Driving in the rain, car cuts off - HELP

[Viperlover]

Whenever I drive in a steady-hard rain the car will cut off when coming to a stop. Does it sound like the distributor is getting wet or humid to you guys?
I cranked it up and it was missing, and when you put it in gear it just cuts off, so now I'm stuck halfway down the driveway letting it sit. It was also steaming a bit but I believe it was just overflow out of the radiator as the temperature gauge wasn't hot and the top of the radiator wasn't very hot. At higher rpms it is fine, but when you slow down it will run rough.
Another thing to note is that it is the stock vaccum advance distributor on my 350.
Sound like I need a new one? I don't wanna just throw parts at it without getting some more opinions on it.
Thanks in advance,
-Shaun

[Viperlover]

Also, could someone recommend me a better distributor that is less susceptible to this if it is the problem, because this has happened about 3 times, jsut not this badly.

[Viperlover]

I'm looking at a MSD Pro-Billet PN 8360 for $275.

[Viperlover]

anyone?

[Vegas69]

I wouldn't say an aftermarket distributor is the answer. It will probably be worse. Use dielectric grease in all your connections including your plug wires. Check for a cracked cap. If you are driving through puddles then you're probably soaking the engine. You may need to put some skirts under your inner fenders,etc.

[camcojb]

these are tough, but the cutting out and missing in wet weather does sound ignition related. The steaming with the radiator cool sounds like the engine was not properly filled, which leaves a big air pocket in the block.

As far as that distributor, a good electronic setup is an upgrade to a stock points system, but the stock systems work fine when everything is correct. You might try swapping the condenser, I had a bad one that gave intermittent issues for quite a while before I figured it out.

Jody

[rogue]

I had a gremlin like this. I resorted to swapping each ignition part until I found out it was the coil... So if you're going to start swapping parts, start with the cheap stuff first :lol:

I ended up installing a new 6al box and distributor that was totally unnecessary...

[GregWeld]

I find it hard to believe that the distributor - given it's top/back location - is getting "wet"... It sounds like a bad connector/connection to me. I'd start at the starter motor -- making sure it's not getting wet and shorting momentarily... or has a loose connection to the ignition. After that - I'd be checking for loose wires/bad connection at the ignition switch... from there I'd head to the coil and make sure you don't have a loose or partially broken wire there.

I used to have a 55 two door post - original car - back in '72 or so - and I'd let my girlfriend (now my wife) drive it once in awhile - and sometimes if you'd go around a corner just right - it would die... but then after a couple of tries it would light off and go again. After much complaining from her - I finally looked things over - and it took me quite awhile to discover that the + coil wire had a factory connector on it and right where the vinyl covering ended and the crimped terminal was that wire was almost broken through -- but at first glance looked fine.. move it a bit though... and the one or two strands of wire couldn't carry the voltage...

I'd be looking for something like that - because of the 'intermittence' of the problem.

[Vegas69]

You can also use a spray bottle and tug at the connections.

[Viperlover]

Found the problem. Steam was coming out of a cracked heater hose, and then it totally went and was spraying antifreeze right at the distributor. Took the cap off and you could see condensation all over the top so I sprayed it down with some wd40 to get the water out, and it drives fine now. I may still get that distributor for some peace of mind because I daily drive this car and don't like driving on 38 year old parts...