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  •  » FYI Ford, Classic Mustang Tech Discussion
  •  » Hard to start after drive

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    Yesterday 7:46 PM  #1

    LofiObie
    Active Member

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    Registered: 3/12/2026
    Posts: 2

    Hard to start after drive

    Hey all! I took my 1984 Mustang 5.0 out for a few short trips today (about 15 minutes each). Every time I shut it off and tried restarting it a few minutes later, it would crank for a while before finally stumbling to life. Once it started, it ran fine, maybe just a little less smooth than when it’s cold.The ignition coil is new, but the previous owner mounted it on the intake manifold and I haven’t relocated it yet due to coil/plug wire length. I’m starting to think it might be getting heat soaked and struggling to produce a strong spark when hot. It does get quite hot in that location (I did verify fuel is good at the carb, so not a fuel issue).Where do you guys have your ignition coil mounted? And are you using any kind of heat protection for it? Also what plug wires would you recommend?

     

    Today 4:58 AM  #2

    John Ha
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

    Offline

    From: Mitchell, SD
    Registered: 4/02/2013
    Posts: 1,038

    Re: Hard to start after drive

    It's possible that after you shut it off, the fuel boils out of the carb into the engine and floods it, making it hard to start after it sits for a short time.

    Founding Member of the Perpetually Bewildered Society
     

    Today 10:16 AM  #3

    TKOPerformance
    Hyper FYIFORD ADDICT

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    From: Newark, DE
    Registered: 12/15/2014
    Posts: 7,939

    Re: Hard to start after drive

    John Ha wrote:

    It's possible that after you shut it off, the fuel boils out of the carb into the engine and floods it, making it hard to start after it sits for a short time.

    That was my first though too.  If you are forced to run fuel with any amount of ethanol in it this problem is worse that it would be with straight gasoline.  All our fuel around here is E10, and I noticed a similar issue with my tractor when that started which wasn't there when we still had straight gas.  Unfortunately the nearest station that has straight gas is an 80 mile roundtrip from my house, so I've just learned to live with the garbage fuel they sell in DE now.  
     

     

    Today 3:22 PM  #4

    Nos681
    Senior 24-7 FYI Addict

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    From: Atlantic Mine, Michigan
    Registered: 7/14/2016
    Posts: 3,539

    Re: Hard to start after drive

    What is your starting procedure after it is shutdown?

    How long has the car been in use? (Daily driver, seasonal, trailer queen)

    Just out of storage, barn find, recent purchase?

    Pictures may help too.

    Last edited by Nos681 (Today 3:27 PM)

     

    Today 4:38 PM  #5

    MS
    Forum Originator

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    From: Canyon Lake, Texas
    Registered: 1/24/2013
    Posts: 12,738

    Re: Hard to start after drive

    Coils were mounted on the intake by Ford on the 302. Had a bracket so there was 1/2” airspace between carb and intake.

    Money you enjoy wasting is NOT wasted money... unless your wife finds out.
     

     

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