'78 with 351, 4bbl dying on me, and other questions
 

Hi all, I've got a '78 XLT (351, PS, A/C, 4bbl) and sometimes it dies on me. Not while putting (roaring?) around the city, but only when I've been driving for a LONG time. Only 2 times it's done it, I've been driving freeway speeds for about 2hrs, then when I come to a stop (not shutting off engine) and try to go again it coughs and chokes and acts like it's not getting any gas. If I baby it a little it seems to recover and then drives ok for a while, then totally dies a couple minutes later. Can't restart the engine, again acts like it's out of gas. (But it's not, tank is still over 1/2 full)
If I let it sit for about 20 mins, it restarts fine and I'm good to go. Any ideas?

Also, just got this rig a while ago, and the 4WD shift lever in it isn't like any other I've seen before. This one is laid out like this:
LOCK
LO
N
HI
LOCK
And there is a blue "LOCK" light that lights up when it is in either "LOCK" position. Can anyone shed some light on what this might mean?

Thanks!

'78 with 351, 4bbl dying on me, and other questions
 

A 351 What? W or M.... Well considering I own a 78 big red bronco with a 351M I have encountered the same type problems.

# 1 Change your fuel filter. If it is a small screw in type in the carb CHANGE IT.

# 2 Install a second fuel filter in-line. I doubt ANY 1978 (aka 22 year old) vehicle has a clean fuel tank without crap inside.

Check your fuel system then the ignition system. It sounds as if you starve it for fuel. The filter clogs with crap and after the engine dies it eventually "unclogs" it self.

Good luck.

Not positive about your transfer shift.

'78 with 351, 4bbl dying on me, and other questions
 

I agree with filters and maybe change the pump out, it's not hard or expensive. Your transfer case sounds like a Full Time case that if you you have manual hubs somebody converted to part time. I believe the new process 203 is the full time case and the 205 is the part time case. Check for ID on your transfer case. I'm guessing it's a 203.

'78 with 351, 4bbl dying on me, and other questions
 

Thanks for the info, I'll check/replace the filters and look into replacing the pump as well.
I looked at my T-case and I think it's the NP203.
Assuming it is the 203, do you know what the two "LOCK" positions mean? Is it just to make sure it's in LO or HI, or when it's in LOCK is it actually going a step further and locking something else up?

'78 with 351, 4bbl dying on me, and other questions
 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 28-Jun-00 AT 01:07 PM (EST)[/font][p]Given the symptoms you describe, if you still have the factory electronic ignition, I'd also change the pickup coil in the distributor. Heat causes these to go bad - once they cool off, they work again, for a short while.

It's a good idea to buy a spare ignition control box too - yours should be a blue-grommet one.
Both are cheap parts, unless of course you have to buy them after being towed in!

Good luck.
Mike

'78 with 351, 4bbl dying on me, and other questions
 

yo,

Had the same thing Mike wrote about. That pickup goes bad and opens.
Good luck,
Al

'78 with 351, 4bbl dying on me, and other questions
 

Thanks everyone, for all the help. I replaced the pickup coil in the distributor and that seems to have done it. For good measure though, I went ahead and replaced the fuel pump and filters as well.

-Mike

'78 with 351, 4bbl dying on me, and other questions