I am STUMPED.

I have a 1988 IROC, 350 TPI, that I acquired heavily used from another gentleman here in LA (although the car is originally from Garland Texas!).

The problem is that I'll be driving along, and all of a sudden the engine will stall. No warning, just stops. This can happen while decelerating, coasting, or accelerating. FWIW, It does NOT seem to happen at idle, in park. Usually it will start again pretty quickly, but I'll usually have to wait at least a few seconds, and sometimes as much as a couple of minutes. Weather seems to play no factor (we don't have weather in LA - hot and dry pretty much sums it up...)

I have replaced the fuel pump with a Walbro 255 lph high pressure pump (what a task THAT was) and DID find that the previous guy had been in the tank at least once - a very bad grounding job, with a spliced wire just twisted at both ends (I shudder!). Fixed that (soldered) and replaced the fuel filter as well. I should mention that I have been unable to get a pressure reading at the Schrader valve on the fuel rail - (so I'm already thinking I'm gonna be tearing the fuel rail apart next) but what I'm wondering is this - does this sound like a FUEL delivery problem, or a SPARK delivery problem? Computer? Bad pressure regulator? Crud in the lines? Bad electronic ignition? Coil?

I've already changed wires plugs, and distrib cap, so I doubt those as sources... Also, I do NOT get a computer code when this happens.

Any thoughts would be most welcome.

Jonathan

 

well considering you changed most of the spark equipment, and you dont have any readings on the computer...im guessings its a fuel problem...but I could very easily be wrong.

 

could be ignition... have you checked your timing? Also, see if your knocking... you could be knockin like a muv'a and the ECM is taking timing away. Could be fuel... but im thinking ignition. could be wrong. Check timing anyway... dont forget to disconnect the est wire.