Cobra cutting out

[undy]

MSD ignition modules have a tendency to fail. 400 to 1300 ohms is what you should read through the pickup.

MSD has a relatively good diagnostics on their web site.

http://www.msdignition.com/page.aspx?id=3206

http://www.msdignition.com/instructi...terms=magnetic

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by undy

MSD has a relatively good diagnostics on their web site.

They do have good diagnostics. But the problem is that an intermittent fault never occurs in the comfort of your garage. Rodney, here's a "down and dirty" plan that I've used before in similar circumstances -- put a can of starter fluid in your car and the next time it dies and won't start (but cranks) quickly open the hood and pull the #8 spark plug wire and hold the tip while you reach in and turn the key and crank it. If you get a shock, put it back on the plug and see if the car will start. If it won't start, quickly remove the air filter and shoot some fluid down the primaries and crank the engine. If the engine starts and dies, then it's a fuel problem. If you were able to hold the tip of the plug wire while reaching in and cranking the engine, then it's an electrical issue for sure. If you have a pacemaker in you, have a friend do the wire-holding....

[rodneym]

Hey guys,
I really appreciate the help but a couple things:
1) The ignition module is the Crane Cams Fireball, The distribitor is MSD.
2) I can't crank without the clutch in!

[jhv48]

Originally Posted by patrickt

They do have good diagnostics. But the problem is that an intermittent fault never occurs in the comfort of your garage. Rodney, here's a "down and dirty" plan that I've used before in similar circumstances -- put a can of starter fluid in your car and the next time it dies and won't start (but cranks) quickly open the hood and pull the #8 spark plug wire and hold the tip while you reach in and turn the key and crank it. If you get a shock, put it back on the plug and see if the car will start. If it won't start, quickly remove the air filter and shoot some fluid down the primaries and crank the engine. If the engine starts and dies, then it's a fuel problem. If you were able to hold the tip of the plug wire while reaching in and cranking the engine, then it's an electrical issue for sure. If you have a pacemaker in you, have a friend do the wire-holding....

And if you wake up on the garage floor and have pissed yourself, the ignition is fine.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by jhv48

And if you wake up on the garage floor and have pissed yourself, the ignition is fine.

Think of it as electroconvulsive therapy on the cheap. Frankly, I think a couple of the members around here could really benefit from it....

[jopper]

replace the module in your MSD distributor

[JAM1775]

Get a $20 water filled fuel psi gauge from Summit and mount it with a tee directly on the fuel line by the carb. I would not push the motor for fear of not cutting OFF fuel but running very lean fuel. But it's always good to monitor fuel pressure. Do you have a voltmeter ? When the symptons appear connect it to your pump on/off switch. If that's good perhaps remove your ignition switch and check for 12V output there too. I once had a broken ground wire to my external electric fuel pump give me intermittant PIA problems. More seriously a few years later I had intermittent idle stalling and finally a 60mph dead stall on the highway. I did ALL the electric checks and found no reason why my fuel pressure gauge dropped from 6.5 to 1-2 instantly ...then at times back up to 6.5psi. Eventually I replaced the fuel filter, pump, regulator, blew out lines looking for obstructions. Nothing. I dropped the tank and found a loose fuel pick up baffle which could slide a bit sideways. The fuel pick up/float looked okay. I ordered a replacement tank for $100 but STILL at idle in my garage at a steady 12V with old tank at half full........2psi. Now it was not even rising. As I was swapping tanks I started to very closely inspect the fuel the pick up line. I noticed a very fine hairline CRACK on the higher portion of my fuel pick up line. BOOM. That was ghost I was chasing all along. If you have voltage drop your task is clear. If you have 12V everywhere yuo might try buying another $20 Summit fuel gauge, attach 2 tees and a foot of fuel line to each side. You could try starting backwards with psi checks at the top of the tank. Work your way forward section by section checking psi with the handheld gauge. Hope this helps.