Hi all . I have a 1978 Dodge Aspen with the 225 slant six engine. This evening, I put a new valve cover gasket on it, and let it set idling for about 8 minutes to see if it was going to leak.

It ran perfectly for the 8 minutes, and then just out of no where, it died. I got in it and tried to star it. It would turn over just fine, but would start, it would back fire and black smoke would come from the carbarator the it would hit a time or two and then just turn over.

We tried it for about 20 minutes, and it got to where it would start and then die. We put some more gas in it (the gauge read half a tank). The only other thing that we did was put some STP gas treatment in.

Any thought's as to what it could be? Thanks for any advice,

Tony

Sounds to me as if your timing chain has slipped. How many miles are on this engine?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

The title and the odometer has 34,275. I don't know if it is exact.

Tony

Well, take a look at the condition of the whole car. Does it look like a 34k mile car, or a 134k mile car, or a 234k mile car...?

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

How did it run before the gasket replacement? Check for things you may have changed or disconected during the valve cover removal. Did you re-connect the pcv hose?

It doesn't look like a high milage car, it has just a few small places with surface rust on it, and all of the undercoating is still there and in great shape. the dash has no crack or fading, the seats are in wonderful condition(the drivers side has a place where a seam has come loose. I don't think that it is off by too much.

The engine is clean, the trunk has the small piece of carpet in it, and the coating is still factory fresh. The spare tire is the original biase ply(though it looks like it might have been put on and ran a few mile. The carpet is in beautiful condition.

Here is the E-Bay auction that it was on:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-As ... dZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge-78 ... 4180QQrdZ1

It looks like it has been setting for quite sometime, because it had leaves and sticks around the hood, trund and inside the fenders.

It was running without missing a beat, and just all at once died.

Tony

ballast resistor?

sb

No.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I'll check the timing tomorrow. I hate that it did this, as it has been running great

Tony

How long was it sitting????????

Crap/rust from tank could have clogged up fuel filter and/or fuel sock (in tank) or the fuel pump went.......

See if the gas makes it to the carb. Either test for fuel pressure or take the top off the carb. If no fuel pressure or no gas, put some gas directly into the carb bowl before putting the top back on and see if it runs.

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

I agree with Dan on this one. Definitely sounds like jumped timing.

Nylon cam gear strikes again!

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

The fuel filter was clean, and there is good gas pressure. We took the fuel line off and let it run/pump for about 25 seconds. I forgot to post that. The best that I can get, it was sitting for about a year.

Tony

Yank a plug and a plug wire, ground the plug to someplace on the engine and have a friend crank it over to see if your getting spark. Hold onto the boot high up, not the plug! Also don't lean up against the car if you try this. Or it could be your ECU, check to see if there is any goo oozing out from under it, they'll die without warning like what your talking about.

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70 Dart, 360, 727

If you determine that your car is firing then try this. Bring the Number 1 cylinder to TDC. Now take the distributor cap off. The rotor should be pointing to the #1 distributor terminal. If it is pointing anywhere else, you have jumped timing.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

That's some great idea's. I'll check each one until we find out what it is.

Tony