[Shop-talk] strange automotive electrical problem

[eric at megageek.com]

John, I would have bet money it was a hidden wire short somewhere. It had 
all the Hallmarks.  But you stated the wiring harness what completely 
replaced. So, that rules that out...

Or does it?

My question, when you said 'headlight to taillight', that is complete. BUT 
was there ANY wire that was in that car that wasn't part of the harness?

Something in dash, neutral switch, tranny indicator, or some other 
component?

I'm still betting on a wire short, but I guess it could be a short inside 
a component.  Maybe inside the alt or other part?

BTW, I'm assuming it was doing this, before you did all these mods, right? 


Anyway, that is a stumper.

Moose



From:   "john niolon" <jniolon at att.net>
To:     "shop-talk" <shop-talk at autox.team.net>
Date:   05/19/2026 13:16
Subject:        [Shop-talk] strange automotive electrical problem
Sent by:        "Shop-talk" <shop-talk-bounces at autox.team.net>



Strange automotive electrical problem we need help with…
55 chevy automatic with 383 stroker motor, carbed, p/s,p/b,a/c
Dakota digital dash system including neutral safety switch and
Transmission gear indicator
 
When it is running right, it’s scary strong.  Cruises nicely.
 
Problem… when driving the engine dies like you cut it off…BUT will start 
back up
Immediately and run perfectly till the next time it does it.  Might be 15 
minutes…15 days or
three month later. Might do it 4 times in a row or once and not repeat. 
Speed does not effect it. 
Engine temp does not effect it…  does it hot or cold. With the a/c on or 
off.  It does not have a
Cutoff switch in the system.  Longest period with no failure is 7 months… 
shortest was 4 minutes.
 
When it stalls we checked fuel by looking in the bowl of carb and gas is 
spraying as it should
So we are assuming electrical of some sort.  So far we’ve done the 
following…
 
Replaced battery with new red top optima battery and all new battery 
cables (2 gauge I think)
Replaced all ground cables frame/block… frame/chassis with 2/0 welding 
cable with new crimped
connectors and clean, bare metal attachment points
replaced ignition switch (twice… first with import then with oem switch)
replaced coil and distributor with MSD system with spark control box, 
separate coil and distributor…
it was taken from running vehicle.  It's doing the same  thing as the 
original ignition system.
Replaced complete wiring harness…headlight to taillight with new Autowire 
harness…including all
Switches and relays. Professionally done.
Everything else electrical works without a glitch…  we are at the wall 
here…
 
Ideas, suggestions, calculated wild a** guesses welcomed… 
thanks
 
john
 _______________________________________________

Shop-talk at autox.team.net
Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
Suggested annual donation  $12.96
Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk 
http://autox.team.net/archive

Unsubscribe/Manage: 
http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/shop-talk/eric@megageek.com




-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/shop-talk/attachments/20260519/d4c92889/attachment.htm>