The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop engine gets hot...ignition shuts down

Ok guys,
here is what I got going on. 235cui (1957 3200) dual carbs. HEI-MINI elec ingition from Tom Langdon. Starts up fine, runs very well. Gets hot, and my ignition starts breaking down. Spark gets weak, and eventually stalls out when engine is reved. HEI is 2 months old. Toggle switch from dash with #10 wire as recommended by Langdon Stovebolt. Coil test shows that the coil is 100%. Timing light shows perfect timing. JOHN in VA

What do you have the timing set at? It sounds like you need a bit more advance.

a simple advance in the timing could stop it from stalling once warmed up??

if it stalls and wont start until its cool, then it sounds like a bad HEI module.

Try reinstalling your points if the problem goes away than you would need a new HEI, it's easy to do and would tell you alot about whats going on.

Good luck,Pete

You might try this, go to an electronics store and get some "cold spray," or possibly use the air from your compressor (reduced flow). Let the engine warm up to the point when it begins to stumble, before cutting out. Spray the most likely components one at a time, and see if when you cool a particular component, if the engine goes back to smooth idle.

We need more information. What is getting hot? The radiator/water temperature, the distributor, the coil, or something else?

When I say 'gets hot' I dont mean a particualr part. I just mean that when the engine gets to her running tempo, ignition begins to break down. Slight backfire begins, then with reving, she will eventually stall out.
Some people have been telling me to replace the module...I may go this route. JOHN

+1 on the "cool it down" advice. Pick up a can of R-134 refrigerant and a can tap, and hose the module down with liquid Freon by holding the can upside down and opening the tap when the stumble begins. If the performance improves for a short time, you've found the problem. Keep your fingers out of the spray- - - - -it's about 40 below zero!
Jerry

I have the same setup you do. Late model 235 with a Langdon HEI. I love it. Are you using the correct plugs, wires, and gap settings as recommended by Langdon? Is your timing set at 10 to 18 degrees BTDC as he recommends? Did you solder your wire connections? I was having problems with mine, which turned out to be a bad ignition switch. I spoke with Tom Langdon and he said the module is almost never the problem. He said the module either works or doesn't work (nothing in between).

***UPDATE** ... I replaced the module inside the distributor. Tom Langdon sent me another one since this one went after only being in there for 1 month.

make sure you use the heat sink grease or you will kill the next module.