<html class="apple-mail-supports-explicit-dark-mode"><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">New doesn’t mean good. It just means new. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">From your symptoms, it sounds like you’re losing spark. You (or your mechanic) need to draw a diagram of what the ignition system should look like. Where it gets power, where the grounds are, what inputs the spark box has, what the distributor has, etc. then you need to verify that your diagram is right, by visual inspection (don’t take it apart). If it doesn’t match, figure out why. Once you know the fundamental set up is right, you need to work through it, starting at the battery, through the fuse box, the ignition switch, ending at the plugs. My suspicion is that you have something physically broken, that is intermittently opening. Could be a bad terminal termination (if the wiring was soldered, replaced the solder joints with properly crimped ones. Solder has no place in automotive wiring, it creates stiff points that fail at the end of the joint.), could be a pin fit problem, could be a fuse holder flexing, could be an ignition switch opening, could be a relay unlatching, could be a wire with a break. Could have a ground that goes away when the engine moves. Could be something else…</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">But systematic inspection is the way to find it , not just firing the parts cannon. </div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On May 20, 2026, at 00:58, and john niolon <jniolon@att.net> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">
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<div><font face="Segoe UI">Hey Moose, thanks for the reply. Harness was done by a pro that does it for a living...He is meticulous. He completely strips everything</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">from the car then starts from a blank slate... Everything new.. Nice looms and grommets at every hole and hides as much of it as he can.</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">Every component was new and oem or better... no import crap. I'm of the same opinion as you afa a short to ground but it's gotta be hidden inside something</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">that we can't see.</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">Someone on my ford forum suggested putting a volt meter in the circuit and watch the voltage for a drop...but you're so busy trying to get out of traffic and not</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">get plowed it's difficult to remember to watch the meter.... and yes this has been going on for over a year...intermittently and even after all the changes... it persists</font></div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Segoe UI">john</font></div>
<div> </div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe UI'; COLOR: #000000"><b>----- Original Message -----</b></div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe UI'; COLOR: #000000"><b>From:</b> <<a href="mailto:eric@megageek.com">eric@megageek.com</a>></div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe UI'; COLOR: #000000"><b>To:</b> shop-talk <<a href="mailto:shop-talk@autox.team.net">shop-talk@autox.team.net</a>></div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe UI'; COLOR: #000000"><b>Cc:</b> john niolon <<a href="mailto:jniolon@att.net">jniolon@att.net</a>></div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe UI'; COLOR: #000000"><b>Sent:</b> 05/19/2026 4:40:59 PM</div>
<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe UI'; COLOR: #000000"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Shop-talk] strange automotive electrical problem</div>
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<div style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Segoe UI'; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; COLOR: #000000; FONT-STYLE: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">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...</span> <br><br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">Or does it?</span> <br><br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">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?</span> <br><br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">Something in dash, neutral switch, tranny indicator, or some other component?</span> <br><br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">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?</span> <br><br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">BTW, I'm assuming it was doing this, before you did all these mods, right? </span><br><br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">Anyway, that is a stumper.</span> <br><br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">Moose</span> <br><br><br><br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; COLOR: #5f5f5f">From: </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">"john niolon" <jniolon@att.net></span> <br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; COLOR: #5f5f5f">To: </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">"shop-talk" <shop-talk@autox.team.net></span> <br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; COLOR: #5f5f5f">Date: </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">05/19/2026 13:16</span> <br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; COLOR: #5f5f5f">Subject: </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">[Shop-talk] strange automotive electrical problem</span> <br><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif; COLOR: #5f5f5f">Sent by: </span><span style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: sans-serif">"Shop-talk" <shop-talk-bounces@autox.team.net></span> <br>
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<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Strange automotive electrical problem we need help with…</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">55 chevy automatic with 383 stroker motor, carbed, p/s,p/b,a/c</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Dakota digital dash system including neutral safety switch and</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Transmission gear indicator</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">When it is running right, it’s scary strong. Cruises nicely.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Problem… when driving the engine dies like you cut it off…BUT will start back up</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Immediately and run perfectly till the next time it does it. Might be 15 minutes…15 days or</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">three month later. Might do it 4 times in a row or once and not repeat. Speed does not effect it. </span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Engine temp does not effect it… does it hot or cold. With the a/c on or off. It does not have a</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Cutoff switch in the system. Longest period with no failure is 7 months… shortest was 4 minutes.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">When it stalls we checked fuel by looking in the bowl of carb and gas is spraying as it should</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">So we are assuming electrical of some sort. So far we’ve done the following…</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Replaced battery with new red top optima battery and all new battery cables (2 gauge I think)</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Replaced all ground cables frame/block… frame/chassis with 2/0 welding cable with new crimped</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">connectors and clean, bare metal attachment points</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">replaced ignition switch (twice… first with import then with oem switch)</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">replaced coil and distributor with MSD system with spark control box, separate coil and distributor…</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">it was taken from running vehicle. It's doing the same thing as the original ignition system.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Replaced complete wiring harness…headlight to taillight with new Autowire harness…including all</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Switches and relays. Professionally done.</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Everything else electrical works without a glitch… we are at the wall here…</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">Ideas, suggestions, calculated wild a** guesses welcomed… </span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">thanks</span></p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"></span> </p>
<p style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px; MARGIN-TOP: 0px"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: Calibri">john</span></p>
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