QuestionQUESTION: my bel air will idle just fine and drives just fine about 5 miles or so then it will stall. i have changed the ignition coil, cleaned all of the connections, cleaned the carb, cleaned the generator magnets. what now?
ANSWER: Don't change anything else until we know what the problem is.
When it stalls, will it restart right away, or if you have to wait to restart it, how long do you have to wait?
If it won't restart right away, does it crank over at a normal speed, or much slower than normal (or not at all)?
If it cranks at a normal speed but will not run, next time it does this, have a helper ready with a can of WD-40 spray, and when you crank it as if to start it, have your helper spray some WD-40 into the carburetor air intake. If the engine then starts, even if only for an instant, we know the problem is lack of fuel. If the engine doesn't start, we need to investigate the ignition system.
Get back to me with answers to these questions and we'll plan the next step.
Dick
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: it usually turns over but will not crank right up for a few minutes. there have been times when it would act like the battery was dead and the solenoid would just click. but after the generator cleaning when it dies it does turn over at normal speed.
AnswerOk, Thanks, that's good - it eliminates a whole bunch of things I'd need to consider.
Next, do the WD-40 trick and see if that makes the engine fire for a few seconds when you try to restart it after it dies.
Let me know the results of that, and we'll go to the next step and keep trying until we find the cause.
Dick
