Awww mate ! 
sounds like a fuel issue 

don’t lose the faith !!! Pontiacs are well built ! It will be something little 👍
you do realise that part of the fun of building them is fixing them on the fly ! 
Did you have the basics with you …. 1/2 and 9/16 ring spanners . Couple of screw drivers 

tape . Welding wire … that is pretty much all you need to fix em on the side of the road !

Edited March 15, 20233 yr by 64 kiwi boni

If ya gotta be on the side of the road, might as well show off the best lookin car in the territory.

Aw sh*t! Sorry about your bad luck mate! 

13 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

Did you have the basics with you …. 1/2 and 9/16 ring spanners . Couple of screw drivers 

tape . Welding wire … that is pretty much all you need to fix em on the side of the road !

Yes, I have a cheap KMart toolkit in the trunk for emergencies but where was I gonna start? Everything on that car has been replaced. I have always said that I thought it had a fuel issue but the tank, sender unit (& sock) rubber hoses, fuel pump, filter and carb are all either new or clean. I thought there might be a vacuum being created in the tank but I have a breather set up and that's not it. The mechanic suggested that the Pertronix coil might not be compatible with points, but my research says that won't be an issue. I told him it reads 6V when running like it's supposed to but he said that's not the full picture - the amperage is also important. It was at this point that I started to think about beer.

A thought I had was that the new Cardone distributor (US branded but the box says Made In China) came complete with points, condenser, cap & rotor. Modern condensers (just about all made in China these days, even the reputable brands) don't last long and will fail at any time. It could be that.

This mechanic goes drag racing on the weekend so he knows his stuff. He said he sees good results with Mallory or MSD electronic ignitions. I'll be sure to let you know what he discovers.

Yes, I have a cheap KMart toolkit in the trunk for emergencies but where was I gonna start? 

Cmon Fitzy, this is basic OH Shit mode 5 minute check.    #1   pop the top of the air cleaner, look down the  barrels as you work the throttle a full swing or 2.  Are you getting 2 nice squirts of gas?  Yes....put the air cleaner top back on, you have gas.  NO?  check to hear your electric fuel pump running.   OR inspect your manuel pump. Usually will be leaking if bad.  OR did you remember to put gas in the tank?  Call for a towtruck.

Now grab the 2ft piece of wire everyone keeps in their tool kit.   Pull the coil wire from the dissy.  Find a good ground and attach one end of your wire. (mine has an alligator clip on one end to make it easy) and usually have a ground strap from back of motor to the firewall.  How convenient!!!   Tape the ground wire next to the coil wire end after pulling back the boot, leaving a 1/4in gap or so. Lift the coil wire as high as possible and tape it to the top of the firewall where you can see it through the windshield.  Turn the car over and watch for spark.  SPARK?  Yes... NOT your coil. NO?? dang it's the coil.  Plug the coil wire back in.  Pull a plug wire and do the same thing to check with your ground wire.   No spark?  Prob is in the dissy.  Pull that spare condenser and install.  Head home for that well deserved beer!

Edited March 15, 20233 yr by JUSTA6

Yeah my first thought was fuel . And like justA said . Air cleaner off and check for a good squirt of fuel from the accelerator pump … that’s exactly why I replaced my carter ! I was soo not happy with how strong the squirt was ! 
stuck the Avs2 on and wow !!! It squirts better than meeeeee 

Damn it man. Sorry to hear that's she down again bro. Let us know when you hear something.

3 hours ago, JUSTA6 said:

Yes, I have a cheap KMart toolkit in the trunk for emergencies but where was I gonna start? 

Cmon Fitzy, this is basic OH Shit mode 5 minute check.    #1   pop the top of the air cleaner, look down the  barrels as you work the throttle a full swing or 2.  Are you getting 2 nice squirts of gas?  Yes....put the air cleaner top back on, you have gas.  NO?  check to hear your electric fuel pump running.   OR inspect your manuel pump. Usually will be leaking if bad.  OR did you remember to put gas in the tank?  Call for a towtruck.

Now grab the 2ft piece of wire everyone keeps in their tool kit.   Pull the coil wire from the dissy.  Find a good ground and attach one end of your wire. (mine has an alligator clip on one end to make it easy) and usually have a ground strap from back of motor to the firewall.  How convenient!!!   Tape the ground wire next to the coil wire end after pulling back the boot, leaving a 1/4in gap or so. Lift the coil wire as high as possible and tape it to the top of the firewall where you can see it through the windshield.  Turn the car over and watch for spark.  SPARK?  Yes... NOT your coil. NO?? dang it's the coil.  Plug the coil wire back in.  Pull a plug wire and do the same thing to check with your ground wire.   No spark?  Prob is in the dissy.  Pull that spare condenser and install.  Head home for that well deserved beer!

Yes, thanks JustA. I don't know how inept you guys think I am...engine still started but would immediately die. Yes, of course I popped the air cleaner off. Plenty of juice going in. It is obviously getting spark or else it wouldn't run at all. It would idle REALLY badly and with a few extra revs, I repeatedly tried to get it into gear and it would simply die. It wasn't going anywhere. Believe me, I am a veteran of many breakdowns and have just about always got going again, just not this time. Sometimes, you are just left scratching your head.

Ooh look - there's a nice Corolla for sale! 😁

1 hour ago, Fitzy said:

Yes, thanks JustA. I don't know how inept you guys think I am...engine still started but would immediately die. Yes, of course I popped the air cleaner off. Plenty of juice going in. It is obviously getting spark or else it wouldn't run at all. It would idle REALLY badly and with a few extra revs, I repeatedly tried to get it into gear and it would simply die. It wasn't going anywhere. Believe me, I am a veteran of many breakdowns and have just about always got going again, just not this time. Sometimes, you are just left scratching your head.

Ooh look - there's a nice Corolla for sale! 😁

certainly sounds like a fuel issue mate. 

look at this way....

 you have sent it to the guy who does this for a living, surely he can sort it for ya 

oh what years the corolla ? how many kms  hahahaha

The Corolla is a one owner. The little old lady only used to drag race it on Sundays. Bargain!

59 minutes ago, Fitzy said:

The Corolla is a one owner. The little old lady only used to drag race it on Sundays. Bargain!

Oh please tell me it’s a 1966 model !!

Go granny !

Edited March 16, 20233 yr by 64 kiwi boni

10 hours ago, Fitzy said:

Yes, thanks JustA. I don't know how inept you guys think I am...engine still started but would immediately die. Yes, of course I popped the air cleaner off. Plenty of juice going in. It is obviously getting spark or else it wouldn't run at all. It would idle REALLY badly and with a few extra revs, I repeatedly tried to get it into gear and it would simply die. It wasn't going anywhere. Believe me, I am a veteran of many breakdowns and have just about always got going again, just not this time. Sometimes, you are just left scratching your head.

Ooh look - there's a nice Corolla for sale! 😁

Justa playin.... If only it were that easy to drive off into the sunset all the time.  You recall my Dream Cruise last year?? GTO came home on a trailer. Sure looked good sittin there waiting for a ride home. Had a number of guys, I didn't even know, stop to check it out and make sure I was OK.

5 hours ago, JUSTA6 said:

Justa playin.... If only it were that easy to drive off into the sunset all the time.  You recall my Dream Cruise last year?? GTO came home on a trailer. Sure looked good sittin there waiting for a ride home. Had a number of guys, I didn't even know, stop to check it out and make sure I was OK.

see !!! thats the fun of our hobby !!!

When I made the decision to turn off the highway, I ended up on a small dirt road that lead to someone's farm. The car was parked and I stood on the other side in the shade. For such a small nondescript road in the middle of nowhere, no fewer than 6 cars passed by - they slowed down to gawk at the car, then saw me and drove off. Not a friendly wave, no enquiry as to whether I was okay, not even a friendly smile. Australia sure has changed in the last coupla decades. It was probably the road to someone's meth lab, disguised as a farm. Every other time I use the car, I get approving waves, nods, smiles and enquiries. Defo meth lab.

3 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

see !!! thats the fun of our hobby !!!

I remember JustA's ordeal during his cruise. I'm sure many an old car ends up going home in some alternate fashion instead of under it's own power.

Kiwi's idea of fun is being under the hood on the side of the road, in the rain with traffic whizzing past inches from your backside as you are contorted and getting burnt by hot engine parts. Next time he tells you "let's go have some fun," I'll be sure to tell him I have to wash my hair.

1 hour ago, Fitzy said:

I remember JustA's ordeal during his cruise. I'm sure many an old car ends up going home in some alternate fashion instead of under it's own power.

Kiwi's idea of fun is being under the hood on the side of the road, in the rain with traffic whizzing past inches from your backside as you are contorted and getting burnt by hot engine parts. Next time he tells you "let's go have some fun," I'll be sure to tell him I have to wash my hair.

Gees mate ! Where is your sense of adventure 

Oh, so now breaking down is an adventure. Man, you need to get a different hobby. Rock climbing is an adventure. Exploring ancient ruins is an adventure. Broken down on the side of the road is NOT an adventure. It's a pain in the backside.

I'm all bitter & twisted because the car I have spent the last 2 and a half years practically rebuilding doesn't work properly. For one brief drive, it drove perfectly. I still haven't heard from the mechanic. I genuinely hope that he is struggling to find the issue. It'll make me feel better as an amateur mechanic. Grumble, grumble, moan...

19 hours ago, 64 kiwi boni said:

Gees mate ! Where is your sense of adventure 

Right next to the second and third degree burns and the bleeding forearms.

Mechanic called and reckons the Pertronix coil is not compatible with the points set up. This is something that I thought of, but dismissed. I have very little confidence in his diagnosis, BUT he's the mechanic and I'm not. Due to pick it up Monday and pray that it makes it home. For the life of me, I cannot work out how it can run perfectly for 10 minutes and then start to stumble & miss and eventually die. Headf#ck is the condition. I don't need to be driven any crazier - I think I have maxxed out being crazy.

Here's a question open to discussion. The car is equipped with factory resistance wiring. Once it's running, it ensures about 6V to the coil to maintain decent points life. I wonder if that almost 60 year old length of wire is getting shabby? What about a nice new fresh wire from the ignition switch, through the firewall and then on to a ballast resisted coil?

Or I could just set fire to it.

Easy fix… stick a stock coil on your stock points mate …. Kiss.

According to what's on the net, it makes no difference. Mind you, chuck in some ohms, amps and hamsters and the equation could change.

It is raining biblically here, again. I might have to drive it back in the rain. I sure hope my 60 year old wipers keep on wipin.'

Picked up GP today. Mechanic changed the coil but couldn't get a satisfactory spark from the points, so new Bosch points & condenser. Fiddled with the carb, played with the timing and I got to drive it home. Runs perfectly. Much smoother, once again it sounds different but very meaty. 

I am never touching that car again. He can look after it from now on. It's an admission of my own failings or praise for his skills & knowledge. Realistically, it shouldn't need anything else except regular servicing from now on. I can change the oil and he can do the rest!

A tip for others who might be considering a new distributor: mine was from Rockauto (Cardone brand) but it's made in China. Seems like the Chinese supplied points & condenser were crap straight outa the box. I'm not saying they're all like that, but this info may save you days of head scratching trying to figure out why your damn car doesn't run right.

Almost finished saving for it's paint job. Gotta start looking around for someone who's prepared to take the job on.

10 minutes ago, Fitzy said:

Picked up GP today. Mechanic changed the coil but couldn't get a satisfactory spark from the points, so new Bosch points & condenser. Fiddled with the carb, played with the timing and I got to drive it home. Runs perfectly. Much smoother, once again it sounds different but very meaty. 

I am never touching that car again. He can look after it from now on. It's an admission of my own failings or praise for his skills & knowledge. Realistically, it shouldn't need anything else except regular servicing from now on. I can change the oil and he can do the rest!

A tip for others who might be considering a new distributor: mine was from Rockauto (Cardone brand) but it's made in China. Seems like the Chinese supplied points & condenser were crap straight outa the box. I'm not saying they're all like that, but this info may save you days of head scratching trying to figure out why your damn car doesn't run right.

Almost finished saving for it's paint job. Gotta start looking around for someone who's prepared to take the job on.

What sort of dollars are you looking at for a paint job fitzy ?

Well, I'd like to think that if I do as much prep as I can, I want a professional to straighten up the body and spray it. I'd like a factory finish. I'm hoping $5k will cover it. Am I dreaming? Probably.

Doing most of your own prep will save quite a bit of money bro. Glad you got your girl back