Re: 356ci Engine Stalls

Posted by Pappy47 On 2021/8/8 1:03:09

Howard, thank you for these in depth Q's! I am reply with some photos that I trust will be helpful to show you both the look of the ignition switch & area surrounding the carb.

RE: the auto restart, the car would in fact be in overdrive and moving when car attempts to restart on it's own versus still. To my knowledge, the floor starter is gone or at the least disengaged - I've never used nor attempted it. I only use the modern ignition switch on dash I mentioned. See photos.

Candidly, I have no idea if dash ignition switch is correct 6 volt or not. Was as you see it when I bought it last August 2020. (you don't know what you don't know!)

The car's previous owner told me that it would take 8-10 +/- gas pedal pumps to get the car to start. To me this was excessive and too much wear & tear on linkages etc so began a diff apporach. Some locals suggested using electric fuel pump to prime the carb/"fill the bowl" & then shut it off when car started. Trial & error led me to this approach. I turn ignition switch to ACC & turn fuel pump on & let run avg of 20-25 seconds then pump gas pedal twice. This usually would get car to start right up. However, the car would sag and almost sputter at times on inclines so my mechanic suggested I leave fuel pump on at all times since only 3-4 psi used, when driving and sure enough it all but stopped this sputtering. (he had car to install resurfaced clutch plate & rear pinion seal.)

Prior to my leaving fuel pump on after starting, I would shut it off. AS car warmed up, the RPM's climb higher & higher but once smoothed out I would kick it back down to low idle so not run rich very long. (For quite a while but not much at all lately, there was dark brown almost black spray pattern on driveway below exhaust - could be just rust in exhaust?)

The stalling started occuring about 1.5 months ago. Car will generally start and drive fine with good overal power but will stall when coming to a stop.

For the first time in quite a while, I had problems this very morning getting car started to get to Cruise-in. It took a few times holding gas pedal all the way down to get it to turn over & start.

Also, after I got back home I noticed pretty strong gas vapor smell coming from car. It has been several months since I've had this issue.

Regarding the oil bath air cleaner I need to gird my loins and deal with it! I will get after it and take a look at it more in depth and see what I can find out about oil level.

Thanks!