Engine cutting out and stalling

[Lou1119]

I recently got my car back after a long hiatus to have it rebuilt. The old trash engine was replaced with a Roush 427SR. Being without the car so long I could not wait to get in on the road. The engine fired right up and I decided to get the tank filled up. I drove the car to the gas station, filled it and started back home. I came to a red light, stopped and started to move in first gear and shifted into second and the engine cut out and stalled. The car restarted easily and I proceeded to move out again with the same result. Third try and the same xxxxing result. At that point I decided to get home in first gear (about 3/4 of a mile).
A few days later I decided to give it another try with the same result but on another pass I was able to get the car to perform well and could shift through the gears. However the same thing happened when I turned around on the way home.
When the car was put back together the fuel pump, fuel filter and fuel lines were replaced with new parts. The only thing that was not replaced with new components was the MSD 6AL box. My tech seems to feel that the box is the culprit. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks,
Lou
My love/hate relationship with the Cobra continues.

[Gaz64]

Lou,

Warm the engine up at home to point of it cutting out again.

Then perform the MSD spark test.

MSD Ignition

This confirms whether the fault is either your 6AL box, the distributor pickup, pickup harness, or ignition coil.

Also check the carbon brush to rotor contact, and condition of all components.

[Dwight]

Ca. Gas?
trash in fuel filter?
Fuel filter to small?

[jhv48]

When it craps out, check the float level in the primary bowl through the site glass.

If empty, you've found your problem.

If not, try another coil. That's what they do when they start to fail.

[Ron61]

If the engine ran well to the gas station I would suspect the lousy gas we have out here first and then check the float settings and such. And if they had just filled the tanks at the station, it will take quite a while for all of the trash in them to settle back to the bottom. I never get gas at a station when I see a tanker truck there.

Ron

[DanEC]

I would sort of doubt a fuel delivery problem if the engine is dying like the key was turned off and the car immediately starts back up. It would usually take a bit of cranking to fill a low fuel bowl. Fuel problems usually don't cause the engine to stop like turning off the key. A trashed up filter may allow you to start out fine but will cause the engine to lean out and stutter when you start to open the throttle, but not usually die completely.

That would leave electrical. I would make sure all your connections are tight at the starter, MSD box, distributor and the ignition switch and then consider trying another coil if you can find a spare.

[Detroit Bill]

New install with an intermittent problem that makes me think ground. Check the MSD ground. Not sure if this is still done but is there a ground strap to the engine. Engine rocks loses ground, makes it intermittent.

Good luck!

[CHANMADD]

The other day my car was cutting out and wouldn't idle. When I took the float bowl and plate off, I found a tiny piece of gasket blocking the idle circuit. Put it back together and all was good............

[genolan]

Originally Posted by CHANMADD

The other day my car was cutting out and wouldn't idle. When I took the float bowl and plate off, I found a tiny piece of gasket blocking the idle circuit. Put it back together and all was good............

I also had a similar problem and it was corrosion on the idle circuit of the metering block.

[DanEC]

IMO a car with a fuel delivery problem isn't going to run fine one drive and totally shut down on the next one but start back up immediately. Still sounds electrical. I don't know what kind of connection blocks your wiring harness is made up with but as a precaution I would trace all the circuits between the ignition switch and ignition components to look for any pin connectors that are not fully seated in the connection block and not making full contact. Check that all grounds are good and tight. Even check out your coil wire closely and make sure it hasn't been damaged or has a poor terminal crimp. Also check connections at your ignition switch, starter and starter relay.

[Dwight]

check your grounds

all of them

take them loose and clean all paint or corrssion before your re-install.
Lugs, studs, bolts check everything. If there is a splice look at it very close

Dwight

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by Dwight

check your grounds

all of them

take them loose and clean all paint or corrssion before your re-install.
Lugs, studs, bolts check everything. If there is a splice look at it very close

Dwight

I agree on the grounds. Make sure there is an engine ground strap also.

[Clois Harlan]

I have a friend that just bought a brand new engine from Keith Craft to go with his new Backdraft that he received last spring. Same problem in fact he had been stranded a couple of times.

After checking everything under the sun it was revealed that when his gas tank was delivered to Backdraft it still had plastic shavings in it. Those fine shavings made their way past all the filters and lodged in the needle and seats. Keith Craft sent him a brand new carb once we determined the problem.

Another thing to check is your accelerator pump on your carb. I have had that happen as well but it was usually on an older carb that had been ran quite a while. Rick Lake knows his stuff and has been down this road many more times than me as have several others. I recently had to replace my distributor cap and coil because they were fouled from arching.