First post, and do I need some help.
I've got a 258 1b carter, pure stock.
Changed the timing gear and chain and rebuilt the carb.
It has run fine up to today.
Driving about 45 mph the engine just quit. NaDA
The engine started (with the key) seemed to run fine and then boom, backfire out the exhaust.
I've checked the timing, set the idle everything I could think of.
I'm lost.
Any ideas
Thanks

1. Double check the timing,
2. Change the igntion module,
3. Start there, it's a point of failure

Sounds as if someone has put vinegar in your gas tank...
Engine will run great until the vinegar mixes into the fuel then... no go!
As soon as the vehicle sits and the vinegar seperates from the gas... it'll run great.
Got any enemies? Drain tank and get a locking gas cap... with the price of fuel these days it's a needed thing.

I had a '75 that used to do that. Run fine, then just quit. Let it sit and it would sart right back up. Drove me nuts.

How long ago did you do the work?

Check that the return line from the carb is OK.
Check the wires and plug for the ignition unit, make sure you see no fraying or corosion on the plug.
Swap out you ignition module with a known good unit ( I always kept a spare, those things were a P.I.T.A. [img]images/graemlins/AR15firing.gif[/img]).

Long term, do a search here on HEI or TR Upgrade, and consider a MotorCraft 2100 or a 2150.

Had this happend to me. It turnud out to be ignition midule
HTH

1. After a night to think a little more...
2. The schematic on the engine shows a ballast resistor (it may be resistor wire)...
3. It should be located somewhere on the firewall.
4. If it's got the ballast resistor, then remvoe it and turn it over.
5. It's ceremaic, with a resitive wiring running up the middle.
6. Often they get hot, and then break and make the circuit.
7. It's hot, and breaks, and the engine dies.
8. Then the voltage is remvoed... and the resistor cools,
9. The circuit is completed... and the engine can start again.
10. Then the cycle repeats itself.
11. But I'm still bettin' on the ignition module.


11. As the fracture ages, the problem intensifies.

On my previous post
ignition midule = ignition module

Thanks everyone.
Guess what? IGNITION MODULE!
Maybe I can be of help to someone else. Hope so.

1. I wish they were all that easy!
2. Congratulations on getting it fixed..
3. Keep postin', two heads are better'n one!

Mine would restart itself if you left it in gear and coasted...It was the module...and it wasn't that old...Good reason to swap in the MSD I had sitting in the garage.