Engine Sputtering and Erratic Engine

[Stumper]

This afternoon my buddy is going to help me figure out what is going on with my 62’ Fury - 361/4. I’ve had recent carpal tunnel surgery on both hands so can’t do much myself. Saturday I had it out for my first cruise this year. It started and ran very well 11-12 miles into town for the cruise and started and ran well back - almost!
I stopped in town and put $40 of brand name 93 octane in it. It ran very well all the way home and climbed my 1/4mile steep driveway- right until I got to the top. Then it started sputtering so bad I barely got it into the garage. It would idle as long as I didn’t touch the throttle but any throttle it would sputter like crazy. Started it the next day and it was sputtering just to idle…

We are going to check things this afternoon starting with fuel and fuel system but also ignition. Any thoughts on what might be the culprit? Barring bad fuel - I am guessing either the fuel pump or accelerator pump..

 

[Don Frelier]

Well you just got gas and then is started.
If it's a Carter pretty easy to remove it set it on the bench and take the top off.
Look for water.
You can also get a new fuel filter and cut the old one in half and take a look.
Just a couple ideas.

 

[ruffcut]

Sounds like a load of expensive H2O

 

[khryslerkid]

Most stations don't sell a lot of 93 octane so it might contribute to more moisture in their tank. Pull the line off anywhere you like and catch some gas in a white or clear container. You'll see a bubble of water in the bottom if it's there.

 

[Stumper]

Well, we never did get to work on it today. Man it better not be water in the gas. That will really tic me off.

 

[1STMP]

What type of carb, and float levels?
I would also check the needle(s)
and seat(s). If it were bad gas you'd
have noticed it on the way home
since the pickup in the tank is near
the bottom. Gas floats on water.

 

[Don Frelier]

What type of carb, and float levels?
I would also check the needle(s)
and seat(s). If it were bad gas you'd
have noticed it on the way home
since the pickup in the tank is near
the bottom. Gas floats on water.

But it could be a mixture due to the turbulence of getting fuel. Also depends how much water is in the bottom of the tank and how far the pickup is from the bottom.

 

[Stumper]

Here’s an update on what we found. I have a stock 361 with correct AFB carb and Carter fuel pump. I was totally convinced the problem was fuel or fuel system..

Car was really difficult to keep running after starting yesterday. Once warmed up a bit it would idle - but even the slightest amount of throttle would kill it. Measured fuel pump pressure and it was a steady 4 psi at idle, so not the pump. Pumped some fuel into a jar and no sign of water. Checked fuel filter and it had very little debris in it. Pulled the carb and opened it up. No water or significant debris in the carb. Did find that the moron that last worked on my car had “fabricated” a diaphragm for the accelerator pump - unreal! Thought for sure that was the issue so I installed a freshly rebuilt AFB that I had. Restarted and still had the same issue…….

Here’s the interesting part - unplugged the vacuum advance hose, and it smoothed right out! Hummmm. Brand new advance canister. Plugged the line in again and back to poor idle - definitely something in the distributor.. Did it one more time and then engine died. Absolutely no getting it restarted. Don’t you love a mystery?

Pulled the distributor cap and checked points, looked good, cap and rotor good…. Then we found the ground wire for the points had broken… the culprit had been found… I think the wire was hanging together by a thread causing the rough running. Unplugging the advance must have caused enough movement to break it completely. Installed a new wire with good connections but I’m going to get some new points and condenser before it put it back together. I’ll report back later in the week..

 

[ruffcut]

Well, happy to see you found the problem and it wasn't watered down fuel! Proves you have to be a super sleuth to find this stuff sometimes. And you happened to find other things to correct along the way. Funny how things work out sometimes! ruffcut

 

[Stumper]

Sorry for the delay in updating this post. Had trouble getting the correct points to put it back together. Long story short - the primary issue was the broken ground in the distributor. Also found that the hot wire bridge between the two breakers was about to fall apart and the points them selves were not in the best of shape. Very easy to overlook bad wires in the close confines of a distributor. Got it all back together and running. Hope to take it out for a drive before I go back under the knife on Friday.