The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 51 coughing and cutting out. Suggestions???

my 51 3100 has a rebuilt '56 235, with about 11k miles on a pro rebuild, and yesterday it backfired once, and then started cutting out intermittently. It's still running and just cuts out every few seconds or more. I checked the plugs last night, and they all look good. I recently filled up the tank with good gas, even though it's almost like it has water in the gas. When checking the plugs last night, the back plug wire 'came apart', though I don't know if it was just the vacuum on the boot that pulled the end connector off, or if it was loose before that. I'm going to try to fix that cable today before buying a new set at the first of the month. (This set looks nearly new, though). I also noticed the wire from the resistor block to the coil was off after I pulled the back (bad) wire, so that may be another possibility. I just passed 3,000 miles, so I'll be changing the oil at the 1st of the month (pensioner- check comes the 1st!!), along with the air filter, plugs, etc. Also, it has a small metal filter at the carb, which, after the last time I checked it, doesn't look like much of a filter. I'm installing a clear paper filter in-line down by the frame when I do the oil change. If anybody has any other suggestions as to something I may be missing here, I'm all ears! Thanks in advance for any suggestions or opinions. Lee

CRAP IN THE GAS LINE,BUY a locking gas cap(keep people out).OLD tank or new (rust). Does it have a fuelfilter?

I wouldn't recommend doing that. It can foul things up!

If its fuel problems, its common to have crud in the bottom of the tank that can foul things up. I like to have a filter before the fuel pump and again after.

Might be time for new points,condenser too. Good luck!

If the carb is a Holley, maybe others, and it backfired and problem started I'd check the power valve among other things listed above.

As you state "I also noticed the wire from the resistor block to the coil was off after I pulled the back (bad) wire, so that may be another possibility." that wire coming loose will cause a back fire and or the problem you state. Repair that wire to the coil and see if you FIXED the problem. Mtneermile

Thanks guys! The gas tank is new(er), and the was just filled up the other day. It's got a Rochester carb on it, which is new or rebuilt by the PO. I repaired the wire that had the plug fitting connection come off, but then found that the end that went into the dist. cap had come off, and the prongs were broken off in the boot, so I'm picking up a new set of cables at NAPA today. This engine was rebuilt about 8k ago, but I did notice that the carb gaskets are leaking at the mid gasket, so that's something I'll work on this fall. I'm going to re-hook the coil wire and put on the new cables later today, and I'll let you know what happens. Oh, yeah, and I'm going to put the new fuel filter before the pump (which is also relatively new), and check the metal filter at the carb, too. Thanks for all the replies!!

Problem solved! I put new wires in and reconnected the coil wire. Runs like a top again! Thanks everybody! Still have to put in the other inline filter, but I didn't have any clamps, so that will come later.