I need some advice on what happened to my '69 L71 this morning.

I was going to a car meet, and when I started the car, it backfired mildly once through the carb, but started and ran normally otherwise. When I got to the meet (10-12 mile drive), I was sitting in line idling waiting to register when the engine stalled and simply refused to restart.

The car was pushed into a parking space and I removed the air cleaner. There was a pretty strong odor of gas indicating it was flooded. After letting the car sit for a while, it still wouldn't start...it turned over fine but no bump, no start. I tried some starting fluid and the engine tried to run but wouldn't.

After that, I made arrangements to have the car towed home, which was one with no problem. After letting the car sit all afternoon, it started normally, but with a somewhat poor idle, the stopped again after a minute, leaving a very strong odor of gasoline again.

I checked the oil...no evidence of fuel leakdown into the crankcase. I'm wondering if the backfire in the morning may have blown out the power valve in the center carb (the outboard carbs are dry, the center is wet with fuel). If not that, might it be the floats in the center carb? It does seem to be a fuel related problem.

Any ideas? Any and all advice is much appreciated.

well it sounds like you are on the right track..

but are you SURE it is firing.

I worked on a truck yesterday and it was acting similar...

wound up being HEI ignition module..

before I started getting real serious.. i would pull a random plug and make sure it isnt fouled.

and I would use the screwdriver spark test to see if is firing.

and I would check float

if the power valve went out it wouldnt have run normally after starting.

I pretty much agree with Ben, if a power valve went and they typically do with a pop through the carb, it should start, but not run very well. I have also had the backfire take out a power valve and blow a couple of vacuum lines off at the same time.

Also, the fact that you used starting fluid and it did not fire indicates it's not a fuel problem. The stong gas oder will be there after trying to start the car without spark.

I'm with the other guys. Check for spark first.

Something ignition related is probably what caused the initial back fire! I wonder if it jumped time.

Thanks guys! It was definitely a spark problem. It turned out the coil tower boot on the coil wire had somehow developed a pinhole and the spark was escaping, grounding out against the lid to the distributor shroud. It seemed strange that when I removed the cover lid the engine started right up and ran fine. When I put a finger near the coil wire, not even touching it, it gave me a shock that made me run to a dark room to make sure my gonads weren't nightlights!

I had a mechanic I trust check it was well and he also got shocked through his rubber gloves...again, no closer than a few inches from te wire. All it took was to install a new boot on the coil wire and the car starts and runs fine.

Thanks for the advice...you're all great and hope to meet some of you at the C3VR tent at Carlisle.

glad you figured out..

enjoy that 6-pack..

Run to a dark room to make sure my gonads were not night lights, Man I was rollin on the floor with that one

Let me tell you that spark really lit me up! You couldn't even see the pinhole in the wire boot until you squeezed the boot and the hole became visible.

The last owner of the car installed a Pertronix Flame Thrower coil...let me say it is well named!

The best thing is that it was a easily diagnosed problem with a simple fix.

Run to a dark room to make sure my gonads were not night lights.



WAY TOO FUNNY!!!