Engine fires then dies

[AM.MSCL]

I drove the car (69 Pontiac Firebird w 400 and 4 speed manual trans) over to the A/C place yesterday morning and no issues with the car. Temps ran about 210 degrees going over there. Got the A/C charged and working. Drove the car home with A/C on and 100 degrees out side. Water Temp needle sitting on the mark between 210 and 250. Car shut off with no issue and never had any issue on way home. I got home around 5pm last night; this morning going to work (another car) the garage smells like hot car and a hint of fuel (guessing the fuel boiled in the bowls of the carb). Then today at 3pm I swap out the T-stat from 195 to 160 and fill the rad up again. Put a new rad cap on the car also.
Try to start the car and it just spins till battery drains. I put the battery charger on it and pull the air filter. Check and make sure fuel is squirting into the engine and it is.
I try to start the car and it fires and immediately dies.
I have new spark plugs waiting to go into the car so I go ahead and swap them out.
Try to start the car and it fires like it is going to start and then dies.
Leave the charger on it for an hour.
Go out and attempt to start the car again and it starts and struggles for idle (maybe 5 seconds) and dies again.


During all of this I check oil level on dip stick and for water in oil – everything ok.
Water in Radiator is full.




Anyone have any ideas of what to look at now? Or just wait till morning to see what happens?
Thanks
Ray

[David Pozzi]

What kind of ignition? Points type? Might be a bad coil.

[AM.MSCL]

Will late last night it started right up. I have not tried this morning yet.

[AM.MSCL]

I got the car started and backed into the street where it died and then jumped her and drove her for 15 minutes to the alignment shop

[Steeevooo]

do me a favor start the car and after you start it jiggle the ignition without shutting it off....sounds like a bad ignition cylinder to me and when u hit a bump it'll bounce it just right to shut it off. Same scenario with my buddy's 69 gto

[Ishmael]

If it were me I would check to make sure there are no leaks in the gas lines and check the pump. I know its squirting when you looked at it but is it getting enough - maybe running lean when it is running. It does cost or take much to swap the pump and check the lines. If you are still having problems I would start looking at the carb. I'm just thinking about it running hot and then not at all or sometimes.