1969 Cutlass, engine cuts out

[trimacar]

Hi to all- 1969 Cutlass, 350 engine, going down road engine quits, a few seconds later it will start again, then 20 seconds later quit, etc. Thought maybe wrong gas cap, but books show an unvented cap is correct. Loosened gas cap and drove this morning, no problems. Any suggestions? thanks David Coco

[rocketraider]

Check the tank vents under the car. They should be at the front corners of the tank and are rubber hoses going from tank to a point above the rear axle. Possible a dirt dauber or something has built a nest and plugged it. You should also have what is called a "surge tank" on the vent hoses. It is a small plastic gizmo with a foam filter inside it that connects the vent hoses together and the other nipple is open to atmosphere. Idea behind it is to keep fuel from sloshing out the vents, and to ensure at least one vent is open in case fuel backs up into a vent hose, say, during hard cornering or braking.

I'd also check the distributor. My Toronado used to pull a similar stunt and it ended up being the breaker plate in the distributor.

[porchdawg]

I had the same problem with a 73 98. It drove me and the dealership service department nuts until I noticed a slight crack in a fuel line. The thing would just draw enough air in the fuel line and stall. Than it would start back up and be fine! Check your fuel lines from the fuel pump to the feed line from the tank. That's where we found the problem 3 months later!

[Sgt Art]

Check the rubber flex lines that run from the tank to the steel fuel line they rot out and will not hold the vacuum from the pump. I went through this not too long ago with my 77 Buick. Back then, a lot of gasoline had alcohol mixed in and a lot of people, including my father, thought that was a great idea. However, it's rough on rubber parts.