1987 Ford 460 engine – Stalls out whiling driving – won't start for 30 min. later. What's the problem?
February 23rd, 2010 | 
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1987 Ford 1 ton dually w/ 460 engine. Has sat most of the time over the past couple of years. We have replaced the spark plugs and wires. And yes, they are in the proper firing order. This truck starts right up and runs like a raped ape. Most of the time it comes and goes w/o incident. It is used to pull a 4 horse gooseneck trailer and we cannot have it doing this w/ the trailer loaded. It has quit running on us twice now while driving at about 50 mph. At this speed it back fired then just quit running. The rest of the time has been while it is going at about 25 mph. At this speed it just simply quits running. It will crank over but not start. It has been taking about 30 minutes b4 it will start again. Is this an air flow problem, could something have been put in the gas tank? We are at wits end trying to figure this one out.
US $8,950.00
Posted in Used Fire Engine | 
Tags: 30 minutes, air flow, firing order, flow problem, ford, gas tank, horse gooseneck trailer, spark plugs, wits
check distributor cap and wires , check timing after , clean fuel filter, or change
Check the obvious, fuel flow and fuel filter. If it is a carburator engine, not fuel injected, there have been times when the carb can ice up and stall out the motor. To solve this, some ducting from the exhaust manifold to the carburetor base helps prevent the problem. This usually occurs in cool weather say 45 to 50 F.
Hotter weather could cause vapor lock in which case cooling the carburetor is needed.
sounds like the carburetor has a problem. the float may be sticking open allowing too much fuel into the engine.
I would suspect the ignition control module.
Cheaper brands of control modules will do this. They heat up and quit working until they cool off.
A better brand will last longer but when they go out, they go out for good.
When the problem occurs, you need to check to see if you are getting spark. If you are not, it is most likely the control module.
This is fairly common Ford thing.
Just unload the horses and have THEM pull the truck for a while, the lazy beasts! !
Sounds like ignition module or coil going bad—heat from the engine makes them go bad over time especially with high miles.Try getting a can of compressed air for cleaning computer keyboards at a BestBuy or Staples type store…when the problem occurs, blow air from this can onto the module or coil. The air coming out will be very cool in several seconds and should cool off these parts so you can tell if that’s the problem. I’ve used this trick in the shop only we used carbon dioxide fire extinguishers–really cold. Some people would pour cold water on them in an emergency but it could short out things too…would stay away from doing that.
sounds like a typical ignition module.the module is a grey box located on the inner fender,i would replace that first
ive had the same problem i had a bike sat for a year had same prob found out the fuel had gone off replace with fresh fuel went fine after that