[FC] Rampy issues

[Ken Hand]

OK, everything said so far is correct. With what you found, a loose connection, is more than likely the culprit. A loose connection will heat up and cause resistance and can get bad enough to actually stop all electrical flow. 

You do need to go for a longer drive, locally, like around the block 50 times and see what happens. If it happens again the condenser is the next suspect along with the coil. I have seen coils get heated up and stop working. Hmmm, I just thought of something else, I have seen the 12v resistor wires go bad causing similar problems.

There was also mention of a brand name electronic ignition. In the past I have had problems with that particular brand lasting more than a couple of years. Now I was using the Pertronics II but it doesn't take having to buy back to many of those from customers to put a bad taste in your mouth.

 

 

Ken Hand
248-613-8586
www.corvairmechanic.com

http://s186.photobucket.com/albums/x118/vairmech/Viet%20Nam%20Pictures%201971/


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With cheap reliable electronic ignitions these days I don't mess with points 
anymore but it sticks in my head my father always first swapping in a new 
condenser when his van would start acting up.  Especially like the scenario you 
describe - problem only when hot.  

I would try to get it hot and make it act up again - but be ready to change 
condenser quickly and see if that helps. 

Then install a pertronix (or similar) and never look back.  (Carrying stock 
points plate setup for spare).  

-----Original message-----
From: "wern3 at juno.com" <wern3 at juno.com>
To: corvanatics at corvair.org,     jsstange at fuse.net
Sent: Thu, Jan 1, 1970 00:00:00 GMT+00:00
Subject: [FC] Rampy issues

I have been driving Rampy on an irregular basis ever since May 1st when she came 
back from an extended stay in the "busted knuckle" garage. She now has an almost 
new gas tank, gas filter and, also,  the battery - drain was fixed. I drove her 
about 100 miles on errands the longest being 25 miles each way to an old car 
show. Not so much  as a hiccup anytime anywhere. I decided to enter her in 
another car show 70 miles away from home. On the way to the show she ran like a 
new truck for the first 65 miles, then she slowly started to stumble. The 
stumble became worse and worse until I was just able to limp into the car show. 
While parked at the show I inspected the points and a visual inspecytion of all 
elements of the electrical system.  At the end of the day of the old car show,  
I drove her to the gas station and filled up on premium and headed east. The 
stumble became again worse as she got hot. While "at speed" (60 MPH) she would 
run fine for a few seconds then the motor woul
 d stumble  was if the "off " switch was thrown. Then she would just as suddenly 
restart herself and run fine. I wound up towing her home for the last 20 miles. 
Once in my garage she starts and idles perfectly. When cold she ran perfectly. 
But, once the oil got hot, (my oil - temp guage read about 150)  the stumble 
returned. I just managed to get her home by coasting and using 2nd gear to go up 
hills very slowly. I removed the coil, as I had not bothered checking it yet, 
and noted that the + connection wire seemed to be a bit loose. I replaced the 
coil and took her back out on the road. The stumble was no longer there. Could 
the stumble and power loss under load have been caused by a bad coil or loose 
coil connection? Do coils get hot as the car runs? It did not feel very hot when 
I removed it from the motor?Another road test is coming soon. Tim '61 Rampy 140