twice yesterday i was driving my 87 half ton with a recently rebuilt 1975 engine converted to super six with an almost new holly 2V. lean burn removed and converted to chrysler electronic ignition.

the engine died suddenly while driving. restarted after a big back fire then did it again. Then restarted again and drove it home without problems

i am thinking it is probably the Ignition control module ?? my experience with ballast resistor is either it works or it doesnt. i dont think it was carb or fuel related as it otherwise runs perfect and the engine died abruptly without warning.

any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated. Someday soon i need to do the HEI conversion

Backfires are almost alwasy a timgin issue. Did the engine run good afterwards? If so, then the cam timing is likley OK, and I wuold be looking at the ignition system.
- Crossfiring under the distributor cap or between wires to to water/moisture/dirt
- Misfring at the module or pickup; pickup gap off
- An erratic power connection to the ignition module (would explain the complete stoppage); could be ballast or anything in the power source wiring to the module

it ran perfect afterwards so timing is probably ok

i will check the other things you mentiond

thanks for your thoughts

dean

BTW, I was running my /6 in town and was dokring aorund with the ignition switch because I susepcted it is worn; sho'nuff, wiggled the key a certain way, the ignition shut off and I did not push in the clutch.... let go of the key, ignition came alive, and ka-POW, one of the best backfires I ever had! (This may not have any relation to your issue but it was amusing at the time...)

well i was not messing around with the key but other then that the situation is almost exactly similar.

it just shut down. i engaged the clutch...disengaged the clutch... a tremedous back fire then it restarted and ran fine.....

did this twice. i hate this sort of thing because i am not really comfortable if i ever really do find the problem and fix it. i have a few extra new ballast resistors on hand in the truck. i bought a new premimun icm form napa and plan on having it with me too. just in case

another gremlin i have encounterd lately on really cold days is the aftermarket tach and the heater blower motor wont work when first started in the morning. then after a while the truck warms up a little and they both work fine. next morning the same thing. i need to trace the wiring around but its always too dark and cold around here when i am not working.