Refusal to stay running - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

tecky11 · 10-04-2009, 12:27 PM

hi ive got a 55 truck that still thinks it a farm truck. during the day it runs great, but at night it wont stay running, this was previously freqired from 6 volts to 12. the left side of the dash closed by the door gets hotter han a piston. what is wrong with my truck?????

OrrieG · 10-04-2009, 02:59 PM

Is that were the light switch is located? I'd look for a shorting wire or maybe a bad switch that is grounding to the dash metal? Will it start and run with the light off and then dies when turned on??? MIght also be a short in the wires to the lights, dimmer or parking lights.

tecky11 · 10-04-2009, 05:13 PM

Yes that is where the switch is! Even during day time it gets hot ill chexk for shorting wires

tecky11 · 10-08-2009, 12:22 AM

all right small update, maybe you can help me. i just replaced the alt, get a jump runs for 10-12 min then dies and refuses to start, where do i go fromo here?

nickp51chevy · 10-08-2009, 02:05 AM

Just a guess; fuel system?

OrrieG · 10-08-2009, 12:00 PM

Check the coil. In the good old days in Phoenix we would see alot of problems when it got really hot with coils heating up and shorting out. When they cooled down they would work fine until they got hot again. Fords were worse than GM but we did see it, especially in big cars with lots of stuff under the hood. Might be another running time related wiring problem, too small guage wire (you said it had been rewired right?), intermintent short or poor connection that only show up when it gets hot. Might be vapor lock or fuel pump not working properly when it gets hot too, I've seen that happen. You should be able to eliminate fuel from the equation by see if its running dry. If its still squirting and not starting then back to electrical, which is frustrating at best. I'm a big fan of the wiggle, ouch that wire is hot, method of initial diagnosis.

tecky11 · 10-08-2009, 07:48 PM

coil is good, battery is good, alt is new, battery cables are new. then timing chain broke and i can tfind another one!!!!!!

Atomsplitter · 10-08-2009, 08:56 PM

I had a '79-1/2 Toyota Supra that had the same problem with it running for 10 minutes and stopping. The first time it happened the charge light came on and the car died in about 10 minutes. I charged it up....same thing. I replaced the alternator because the charge light was coming. It turns out the rebuilt alternator has a bad regulator, the second alternator also had a bad regulator but the third I tried was perfect. The guy that did the rebuilds was baffled himself as these were brand new regulators out of the "CHINESE" box.

I hope your problem is easier to fix that mine was.

OrrieG · 10-09-2009, 01:56 PM

If your altenator had and extenal voltage regulator then they should be replaced as a pair. Same with generators. Hard expensive (relative at the time) lesson I learned as a lad.

tecky11 · 10-09-2009, 04:42 PM

ok since i cant get a damn timing chain for this thing, will i be able to use a gm I6 with an IH tranny. it currently has an I6 already in it

nickp51chevy · 10-09-2009, 11:30 PM

Have you checked with napa?

**mr48chev** · 10-10-2009, 09:00 PM

What engine do you have in the truck?
And now that I think of it is it a Chevy or GMC.

If it has a 235 six in it it has timing gears and no chain

tecky11 · 10-10-2009, 09:18 PM

bd 240

**mr48chev** · 10-10-2009, 09:55 PM

Alright, that isn't helping because I have no idea what a BD 240 is.

You are going to have to give real information.
What make and model is the truck and what exact engine does it have?
Napa shows a 243 six or a 287 V8 in 55 GMC and it would be a 235 six or a 265 V8 for a Chevy.

There is no vehicle shown in your profile and you don't show any in your signature.

You assume that we know what you are taking about but you know what assuming will get a person.

I don't want to sound harsh but if you actually want information you have to provide all the information you can to get that help.

I went hunting and it looks like you have a 1ton or bigger International flatbed. From when I was chasing parts for Ryder Trucks 35 years ago I can safely say that you may as well go straight to the International dealer's parts counter and be very patient. International was very hardcore about not letting aftermarket parts have the designs for many of their parts. That may be the reason you are not able to find the pieces through your normal channels. I ran into that quite a bit either chasing parts for Internationals or when doing repairs on them. Even a lot of their radiator hoses were only available through them.

tecky11 · 10-10-2009, 10:49 PM

im sorry my bad, i have a 1955 intl truck with a sttraight 6, the timing chain(gears) either broke or came out of time. it is currently backfiring thoroug the carb. it is a 240CID with a 5 speed manual behind it.

dwcsr · 10-10-2009, 10:52 PM

One of the IH boards would be better help than here. I'm sure some one there would know where a chain is new or used.

10-04-2009, 12:27 PM	#1
tecky11 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix,AZ Posts: 451	Refusal to stay running hi ive got a 55 truck that still thinks it a farm truck. during the day it runs great, but at night it wont stay running, this was previously freqired from 6 volts to 12. the left side of the dash closed by the door gets hotter han a piston. what is wrong with my truck?????

10-04-2009, 02:59 PM	#2
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Refusal to stay running Is that were the light switch is located? I'd look for a shorting wire or maybe a bad switch that is grounding to the dash metal? Will it start and run with the light off and then dies when turned on??? MIght also be a short in the wires to the lights, dimmer or parking lights. __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

10-04-2009, 05:13 PM	#3
tecky11 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix,AZ Posts: 451	Re: Refusal to stay running Yes that is where the switch is! Even during day time it gets hot ill chexk for shorting wires

10-08-2009, 12:22 AM	#4
tecky11 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix,AZ Posts: 451	Re: Refusal to stay running all right small update, maybe you can help me. i just replaced the alt, get a jump runs for 10-12 min then dies and refuses to start, where do i go fromo here?

10-08-2009, 02:05 AM	#5
nickp51chevy Registered Chevy Owner Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Snohomish, wa Posts: 1,557	Re: Refusal to stay running Just a guess; fuel system? __________________ Love is fleeting, but Chevy trucks are forever!!!! 1970 Chevy CST C10 long box 350/400 2008 Chevy Silverado short box 4x4 Had; 1951 Chevy short box 307/T5 1988 Chevy shot box 4x4 350/350 1971 Chevy C10 long box 4x4 350/350 1971 Chevy C20 long box 350/350 1971 Chevy C10 long box 350/350

10-08-2009, 12:00 PM	#6
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Refusal to stay running Check the coil. In the good old days in Phoenix we would see alot of problems when it got really hot with coils heating up and shorting out. When they cooled down they would work fine until they got hot again. Fords were worse than GM but we did see it, especially in big cars with lots of stuff under the hood. Might be another running time related wiring problem, too small guage wire (you said it had been rewired right?), intermintent short or poor connection that only show up when it gets hot. Might be vapor lock or fuel pump not working properly when it gets hot too, I've seen that happen. You should be able to eliminate fuel from the equation by see if its running dry. If its still squirting and not starting then back to electrical, which is frustrating at best. I'm a big fan of the wiggle, ouch that wire is hot, method of initial diagnosis. __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project

10-08-2009, 07:48 PM	#7
tecky11 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix,AZ Posts: 451	Re: Refusal to stay running coil is good, battery is good, alt is new, battery cables are new. then timing chain broke and i can tfind another one!!!!!!

10-08-2009, 08:56 PM	#8
Atomsplitter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ontario Posts: 514	Re: Refusal to stay running I had a '79-1/2 Toyota Supra that had the same problem with it running for 10 minutes and stopping. The first time it happened the charge light came on and the car died in about 10 minutes. I charged it up....same thing. I replaced the alternator because the charge light was coming. It turns out the rebuilt alternator has a bad regulator, the second alternator also had a bad regulator but the third I tried was perfect. The guy that did the rebuilds was baffled himself as these were brand new regulators out of the "CHINESE" box. I hope your problem is easier to fix that mine was.

10-09-2009, 01:56 PM	#9
OrrieG Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Idaho Posts: 8,800	Re: Refusal to stay running If your altenator had and extenal voltage regulator then they should be replaced as a pair. Same with generators. Hard expensive (relative at the time) lesson I learned as a lad. __________________ 1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread 1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver) Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project Last edited by OrrieG; 10-09-2009 at 05:41 PM.

10-09-2009, 04:42 PM	#10
tecky11 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix,AZ Posts: 451	Re: Refusal to stay running ok since i cant get a damn timing chain for this thing, will i be able to use a gm I6 with an IH tranny. it currently has an I6 already in it

10-09-2009, 11:30 PM	#11
nickp51chevy Registered Chevy Owner Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Snohomish, wa Posts: 1,557	Re: Refusal to stay running Have you checked with napa? __________________ Love is fleeting, but Chevy trucks are forever!!!! 1970 Chevy CST C10 long box 350/400 2008 Chevy Silverado short box 4x4 Had; 1951 Chevy short box 307/T5 1988 Chevy shot box 4x4 350/350 1971 Chevy C10 long box 4x4 350/350 1971 Chevy C20 long box 350/350 1971 Chevy C10 long box 350/350

10-10-2009, 09:00 PM	#12
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,705	Re: Refusal to stay running What engine do you have in the truck? And now that I think of it is it a Chevy or GMC. If it has a 235 six in it it has timing gears and no chain

10-10-2009, 09:18 PM	#13
tecky11 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix,AZ Posts: 451	Re: Refusal to stay running bd 240

10-10-2009, 09:55 PM	#14
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,705	Re: Refusal to stay running Alright, that isn't helping because I have no idea what a BD 240 is. You are going to have to give real information. What make and model is the truck and what exact engine does it have? Napa shows a 243 six or a 287 V8 in 55 GMC and it would be a 235 six or a 265 V8 for a Chevy. There is no vehicle shown in your profile and you don't show any in your signature. You assume that we know what you are taking about but you know what assuming will get a person. I don't want to sound harsh but if you actually want information you have to provide all the information you can to get that help. I went hunting and it looks like you have a 1ton or bigger International flatbed. From when I was chasing parts for Ryder Trucks 35 years ago I can safely say that you may as well go straight to the International dealer's parts counter and be very patient. International was very hardcore about not letting aftermarket parts have the designs for many of their parts. That may be the reason you are not able to find the pieces through your normal channels. I ran into that quite a bit either chasing parts for Internationals or when doing repairs on them. Even a lot of their radiator hoses were only available through them. Last edited by mr48chev; 10-10-2009 at 10:17 PM.

10-10-2009, 10:49 PM	#15
tecky11 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: phoenix,AZ Posts: 451	Re: Refusal to stay running im sorry my bad, i have a 1955 intl truck with a sttraight 6, the timing chain(gears) either broke or came out of time. it is currently backfiring thoroug the carb. it is a 240CID with a 5 speed manual behind it.



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10-10-2009, 10:52 PM	#16
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,131	Re: Refusal to stay running One of the IH boards would be better help than here. I'm sure some one there would know where a chain is new or used.

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