Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | |
8 members (Woogeroo, Nick in Manitou, Jon G, baldeagle, FAST55, Hanks custodian, mick53, 50Chevy3100),
51
guests, and
2
robots. | | Key: Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,014 Posts1,055,332 Members48,419 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | My truck has developed a miss when using moderate to light throttle . Full throttle ok. I have new wires,plugs,coil,distributor cap CD ignition.new carb. It will bug the heck out of you for 20 miles and then go away for 20 miles. Checking timing tomorrow. It feels like the ignition is just shutting off for a moment. HELP | | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | do you have the stock dist?
did you have this problem before or it is a new problem..
once it goes away when will it come back.. wonder why the 20 mile interval ..........that is strange.........ask your mech if he messed with anything when he installed your new radiator.
might have something to do with that hi tec cruise control you have....
Last edited by joker; 06/28/2009 1:44 AM.
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | It is a new problemI have no cruise control, I have had HEI ignition for 3 years,I am my own mechanic and installed radiator bearings last month.
Last edited by gazim; 06/28/2009 12:33 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | my bad, got you mixed up with another old man..lol check out your HEI, the mallory that I had in the red truck had a problem that took me for ever to find.. it would do all sorts of things, stop running at top speed on the hi- way, miss after a few blocks, etc and then it would run fine for long periods of time.. it finally got really bad coming from a meet in Ft. Worth so I was determine to get it fixed... turns out in was the electronic module in the dist.........replaced it, bought a spare, and never had anymore problem with it.. took about 5 min to fix.. a pix of what I bought I would check out the HEI.
Last edited by joker; 06/28/2009 10:07 PM.
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | keep yer foot in it and you'll never notice  tell the cop yer mechanic recommended it ya sure it's a miss, not just sounding like? maybe foolin ya with a slight exhaust leak on one side? otherwise, it's the time of year for HEI problems Bill | | | | | Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 565 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2003 Posts: 565 | I am my own mechanic and installed radiator bearings last month. Maybe those new radiator bearings got a flat spot.
"Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just leave me alone, you're starting to freak me out."
1957 GMC 150
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | I have an idea, just drive it 19 miles at a time.lol
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,624 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2005 Posts: 1,624 | I know I'm a 'hillbilly' from the mountains of east Tennessee but, pray tell, what's a "radiator bearing"?
Six volt guy living in a twelve volt world
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | I have no idea but with Zimmer I have learned anything is possible..lol....
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 | It feels like the ignition is just shutting off for a moment. HELP A pick up coil will do that. I know I'm a 'hillbilly' from the mountains of east Tennessee but, pray tell, what's a "radiator bearing"? He's just making a joke... | | | | | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,068 | Worn parts/bushings in the HEI can do that.
Scott | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | THANK YOU. I will check out the dist. Any way to check out the pickup?
this is a recent development.
Last edited by gazim; 06/29/2009 10:25 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | Thanks for the info, will use some of them today but the thing that has me confused(easy) is the intermittent part. I goes like john the bear for15+ min then starts missing. A little later is is back running strong.??? You never know what you are going to get untill you are on the road. It usually runs rough when starting but that could be the choke,cam,or any other of many. Maybe I need a Vette mechanic 
Last edited by gazim; 06/30/2009 12:59 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | do as vette says and get er done..... you could just buy another dist....they dont cost that much for a stepper..
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 | Thanks for the info, will use some of them today but the thing that has me confused(easy) is the intermittent part. The intermittent part will get you on any problem (me too). That’s why I suggested you check the pickup coil. Last time I had one going out, I was driving from OK to Kentucky in the Vette. On the way back, it would act like I shut it off for a split second – very brief. It might do it every 3 miles, then not do it for 100. It tweaked my 3 brain cells for about 3 days before I figured it out. Might not be that in your case, but it’s an easy check and cheaper than just changing parts. Best of luck to ya… | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 | First and foremost, I agree with the guy above.  It usually runs rough when starting but that could be the choke,cam,or any other of many. Maybe I need a Vette mechanic That’s one of the cool things about carbureted engines. You always get to "tune" 'em. Especially if you have a decent cam in it, run the timing fast – about 32 all in to start and tweak it from there. If it pings at all on the way to hard throttle, back it off (timing). In the summer, back your choke off, and in the winter advance it. If all your components are in good working order, your timing is right, you have gas and spark it all get’s pretty easy... ...Until something breaks.  | | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | I would replace the HEI ignition module. It sounds like the same over-heating issue that I have seen many times. also, with the new module is a small capsule of heat sink grease. USE IT. if not, keep many in your glove box because they are easily murdered by heat.
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | one thing about my 52 with the mallory..... it would always start back up, idle just fine.............seems like it acted up only when it was moving....
never did run rough, it would not run at all, sometimes it would stop when going from first to second...........crazy deal but it was so nice when it got fixed........like I said, mine was bad at first,, acted just like someone turn the key off..........oh well, I am sure you will find the problem... maybe the wheels are part of the problem...lol
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 128 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 128 | I'm assuming your HEI is a vacuum advance unit. If so, the pickup coil is attached to the advance diphragm and rotates on the distributor housing whenever the advance changes, just like the breaker plate in a points type distributor. Since the pickup coil moves everytime the advance changes it flexes and workhardens the two wires leading from the coil to the module. Eventually one of the wires will break inside the insulation and cause an intermittent open. A quick check is to use a hand vacuum pump to advance and retard the timing with the engine idling while listening for a miss. Another check is to unplug the pickup coil from the module and ohm check it while wiggling the two pickup wires. If it fails either test it's time for replacement, which requires removing and completely disassembing the distributor.
John | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | By the way Lonnie, I got the part where you were agreeing with yourself.  | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 | I wondered if anyone would get that.. Let us know what you find out with old whitey... | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | Will do, I did my part Friday but believe it or not haven't found time to take it out. I am hoping it is fixed but
still have everyones suggestions on my work bench.
OLD WHITEY? Joker named it quicksilver.
Last edited by gazim; 07/05/2009 1:34 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | Well, ran the snot out of it this weekend. IT IS NOT FIXED.
I found more than one thing wrong when I was hunting for the miss. My gosh do you know how fast it is when the 4 barrels kick in. They weren't much to my dismay. I probably will have the fastest thing any old man could desire when I finally get it figured out. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 | Well, ran the snot out of it this weekend. IT IS NOT FIXED. That's your report? What have you tried so far? | | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | how could you find so many things wrong and not fix it..
and why were so many things wrong.... fire your mechanic..
had you been jacking with the truck before the miss problem started..
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | I am the only mechanic she has ever had and no I didn't f things up(I don't think.) Starting all over tomorrow. It runs REAL strong when you stand on it but don't try to cruise at 50 and expect it to be smooth. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | easy fix, dont cruise at 50...lol
I think you screwed it up. I hear thru the grapevine that you would screw up a soup sandwich..lol.spray some wd-40 on the linkage, you will be good to go then..
I just remembered, I had one once to act sort of like this and then it would pick up really good after about 55.. I had a small crack in the dist.... just a thought..
Last edited by joker; 07/12/2009 10:42 PM.
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | Did you replace the HEI module? If not, spend the $20 and do so.
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | I dont think he believes us Scott............lol
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,193 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,193 | I was going to suggest unhooking the vacuum advance in case the internal wires are bad, like all ready has been suggested. Its a quick test, just remember to plug the vacuum line. How about the power lead up to the HEI, or the key switch?
My buddy chased a miss in his dirt track car for almost a whole season, turned out to be the $1.99 lighted toggle switch they had for ignition switch!
Joe | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | Did you replace the HEI module? If not, spend the $20 and do so. I believe Joker. I am going to try this todayScott | | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats | | Grumpy old guy playing with trucks, cars, and boats Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,859 | What were the results? The only other option is a broken wire.
The problems we face today can not be addressed at the same level of intelligence we were at when we created them - Albert Einstein Or with the same level of $ - Me
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | Still looking. Have been kinda busy lately but the problem is still out there. Will advise s.a.p. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 | Have any luck finding it yet? | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | No. Believe it or not I have been too busy to ever look at the truck(and a show tonight) I had 3 large trees in my yard blow over last week , so the chain saw has been getting a workout T saw work isn't bad but the brush removal is rough on a old guy. They were mulberry trees and the deer have been having a feast I can't walk in the yard without getting deer [censored] all over my shoes. Probably more than you needed to know, huh
Last edited by gazim; 07/24/2009 2:18 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | you just hit on the answer,,,,,,,,,deer crap in the carb and fuel filter.........
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 549 | Probably more than you needed to know, huh Nope. It's a pretty good excuse. Keep us posted mofo... | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | Well I have a red face.I found the miss. I had ran the main power wire from the starter to the ign. switch in a poor location. It was being pinched between the valve cover and the firewall. The insulation was rubbed off and shorting out. Under heavy acceleration the engine torque gave it more clearence and it ran fine.
Thanks to all that gave me info. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 4,066 | glad you found it, always something simple to look for first
Redryder pixMy HotrodA veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of "up to and including my life."I am fighting cancer and I am winning the fight | Pain is part of life; misery is an option. | | |
|
|
