I own a 1979 Ford Bronco with a 351W. The vehicle is living out the latter half of its life in a remote location and is used primarily as a hunting vehicle. The vehicle is well maintained but spends a considerable amount of time sitting unused. Recently, the engine has started to stall. The stalling is sudden as though the ignition switch was turned off. The engine will start up immediately but as the engine warms up, it becomes more and more difficult to start. If the engine is allowed to heat soak, it will not start at all and I must wait until it cools completely before I can get it running again.

I have replaced the spark plugs, spark plug wires, coil and magnetic pickup in the distributor. The carburetor is relatively new and the fuel filter at the carburetor is new. I have not replaced the fuel pump.

Could this be a fuel problem? Any suggestions would be helpful.

Thankyou,

pepster

 

well mine had similar problems but replacing the stator and module fixed it, you might do a fuel pressure test both warm and cold and see what that tells you. A fuel pump is pretty cheap so if that is the problem it wont be a bug deal.

andrew
78 ford bronco 4x4

 

I picked up a module and will install it next weekend. If that doesnt solve the problem, I'll check the fuel pump.
Many thanks, Pepster

 

Pepster, a quick check on fuel pump is to work throttle and see if accelerator pump spurts fuel in carb.(when it stalls) If fuel is present, then it's probably ign. module.

"Nothing lasts forever except natural stone and old Ford trucks." (Willie Nelson)

 

Thanks for responding,
The smell of raw fuel in the exhaust pipes led me to believe the problem was most likely in the ignition system, but I once had an old bronco with a loose check valve inside the fuel pump. It ran fine until it warmed up. I guess the valve seat expanded faster than the valve and it became leakey. The engine would loose power and stall. I used an automatic center punch to push a little steel from the seat toward the valve, problem solved. I hope this problem is as easy to solve.
pepster

 

Hey, Is that the original engine that came in the 1979 bronco? I have one and mine came with a 351m400/cleaveland, anyway try changing your ignition coil, if that does'nt do the trick check adjust your ignition timing, turning the distibutor towards the drivers side fender(counter clock wise, will advance timing) and turning the distributor towards the passenger side fender( clock wise, will retard timing) this should take away that raw gasoline smell. If you try advancing the tignition timing and you get a lot of back firing from the exhaust then you have to change the ignition coil and the spark plugs, then adjust the ignition timing, this should cure the raw gasoline smell, however this remedy is for the 351m400 engine that comes in the 1979 Bronco, it should work for your 351W also, goodluck with your truck man.
Mableline
Harlem, New York City

 

 

To be honest, I'm not really sure if the engine is original. I put a new ignition module in yesterday and that solved the problem. She starts and runs great. I have to admit that I'm suprised to find a sold state electronic device with an intermittent problem. I always thought that they either worked or they didn't. Live and learn.
Thanks to everyone who helped.
Pepster