I chased down a similar problem on my 72 B a couple years ago. Here's a
general indicator to determine if your problem is fuel related or ignition
related:
1) If it dies suddenly, with no hesitation, it's probably ignition.
2) If it sputters, fades, or anything of the like, it's probably fuel
related.
You say the car sputtered before it died, and from everything you've told
me, you need to replace/rebuild your fuel pump. My car had the same
symptoms. It would sputter and die, and after 10/15 minutes of tinkering,
it would run fine again for a while, then die again. This will get
progressively worse until the car won't run at all.
Personally, with anything that is mecanically important to the car, my
general rule is buy new, rather than screw around rebuilding it. I've had
too many experiences with bad rebuilds at my own fault or the fault of a
shop to bother getting stuck with the same problem again.
=J=
-----Original Message-----
From: Speedo79@aol.com <Speedo79@aol.com>
To: mgs@autox.team.net <mgs@autox.team.net>
Date: Monday, August 17, 1998 1:30 PM
Subject: "Out of Breath" '77 MGB
>Dear Listers:
>
> I am 19 years old, and rather new to this list, but I am not new to MGB's.
I
>have had a '77 B in my family for 15 years, and in my care for 7 years.
> My problem began last week when I made a road trip to Bakersfield, CA...I
>live in LA, but go to College in Bakersfield...driving over the "Grape
Vine"
>(a decent accent of 4100' over 40 or so miles) I was pressed for time, and
>decided to push the non-o/d B up to 80mph from my normal cruising speed of
>70mph...As the engine neared the 4500 Rpm mark, the engine started to
>hesitate. Considering the cause to be the head wind, and the temp slightly
>above the "normal" range (about one o'clock on the gauge) I throttled back
to
>70, and proceeded onward without incident. Later that evening, while
driving
>around Bakersfield, there arose a wind and electrical storm...As the storm
>neared overhead, seemingly on cue, the B lost power and died. I figured I
had
>some kind of fuel problem, but checking the gauges (1/2 tank) and the
>transparent fuel filter nearly full under the hood, I began to wiggle
ignition
>wires, fuel filter wires, and in desperation, rapping on the fuel pump and
>float bowl. After 15 minutes of trying, with the engine starting, coming
up
>to speed, and stalling, the engine finally roared to life...
> Figuring the problem, and the electrical storm, were well behind me, I
>continued driving around Bakersfield...after 20 or so minutes, the engine
once
>again sputtered and died...after contemplating my situation, the gorgeous
>young woman in the passenger seat, and realizing I had a full tool box and
a
>spare SU fuel pump in the trunk (left over from the Moss Motors Festival in
>Buelton in July [isn't that ironic!]), I decided to get a hotel room for
the
>night, rather than risking the drive back to LA. After 10 minutes of
fiddling
>(with the car, mind you) it once again roared to life, and we continued on
to
>the local Holiday Inn. In the morning, with the manual choke out, the car
>started instantly, after checking the rhythmic clicking of the fuel pump, I
>drove home at 70mph without a hitch...
> I replaced the fuel filter, but not the fuel pump, and I have been driving
it
>around town everyday, without incident. I haven't had it up to 80mph,
though,
>as there is no safe place to do so around LA.
> My questions are:
> (1) Would/should an electrical storm cause such a problem with an
>electronic ignition?
> (2) Is it common for the original SU fuel pump to act up, and calm down,
or
>is it now "bad" and should be replaced? (I have noticed that it no
>longer gives out an audible "click click" before start up, like it once
> did)
>and (3) Has anybody had this problem?
>
> I appreciate any and all responses,
> Sincerely,
> Steve Sanchez
> "under the bonnet in a '77 'B"
>
>Ps For once, I was actually glad that my car broke down in Bakersfield! ;~)
>
>
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