'77 Chieftain odd power distribution

[kamphaza]

The other day I was taking out my '77 chieftain with the ole 440 in it. Usually pulling into the 55 mph zone right off of my street I can get up to speed fairly quickly. I begin to pull out and there wasn't as much power as there usually is and all of a sudden the power starts fluctuating very badly. Lots of engine power and then no engine power, lots of engine power, no engine power. This is all within about a mile of driving it. The engine was laboring the entire time. Had the same problem a few weeks ago and began to backfire on me. Eventually it died. We started it the next day and everything was fine...I'm thinking something to do with the fuel pump is not working correctly. Any ideas folks? Thanks Kamphaza

[legomybago]

Sounds like your running out of gas to me. When was the last time any engine work or PM was done?

[M & J]

Could be as simple as a fuel filter.

[Rickf1985]

Ignition coil is going bad

[kamphaza]

All right folks. Ignition coil replaced, and there is no firing of the engine anymore. From what I am reading it seems as if it could be the ballast resistor. We can get the RV started when jumping from another vehicle, but otherwise the engine won't even turn over. Anyone out there had the same issue? anything helps


Zak

[legomybago]

Your describing a "bad" battery or cable issues?? Kinda lost me. Bad ballast resistor or not, your engine will still turn over, it would even start without the resistor. Go here http://dave78chieftain.com/Ignition_Syste.html and read up on ignition trouble shooting.

[Rickf1985]

I think we need to get our engine related terminology straightened out here. Engine turning over means the starter is turning the engine, not necessarily starting but it is turning the engine. Same as engine cranking.

Engine turning over but not starting is just as it sounds, it will crank but not start.
You could have a bad ballast resistor but 98% of the time when they go bad they are done, no start and no run. On cranking the ballast resistor is bypassed so if engine is turning over but not starting then it is not the resistor. If it starts but shuts off as soon as you let off the starter then that is a bad ballast resistor.

If the engine will not crank at all without a jump and you are hooking the jumper cables up by attaching the ground cable to a metal part of the engine then you have a loose, dirty or bad ground cable. It it cranks with jumpers hooked terminal to terminal then check both terminals and the other ends of the cables as well.

You may have a bad ignition module but before suggesting you spend any more money I want to be sure of the symptoms.

[kamphaza]

Thanks Rick. It seems as if the starter is turning the engine and then I get nothing from the engine. After turning the ignition a few times the starter turning goes away and there is no sound at all. I will check the battery connections, and let you know.


Zak

[Rickf1985]

Sounds to me like you have a bad battery and all of the available power is going to the starter and the voltage to the distributor is so low it will not run the electronic ignition module. It should crank the engine a lot more than just a few times.

[kamphaza]

Older post, however I wanted to update for everyone. All problems fixed with a CHOKE being installed. She starts up every time and can get up to 70mph!!! 

[legomybago]

Mopars are cold blooded. Thanks for updating, a year later!! hahahaha

[LJ-TJ]

Yep! Thanks for the up date.