motor cutting out

[loki42]

I have been killing myself trying to figure out my current problem on my 85 eagle. I get in the car and drive for 5-10 minutes  and she starts behaving like she is running out of gas.  My first thought was fuel filter    no change  second thought was check fuel pump    a little low on pressure so   installed a new one  still nothing.   At this point I check all my vacuum lines and adjust the float.  still no improvement.   the coil failed the secondary test  so I replaced that as well.   I have checked and rechecked  every plug and vac line every where I added a ground to the ignition   no change,   new pick up coil cap and rotor as well    no change     changed ignition module as well.   no change.   the car runs perfectly at idle you could let it run all day like that .   But if you try to drive some where it starts acting like it is running out of gas,or  it will just kind of dies out.    the car has had a tune up earlier this year.  it is even worse if you go up hill.   the carb is clean and like I said it runs great right up until  the time it cuts out.  I replaced  both the fuel lines and the return as welll.   I am at my wits end       any ideas    guys.......thanks   Mike In Mankato 507-779-8082    

[GRONK]

Mike, sounds like a rebuild kit for the carb is due.

[mudkicker715]

Rust hole in the fuel pickup line. Or worse rust hole on the diptube in the fuel tank.

[vangremlin]

Try loosening the gas cap, in case there is a vacuum built up in the fuel system.  Been there done that.

[loki42]

I have tried the gas cap already.   no luck.....I am going to dig into the pickup tube hopefully tomorrow 

[opieonekanobi]

I just got out of this situation myself and went through all the steps you did.  Run a compression test on your cylinders and a leak down test if you can.  My 84 started off like this and then it started over heating like crazy!  turned out the head gasket was fried.  A loss of compression in your cylinders will cause that rough ride.  and the compression check is pretty cheap and any auto part store. 
Hope this helps

[Hawk258]

I agree with casper,  You should check out the coil if and wires, see if you are arcing across the block or some other grounded area, and check that your coil is in working order.

[loki42]

I have replaced the ignition module and the coil as well as the the pickup coil I have done a compression test and rebuilt the carb. I have inspected the pickup tube and replaced the fuel filter  and just about every thing else I can think of.LOL   The car runs just fine for 7-10 miles and then it just starts  stalling out.   I have added grounds to the pickup coil and cleaned and replaced most other grounds in the car.....  This have been driving me nuts for a few months now....

[Sunny]

I have replaced the ignition module and the coil as well as the the pickup coil I have done a compression test and rebuilt the carb. I have inspected the pickup tube and replaced the fuel filter  and just about every thing else I can think of.LOL   The car runs just fine for 7-10 miles and then it just starts  stalling out.   I have added grounds to the pickup coil and cleaned and replaced most other grounds in the car.....  This have been driving me nuts for a few months now....

This is going to sound weird, but check the gas lines.
I had an 86 Z28 doing the EXACT same thing.. and I couldn't figure it out for the life of me.
My grandfather came over one day and unplugged the line from the fuel pump, and ran it off a secured jerry can [apparently a trick he used to use when he was a mechanic], and told me to go take it for a drive.. So I did.. it never stalled.. Replaced the gas lines, and the car never did it again. He was saying he used to see all sorts of carburated cars get pinholes in the gas tank, not big enough that they would leak gas, but big enough that under throttle they would start to suck air and stall out the motor after driving 10-15 mins. Worse under more load [hence stalling faster going up steep hills]. I had the same thing though, it would idle forever and never die.

[mudkicker715]

Sunny has a point. When my stroker its maiden voyage I took it around the block worked until it got back home would stall out. I found I pinched a line. Would idle perfect forever.

[rollguy]

It would be a very easy test to run it on a separate fuel supply.  This is common practice for doing a "Diesel Purge" on the fuel system on Diesel engines (engine is run and car is driven on the fuel system cleaner alone).  I use a Gatorade bottle with two holes in the cap (for supply and return line).   Run a hose into the bottle from the inlet of the fuel pump (temporarily cap hard line coming from tank), and also a hose from the return fitting of the fuel filter (temporarily cap hose returning to the tank).  The supply hose should be near the bottom of the bottle, and the return hose just needs to drain back into the bottle.   Secure the bottle somewhere in the engine bay away from the exhaust and any source of ignition (faulty plug wires etc.).   If the car runs fine on the test drive, you have a problem with a metal fuel line, or a colgged fuel puck up screen in the tank.

[Hawk258]

let us know if this fixes it, Cause only thing left if it doesn't, that I can think of would be a short in the ignition connection at the steering column... Which is HIGHLY unlikely as it sounds like it runs fine otherwise.

[wagonmaster]

i know you said you already replaced the fuel pump, but mechanical pumps can cause symptoms like this. i know its more money to through at it but i replaced my mechanical pump with an inline electric ($45) and its almost like having fuel injection now. also  the vacuum line on the distributor may be collapsing and not allowing proper advance and retard.   just some thoughts

[HappyPappy]

  Sounds like fuel problems. I'd bet on the "corn cobb" in the tank. It's a filter type of thing that causes a lot of problems. Remove it and place an in line filter at the tank, after you do the others things that are suggested.  GOOD LUCK!!

[doubey420]

FOOD FOR THOUGHT... TRY ANOTHER BATTERY....