Triumph Repair: Tr6 cutting out, metal chassis, robert bentley

Question
QUESTION: Hey Jim,
I own a 76 triumph and it has been driving well until it has suddenly done this thing where I am driving and the sound out of the car gets considerably lower and I lose almost all power. It then will just die and not start back up for usually about twenty minutes but it always does run again in the end. Im only 19 and my uncle who gave me the car says it might me something to do with the oil pressure stuff because    when the care starts to do the thing the oil pressure drops. Any ideas?
Thanks,
Ben

ANSWER: Ben,

Does it seem to have the problem when you've been driving the same amount of time?  Hard corner?  Sitting in traffic overheating?

It's most likely an ignition related problem, either an electrical contact in the wiring harness is making/breaking contact or there's a loose connection that's overheating and pulling apart... then when it cools down it reconnects.

Next time it happens pull the coil lead from the distributor and prop the end so it's about 1/4" away from grounded metal (chassis or engine) and you can see it from the drivers seat.  Crank the engine for a few seconds and watch for a spark.  If there is no spark it's time to troubleshoot the ignition system.

Find a good manual for the car.  I like the Robert Bentley series of manuals.  They're not cheap, but they are cheaper than a tow truck ride home.


Cheers,

Jim

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the quick response, to give ya the background you were curious it can happen a half block down the street or thirty minutes into a drive, the strange thing is if i realize the car is doing it if i downshift hard it almost seems like it rides it out if i work it hard enough, but it will inevitably happen soon again. does this change anything.
ANSWER: Ben,

Does it happen when you're starting to coast, or just upshifted?

Have you pulled the sparkplugs to see how they look?

One thought that comes to mind is that it makes me think of my '73 Spitfire.  I was having a similar problem.... ultimately I traced it to the mechanical advance weights in the distributor had become gummed up with 20 years of "gunk" and were sticking in the full advance position.    If I let the car sit for 20 minutes it'd refire.. then do the same thing right over again.

Get a can of starting ether (starting fluid) from an auto parts store and keep it in the trunk.  If the car stalls try the ether.  If it pops and sputters then dies it's a fuel issue.  Otherwise it's ignition related.


Cheers,

Jim

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Its usually when I begin to accelerate or when the gas is going because i notice it doing it by the sound comin from my monza's being considerably less forceful and more of a fuzzy hum.

Answer
Ben,

You're running the stock Stromberg carb setup?

If so, have you checked the dashpot oil?  They don't need to be full to the very top but you need about 1/2" resistance when you're putting the dampers back in.  If there's no oil sometimes the pistons "pop to the top" on accleration and stick.  

Cheers,

Jim