[Washington5.0]

Ok.. heres my story... I recently installed a 5.8 in my 89 5.0 Convt. Things ran well for the first 200 miles or so. Last week I took the car to Yakima (100+ degrees) Engine was doing great.. no overheating.. gauge hovered in the middle just fine. All other gauges were also working great. HERE's the problem that happened. After about 2-3 hrs of driving.. over Mtn Passes.. etc, the engine started to surge... more and more... I pulled off the side of the road...engine dies. Let it sit for a min or 2... restart... runs great....get down the road about half mile.. same thing happens. Restarted... again.. after a short rest...runs great. All the time I checked under the hood.. didnt see anything that looked odd or out of place. We finally pulled into a resturant , had a bite...then.. back to the car...IT STARTS NO PROBLEM. We get a few miles down the road....it does it again. NOW I"M DONE.. ready to give the keys to the next person I see...(Well.. I was.....BUT.. I came to my senses... plush the glove box poped open.. and i was reminded of how much I've put into it! ) HERE'S what I found....I think....During my build I installed a new Billit MSD distributor. I know the electonic spark module on the side of the distributor has been a design issue since day one.. with reguards to heat. I put my finger (or rather tried) the side of the electronic piece was WAY WAY WAY to hot to touch....I managed to pop off the little door on the side... then.. I think I saw the problem...the gel or whatever they put in there.. was VERY moveable. The whole distributor was a bit hot.. but the electronic module was VERY VERY hot. Can any and all chime in?? Has this remotly happen to anyone else on here...I was thinking about relocating the electronic module to the firewall...is there a kit... I'm pretty confident I can rig it to do it myself.. but.. wanted to get the thoughts here...does that even sound like my problem?

I ended up calling my mom... yes.. my mom (watching the kids).. had her pick us up (4hrs later) then went back with my trailer that same night 4 more hrs later loaded the car, then jumped into the back seat of the truck to get an hour or 2 of sleep.. then.. back home.. 3 more hrs...uhhg.. long night/early morning. I actually have pics... and got to meet a bear.. in the pass.. with the sun just cresting the Mtn tops...It was just me.. the snow.. and the outhouse.. I just visited... Thats an interesting story in it self.. I was out of the truck at the time..... ANYWAYS>...


THOUGHTS?

[Iownastang]

Originally Posted by Washington5.0 Ok.. heres my story... I recently installed a 5.8 in my 89 5.0 Convt. Things ran well for the first 200 miles or so. Last week I took the car to Yakima (100+ degrees) Engine was doing great.. no overheating.. gauge hovered in the middle just fine. All other gauges were also working great. HERE's the problem that happened. After about 2-3 hrs of driving.. over Mtn Passes.. etc, the engine started to surge... more and more... I pulled off the side of the road...engine dies. Let it sit for a min or 2... restart... runs great....get down the road about half mile.. same thing happens. Restarted... again.. after a short rest...runs great. All the time I checked under the hood.. didnt see anything that looked odd or out of place. We finally pulled into a resturant , had a bite...then.. back to the car...IT STARTS NO PROBLEM. We get a few miles down the road....it does it again. NOW I"M DONE.. ready to give the keys to the next person I see...(Well.. I was.....BUT.. I came to my senses... plush the glove box poped open.. and i was reminded of how much I've put into it! ) HERE'S what I found....I think....During my build I installed a new Billit MSD distributor. I know the electonic spark module on the side of the distributor has been a design issue since day one.. with reguards to heat. I put my finger (or rather tried) the side of the electronic piece was WAY WAY WAY to hot to touch....I managed to pop off the little door on the side... then.. I think I saw the problem...the gel or whatever they put in there.. was VERY moveable. The whole distributor was a bit hot.. but the electronic module was VERY VERY hot. Can any and all chime in?? Has this remotly happen to anyone else on here...I was thinking about relocating the electronic module to the firewall...is there a kit... I'm pretty confident I can rig it to do it myself.. but.. wanted to get the thoughts here...does that even sound like my problem? I ended up calling my mom... yes.. my mom (watching the kids).. had her pick us up (4hrs later) then went back with my trailer that same night 4 more hrs later loaded the car, then jumped into the back seat of the truck to get an hour or 2 of sleep.. then.. back home.. 3 more hrs...uhhg.. long night/early morning. I actually have pics... and got to meet a bear.. in the pass.. with the sun just cresting the Mtn tops...It was just me.. the snow.. and the outhouse.. I just visited... Thats an interesting story in it self.. I was out of the truck at the time..... ANYWAYS>... THOUGHTS?

I had the same thing happen to me in my camaro and it turned out to be the fuel pump. But it could also be the tfi module, the gel inside of them is supposed to be soft.

[86_Notch]

that happened to me twice ( different cars ) , both times it was the fuel pump

[idahoeky]

When is the last time you changed the fuel filter? Also where did you get your gas? Typically when it comes to issues with the ignition mod, it straight dies if it or the pickup in the dist are shot. When it sits long enouph to cool off, may start and run then die when it gets hot again. I didn't have any middle ground.

[r.barn]

Mine used to die when hot too. Was finally tracked down to bad coil

Get rid of that MSD dizzy.
Bet you have an MSD or other after market coil too?

I had nothing but problems with mine.
Personally I'll never buy MSD again ....... same goes for coils.

MSD distributors are CRAP

Put Ford Motorcraft distributor AND coil in.

[trueblue01]

Originally Posted by r.barn Mine used to die when hot too. Was finally tracked down to bad coil Get rid of that MSD dizzy. Bet you have an MSD or other after market coil too? I had nothing but problems with mine. Personally I'll never buy MSD again ....... same goes for coils. MSD distributors are CRAP Put Ford Motorcraft distributor AND coil in.

Funny, I've never had a seconds trouble with any of my MSD distributors (or any of the other MSD components). I must just be lucky. Nothing wrong with the original FOMOCO stuff even in mild performance applications........

My first thought was fuel related problem as well, bad pump, crap in the tank, blocked fuel filter, etc.

[Washington5.0]

I did have a passing thought about the fuel....and it did start happening after I filled up at a Safeway in Enumclaw (they had issues weeks before about water in the tanks of several Safeways...and causing similar issues with other cars...BUT, I thought that was resolved by then. Maybe not. I cant remember... but....the fuel pump is in the tank....right? time to drain the fuel...????

[dr.gonzo]

My car does that all the time in the summer. in the winter I can drive anywhere but once it gets in the upper 80's and 90's I wont drive it over 20 miles.

I have replaced the ignition module. did the same thing. I replaced the thermostat last fall. the old one was in pieces, but I havent taken the car on a long summer drive yet so who knows.

I am thinking its the fuel pump as well. I replaced the fuel filter last spring and since my fuel gauge dosent work I plan on replacing the pump the same time I replace that fuel level arm.

[Twist it up]

your fuel tank maybe building up pressure if the evap is not working properly. it needs to purge off pressure to keep the fuel pressure regulated properly.

[trueblue01]

Originally Posted by Washington5.0 I did have a passing thought about the fuel....and it did start happening after I filled up at a Safeway in Enumclaw (they had issues weeks before about water in the tanks of several Safeways...and causing similar issues with other cars...BUT, I thought that was resolved by then. Maybe not. I cant remember... but....the fuel pump is in the tank....right? time to drain the fuel...????

Pump is in the tank and it has a nylon filter sock on it. Was also thinking of your elevation changes on the trip and considered tank venting / fuel pressure issues.

[SALIV8]

Originally Posted by Twist it up your fuel tank maybe building up pressure if the evap is not working properly. it needs to purge off pressure to keep the fuel pressure regulated properly.

Washington, sorry don't mean to hijack ur thread, but TWIST IT UP- does the pressure above the fuel in the tank actually effect the pressure at the regulator?

[dr.gonzo]

I just had a hell of a day with this shit. I went 116 miles doing that exact same thing. if you seen a guy beat the hell out of a pay phone at 71 and 7 hwy....that would be me. It died on me about a 1/2 a mile from a flying j truck stop and I walk in about to pass out from the heat sweating my ass off and I have to basically yell at the staff for some water. some other guy was there and wated an hour and a half for a hamburger.

Then I get home and I order a pizza because Im sun burned and exhausted and dont want to cook. I order a pizza and wings, they forget the wings I call them and they said they will get them right out to me. 2 hours go by and I call them again. and some how someone played the stoopid card and made them for carry out.


All in all a very fucked up day with everyone stuck on stupid.

[dr.gonzo]

I found this page that might be able to help you out










and me

[jtyson8602]

sounds like the TFI (thick film integrated) module almost for sure. but some of the symptoms of that can also be the same for the bad fuel pump or also a cruel trick someone could have pulled with a marble or something of the sort. some people say it doesn't work but I know first hand that it does. and it sucks. swap the tfi and see if that fixes it. if not, check your fuel flow. good luck!

[Darrell]

Originally Posted by r.barn Mine used to die when hot too. Was finally tracked down to bad coil Get rid of that MSD dizzy. Bet you have an MSD or other after market coil too? I had nothing but problems with mine. Personally I'll never buy MSD again ....... same goes for coils. MSD distributors are CRAP Put Ford Motorcraft distributor AND coil in.

MSD distributors and coils are top notch. Their TFI modules are poor quality though. The first thing I do with MSD TFI distributors is put a Ford module in them.