intermittent engine ignition

[atre]

Hi cobra peeps

my cobra has failed to start occasionally, but now getting more frequent. Each time i have had to call the RAC. The first diagnosis was loose connection at the distributer. fiddled with everything - then jump started of the RAC van. Job done car starts and problem thought to be solved. Time goes by and it happens again. This time will not start and towed to garage, where it sits un touched until the next day. It starts first time under its own power. Garage gave the car back and said that it solved itsself and could not find the fault. Then i had the car serviced and on the day of collection it failed to start. Fantastic - the garage has witnessed the failure and will be able to track it down. Loose connection.

The present day - it fails again the RAC man comes - who i now know quite well and drink with now- diagnoses a weak battery. I go and get a new battery from ATS and the car fails to start. RAC man comes again tests voltage all over the distributer and finally says "i think your amplifier in the distributer has had it". Thought that was connected to my stereo?
Does this sound plausable as i cannot risk going anywhere and stop the engine. If it is this how much do they cost or would it be better to get a whole distributer unit for the chevy. i bet this will cost a bomb. really out of money doin car fixing and house renovations.

Adrian

[neil still building it]

hi adrian
sounds like you have a HEI ignition(mega large dizzy cap??) if so these are very reliable.the ignition amps are fixed internally -they rarely fail,but usually will only when too hot( so they can break down electrically if overheated .)-i ran a vette in saudi for a year and a half without a problem (it was mostly VERY HOT 40deg plus /over 50 deg in the summer...)the biggest problem is people fail to use sufficient heatsink compound when the refit a faulty one ,i remember..
any good yank supplier should have one (when things open again.. !?!)saudi prices were £15 or so but expect more from our 'suppliers' (read:rip off merchants....)is there any member local to you that has a spare perhaps you could borrow and then replace later?? (dave B?? have you one he can borrow??)
i suppose you are only failing to start again once warm or hot as you said the garage started it ok from cold.....
come on guys...?
neil

[David Large]

Adrian,

Try contacting Adricar 2 through this website(name is actually Adrian as well!), he lives not far from Lichfield and deals in yank V8s.

If you want to join the Walsall and area based cobra activities, send me a pm.
Cheers

[atre]

Neil,
thanks for your reply. I dont feel it is a heat thing. As far as a large dizzy cap - i dont know as i dont have a comparison. As you can tell i'm not too hot on the mechanical side of things - like driving alot.

Adrian

[atre]

Originally Posted by David Large

Adrian,

Try contacting Adricar 2 through this website(name is actually Adrian as well!), he lives not far from Lichfield and deals in yank V8s.

If you want to join the Walsall and area based cobra activities, send me a pm.
Cheers

Thanks David for the advice i will send an email to Adricar 2. I would be interested in the Walsall and area based cobra activities. Please send me details and i will get my cobra back on the road.

Adrian