#1  
Old 08-13-2019, 08:30 PM
rick3452 rick3452 is offline
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Default 66 GTO weird shutting off while driving issue

Hi Guys! So recently, while driving at highway speeds the car just shuts off like you turned the key off. sometimes as I'm costing to the side of the road it
"Catches" and continues running without issue. This past Sunday on the highway again it died and after 15 -20 minutes it restarted and ran for about half a mile and died again on the exit ramp. Luckily I was able to coast to a gas station and get it safely off the road. Called Hagerty and waited for the tow. Just for the heck of it after 25 min. I started it and ran it at a higher idle for a few minutes and it ran PERFECT the rest of the day. Last night trying to take my grankids to a local car show it died again, it would restart after 15-20 and run for 30 seconds or so. This time flat bedded home and of course when it was off the truck it restarted and I put it in the garage.
I recently had switched to Petronics Ignition with Flame Thrower Coil.
Gas tank gooseneck vent is venting perfectly
Before I went out last night I switched to a Clear Fuel filter so I could determine if fuel was being pumped. I had my daughter crank it a bit and there was no real stream entering the filter. But why would it start after a bit?
Thanks in advance for any help!!
Rick

  #2  
Old 08-14-2019, 01:17 AM
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Mister Pontiac Mister Pontiac is offline
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Sounds ignition related to me. Fuel issues tend to be intermittent, causing it to cut in and out, not shutting the car off as you're describing.

Rule #1 for me is to check the last thing I did to the car after a new problem arises. Typically, it's something related to what I just "fixed." You mentioned recently changing to a Pertronix setup. What were you running before, and did the problem happen with that old set up? If it was fine then, I'd swap the old set up back in and start driving the heck out of it again. If the problem disappears, you've found your culprit.

Hope that helps. It's where I would start.

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'74 Bonneville 4dr Sedan (455/TH400/2.93 open)
'72 LeMans GT (455/M-13/3.23 [8.5"] posi)
'71 GTO Hardtop (400/TH400/3.07 12 bolt posi)
‘71 GTO Convertible (455HO/TH400/3.23 posi)
'67 GTO Coupe (455/ST-10/2.93 posi)
'67 Tempest Wagon (428/TH400/2.56 posi)

Deuteronomy 8:3
  #3  
Old 08-14-2019, 05:56 AM
Geoff Geoff is offline
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Beginning to think 'Pertronox' is Swahili for failure....

Seems to be a huge number of failures, & your symptoms point to ign. I would fit a good 'ole HEI.

  #4  
Old 08-15-2019, 02:45 PM
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fyrffytr1 fyrffytr1 is offline
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I used the M&H module to replace my points several years ago and have never had a problem. You don't have to replace the coil or anything else but, it is beat to take the distributor out and do it on the bench.

http://www.breakerless.com/

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  #5  
Old 08-16-2019, 08:23 AM
rick3452 rick3452 is offline
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Thanks guys yesterday I had the distributor pulled out, shimmed probably, put the original point, coil and condenser back and took it out last night for a long ride everything is perfect now thanks so much for your help!
Old school!
Rick

  #6  
Old 08-16-2019, 05:24 PM
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geeteeohguy geeteeohguy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rick3452 View Post
Thanks guys yesterday I had the distributor pulled out, shimmed probably, put the original point, coil and condenser back and took it out last night for a long ride everything is perfect now thanks so much for your help!
Old school!
Rick
I've been running the stock points distributors in my GTO's for decades for just this reason. No reliability issues at all. Have seen many, many cars come in on a tow hook with 'upgraded' ignition systems. Not fun.

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  #7  
Old 08-16-2019, 05:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by geeteeohguy View Post
I've been running the stock points distributors in my GTO's for decades for just this reason. No reliability issues at all. Have seen many, many cars come in on a tow hook with 'upgraded' ignition systems. Not fun.
Yep!

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Eric "Todd" Mitten

'74 Bonneville 4dr Sedan (455/TH400/2.93 open)
'72 LeMans GT (455/M-13/3.23 [8.5"] posi)
'71 GTO Hardtop (400/TH400/3.07 12 bolt posi)
‘71 GTO Convertible (455HO/TH400/3.23 posi)
'67 GTO Coupe (455/ST-10/2.93 posi)
'67 Tempest Wagon (428/TH400/2.56 posi)

Deuteronomy 8:3
  #8  
Old 08-16-2019, 07:53 PM
rick3452 rick3452 is offline
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Lesson learned!
50 years with this car....
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  #9  
Old 08-16-2019, 09:02 PM
66sprint6 66sprint6 is offline
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Can you not upgrade to HEI if you want electronic?

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