<VV> Vapor Lock?

[Dan & Synde]

Hi Jon,

I had a similar type of problem but on a different car, a 1985 Pontiac
6000LE.  It had electronic ignition and when I rebuilt the motor I decided
to replace the ignition module, the pickup coil  and the output coil.  What
would happen was I'd drive it until the motor warmed up.  As long as I was
moving it would run fine.  If I idled too long it would start to die.  If I
could get it up to speed and cool off the engine compartment, it would snap
out of it and run fine.  If I parked it to go into a store for a few
minutes, on return, I'd have to raise the hood and wait for it to cool off
before I could start it.  After doing the easy swaps first, I decided to do
a little advanced troubleshooting.  Problem was that I had to work fast
while the engine was hot.  I was able to rule a bunch of things out
including the spark coil and ignition module just by jumping a few wires
here and there.

In the end, it turned out to be the pickup coil in th distributer, the "New"
one.  Seems like when it was made, one of the connectors was crimped on over
the insulation!  Just enough of the connecter was poking through and
touching the actual wire, that when it was cold, it would run.  Thermal
expansion would break the connection  when it got hot and I'd have no output
from the distributer as a result.

Stupid things like this drive you nuts.  If I had of just kept the pickup
coil that was working just fine when I replaced it, I wouldn't have spent so
much time trying to find the needle in the haystack.  "New Parts" aren't
always good parts!!

Anyway, your problem sure sounds electrical to me.  I start by trying to see
if you have spark and fuel when you are waiting 20 minutes for things to
cool down, worked for me!


Dan Kling

1961 Greenbrier Deluxe, 4spd, 3.89  On the Road Again,  yeehaw :)
1963 Spyder, restored   4spd Saginaw
1967 Ultravan #299  Newest of the herd!!  Almost killed me already!!

http://photos.yahoo.com/duchesskyra
A few pictures of the Greenbrier, more to come!

>The Car: 1962 Conv. 80 hp
>
>The Good:  Starts easy, runs good.
>
>The Bad:  After about 20 to 30 minutes dies and will not restart; until
>about an hour later when it cools off.