Issue At Speed

225 V6 runs perfect most of the time. A new intermittent problem that makes periods of driving stressful. It is schizo between lights some days. Stop, take off, pops and sputters once I get into 2nd gear. It only does this once I'm in 2nd/3rd and accelerating. Easiest way to describe the stalling/popping is like a cracked distributor cap. I put a new cap and rotor on and problem is still there. Once it starts popping, I can pull off to the shoulder, wait a few minutes and the problem is gone. It'll be gone for minutes to days but always comes back. Today for instance, it didn't show up until after about 40 minutes of driving. Any ideas on whats up or what parts might be on their way out?

 

You might need a new coil.

 

I would replace condenser

 

What ignition and carb are you using? Electric fuel pump or no?

 

Stock ignition with Rochester 2GC. It has the manual fuel pump that is a new unit with 200 miles.

 

Good question. I would try this first...

 

Choke has been converted to a manual set up. I checked to see if there was any play and its nice and tight, no way it could be closing up.

 

I had this problem last Summer. Turned out my condenser was bad, as were my points (badly worn). Timing was also way off and in all the troubleshooting I also replaced the spark plugs, wires and coil (coil was ok, so returned the "new" one). Order that worked:
1) condensor and points (cheap and easy)
2) timing (just a minor tweak made a huge difference)

It was still a bit "off", so I checked the rest of the circuit and replaced (in this order):
1) Starting and charging system (everything except the starter and alternator, wires were badly corroded, not charging)
2) Spark plug and coil wires (worn, corroded)
3) Ballast resistor (was getting very hot)
4) retimed

3,000 miles and a year later, starts and runs very well. Good luck!

Tim

 

x2 Greenshirt82's comments.

Basic tune-up to spec is the first step to an accurate diagnosis

 

Page 3 on this link talks about how to test a condenser with a multi meter, I'm sure you can google how to test a coil too. Maybe worth a shot before you load the parts cannon.
http://assets.fluke.com/appnotes/electricalpower/B0271b_u.pdf

 

To me it sounds like a fuel starvation problem. You are fine running up through first gear, and then it falls down in second gear sounds like you emptied the fuel bowl out and the pump isn't filling it up again. Pump may be going bad, even if it is only 200 miles old, partially blocked fuel filters, or something in the gas tank that floats around until sucked into the fuel outlet.

Does it happen more often with the tank completely full, or does it occur after you have run a bunch of gas out?

 

X2, I had the same problem with my car when I was a kid. The flexible fuel line between the fuel pump and frame mounted hard line was decaying on the inside causing an intermittent blockage.

 

Someone stick an egg in your gas tank?

 

Thanks for the help everyone. Points were bad. The only way it could've been any worse is if the arm was broken off.