I'm having problems with the engine(carburated 454) quitting .It sometimes stops when its warming up,sometimes it waits until im driving.It always restart s without a lot of cranking,so i suspect an ignition rather than a fuel problem.
Is there an ignition box on this model(89 classic 34.5) if so ,does anyone know where its located.
I had intermittent problem similar to yours sounds...try the wiring plug where wiring harness attaches to distributor. I could barely touch it and the engine would quit. I would barely touch it again while turning engine over, it seemed to be the problem. Replaced it while doing a tune-up (plugs, rotor, wires, oil, filters, lube, hoses, belts, brake check, etc.)
Could be just about anything in the 12V to the distributor or in the dist itself (coil, module, etc). One similarly strange thing that happened to me had to do with intermittantly grounding wires down by the starter.
The primary ignition wire runs down to the starter. This is dangerously close to the enhaust pipe (closer if you run headers). Check this wire for burned insulation. I had mine toasty and occasionally touching (grounding) against the exhaust. I would either loose the engine or get severe misses. I found it by tracing voltage from the key to the starter.
Try replacing the ignition module, which is in the distributor. If this fixes the problem, buy a spare and put it in your tool box. If this does not fix your problem (some day it will), buy a spare and put it in your tool box. I had a problem similar to yours in Winnebago with a Chevy 350 some years back.
Usually, if it is the module, it will tend to shut down after it gets hot. That is why it shuts off, an internal short develops from the parts expanding and touching each other.
If your coach as a tachometer, and it reads rpm while you crank the engine, next time the engine quits, observe the tach. If it shows RPM, it is not the pickup, nor will it likely be the module. It may be the ignition coil.
Scott: Overlander has it right. Coils, on 454's, sit on the top of the engine, and (in case you haven't noticed) heat rises. Heat eventually will cause your coil to fail--I moved mine off the top of the engine as a precaution. My opinion is that you should try to replace the module first--it sits on top of the engine, in an enclosed space (the distributor) and gets HOT, which may contribute to failure. If that does not solve the problem, replace the coil.
Scott: Overlander has it right. Coils, on 454's, sit on the top of the engine, and (in case you haven't noticed) heat rises. Heat eventually will cause your coil to fail--I moved mine off the top of the engine as a precaution. My opinion is that you should try to replace the module first--it sits on top of the engine, in an enclosed space (the distributor) and gets HOT, which may contribute to failure. If that does not solve the problem, replace the coil.
Best,
Rob
Will: I apologise for addressing this to Scott. Mia culpa, mia culpa, mia culpa.
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