Automotive Forums  Where Car Enthusiasts Go to Discuss Cars Online

Hi - This Ghia has about 45k miles and runs perfectly when it is running. But - If the engine dies even right after starting, ie it isn't even warm yet, then it is reasonably hard to restart.  If I drive the car for a couple miles and leave the car for say 20 minutes, then it is again reasonably hard to start.  It has a good battery and turns over well.  When it catches, it runs on one cylinder for a while, then two, then three and after maybe 10-15 seconds is running on all 4.  Still not too bad, but then the fun starts.  The car will run just long enough to get out of the parking lot (no matter what size the parking lot is) and then stalls completely in the street. Pouring cold water over the carby resolves the problem and so I now pour water over the carby every time I have to do a restart.  If the engine is hot and idling - like at a light, it also may die requiring a quick dash with the water bottle.  Once, after a water treatment, and just on the road at speed, the engine missed a little, then stalled, picked up, stalled, picked up - at about 1 second intervals.   There was no backfiring which makes me think it is not an electrical problem.  

I've retarded the spark to 7.5 degrees (from 10 degrees)with no change.  The carby is 2 years old.  I've put a new fuel pump in and replaced the condenser(the manual says a condenser can cause hard starting).  I've got 100 octane avgas in it so detonation should not be a problem.  I HAVE noticed that the carby gets quite hot after running.

Any advice greatly appreciated!
Karl  kredell@centurytel.net