Howdy, I have a 82 Jeep body mounted on an 86' Dodge Truck Frame and drive train. Essentially I have a Dodge Truck, it was a forest ranger truck before it turned into a Jeep. Ok so I have this weird problem:


1986 318ci, Quadrajet 4 barrel Carb; point distributer (new cap/rotor/plugs /wires)

On a cold start it runs like a top, no problems for about 5 miles or so. Then it unexpectedly cuts out like it ran out of gas or something. So I put a new fuel pump, and changed the fuel filter on it. I blew out the lines and cleaned the filter on the Q-Jet carb itself. Test drive yielded the same thing - For 5 miles runs awesome then cuts out.

It will start and run again after sitting for a minute or two, but then it just dies after about 15 seconds... then same thing, sit for a few minutes and start it back up, it runs for 15 seconds and dies.

Any ideas? I'm fresh out

 

sounds like your carb is not tuned correctly. it sounds like once the choke fully opens your engine is not getting enough fuel. there should be 2 mixture adjustment screws on the front of the carb. on is for the left side the the other is for the right side. only want to adjust them evenly about a 1/4 turn at a time until it runs and drives good. the big thing you are trying to find is where it idles the highest.

 

Sounds like it could possibly be the coil.

 

OK, thanks I'll check out both of those suggestions and let you know what I came up with.

 

If you get out and check it while its not running and find that you have no spark I'd check the 1) ballast resistor, 2) pick-up coil, 3) ignition coil.

Although usually when a ballast resistor goes it will quit but will start and run as long as you've got the key in the crank position. More than likely a pickup or ignition coil.

 

There is no pick-up coil with a points distributer. Have you replaced the capacitor for the points? Try driving it without the fuel cap.

 

Ok here's what I tried today....

I replaced the coil and tuned the carb to where it idles just perfect. Got it on the road... same old thing, once its totally warmed up it cuts out. So I took off the fuel cap..... no go it still conked out after about 15 seconds. oNe thing I did notice that is when trying to re-start the truck, there is usually a very crank. Instead of cranking and cranking until ignition, on the first try or so, it starts to crank and then kind of gives up.

I haven't checked the capacitor for the points... now I feel dumb Where is that located? It looks like its probably mounted to the block, wired to the positive side of the coil? Just guessing at this point. Let me know please, I'm starting to get that desperate antsy feeling inside....

 

have you checked for spark when it does this?

 

Capacitor for points is in the distributor.

 

OK guys, I didn't get a chance to check for spark or the capacitor for points just yet. Thank you for those suggestions I'll be trying that today and I'll let you know

Jake