 64 pick up with a 292 that has a Pertronix conversion (Ignitor II). It also does what you describe but has never actually died going down the road. If I do short trips within 3-4 miles, it is fine. If I go further, like 5 - 7 miles, it will sneeze every once in a while. The farther I drive it, the more often it sneezes.

The pertronix ign systems have an air gap like the newer GM HEI distributors do for the pick up coil. The should have been a tool with it unless you bought the car with the system but not the tool. It is basically a plastic feeler gauge that is pre set for the air gap.

I would make sure the air gap is with in specs and see what happens.

Hope this helps,
Tom

Well I thought the problem was gone until last weekend when it actually died like 5 times while I was driving slowly down side streets. Each time it actually died with the gen light and started back up no problem. I am starting suspect it's a gas supply problem as it acts like it's running out of gas. I recall Rochester 2 bbls have a porous bronze filter so I guess I will start there.. I have a spare new fuel pump I was keeping, maybe I should try that as well. I'm not keen to open up the carb though...

Mike

The electronic ignition systems will act like you described with low battery voltage.

Dave

The engine started dying while it was warming up so it was time to dive in and find the real problem. Measured the vacuum and what used to be 22" was now was 17". Vacuum advance motor was stuck & just sucked air, carb to manifold gasket had disintegrated from exhaust channel under base plate (crazy design). The orig 2bbl rochestor was in a sad state so I went with the L30 GM 4bbl square bore manifold and a new Holley 1850-5. Performance and driveability is amazing, now idles down to 600 with no shaking.
Mike